Tag Archive for peace of mind

Time to Develop Your Money and Your Life

January 11, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

We tend to obsess over money, Often at the expense of important parts of our overall life. 

Here’s a GenuLines look at tying it all together to lessen the stress in your life. 
 
 
Time to Develop Your Money and Your Life
Some of the biggest stressors for families are financial challenges. When your financial house is in order, then the rest of your life falls into place with less hassle.
 
For most of us, financial planning was not a part of our high school or college curriculum. Ditto for balancing a checkbook or concentrating on 401k or emergency expenditures.
 
No balance in your financial issues can mean no balance in other life areas, too. Unfortunately, money controls much of our thought patterns, time, and worries.
 

Figure Out Your Spending Habits

money planningLearn about your financial patterns before talking about money with your partner.
You can make improvements in your spending habits.
 
And you can do that whether you’re frugal or a spendthrift.
 

 

The Spendthrift

If you have no knowledge of where money comes from or how to manage it, you’ll find that money will manage you. Spending more than you earn is never a good scenario.
 
Sit down with your finances. Figure out what’s coming in, what’s going out. and keep the difference for yourself as spendable income.
 
It’s really that simple.
 
Living above your means is something that you do not want to do, ever. Living above your means is never a win/win situation.
 

The Frugal Financier

If you hate to part with pennies and dimes you’ll have strained money dealings with most everyone. No one is going to put up with someone who’s being a tightwad, even for fun.
 

Get Together with Your Financial Partner

It’s very important to get together with your financial partner. Put your differences to work for you instead of against you.
 
Let’s say you are frugal and your partner is a spendthrift. Come up with great and innovative ways to meet somewhere in the middle.
 
Compromise is an important part of a relationship. And what better way to incorporate that tool than to use it in your financial life.
 
JohnK 1-11-2021
 
stick man hears about moneyOverheard: “It’s amazing how fast later comes when you buy now”
                                      ~Milton Berle
 
 
 
 
Article image by rupixen.com on Unsplash
 
disclaimer for talking money
 

Clutter Does a Number On Your Mind And Body

December 21, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Is clutter just a bothersome part of your life? Something you’ll get to someday?

Today GenuLines points out that clutter can be a physical and mental problem, too.

(You can hear this article by clicking here)

Clutter Does a Number On Your Mind And Body

Clutter is a real nuisance for millions of us. What you may not realize is that it can affect your mind and body.
 
How does your living space make you feel when you walk in the door at the end of the day? Do you feel peaceful and glad to be at home because it’s your sanctuary?
 
desk with clutter
 
Or, do you feel dread because there’s a mountain of unfolded laundry on the chair? Or there’s a stack of magazines spread all over the floor and a sink full of this morning’s dishes?
 
 
 
 
 
Mind Control
Research finds that the state of your house reflects the state of your mind. Disorganization tells you that there’s something out of balance.
 
The trick is learning what’s off-kilter and how to set it straight.
 
Living in a cluttered home is stressful – for everyone. Mom’s pulled away from what she needs to do to help someone find their homework.
 
Dad’s late for work because he can’t find his car keys. As the pressure to find those misplaced things mounts, so does the tension.
 
Before long, something or someone snaps.
 
Lost And Found
Think about how you feel when you’ve misplaced something. You may berate yourself for being careless.
 
You may feel frustrated and ready to give up. When your child comes in to ask a question, you may not respond in a loving manner and feelings get hurt.
 
Clutter drains you of energy and makes you feel tired. And that can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
 
You know you need to do something but you don’t have the energy.
 
Take time to clear the mess from one small area. It can help you and your family feel more energetic.
 
And they’ll be more inspired to work on decluttering in other areas.
 
Body Of Clutter
Did you know clutter could be making you physically sick? No one wants to think about it, but clutter can be the breeding ground for germs, dust, mold, and mildew.
 
It could even hide a problem with mice. If you don’t believe clutter can make you sick, think of the stress mentioned above.
 
If you have too much stress, you may develop high blood pressure. Dust and mold can cause allergies or worse.
 
Clutter can also affect your body weight. People with clutter are usually sedentary.
 
In an uncluttered home they’re more active. Part of this may be because the clutter in the home makes it hard for you to move.
 
You may also be using clutter, like being overweight, as a means to protect yourself. Clutter keeps people at bay and so there’s less chance of getting hurt.
 
Get Started
Now you understand some of the ways clutter can affect your mind and body Consider what you’re going to do about it.
 
Will you take a step forward and begin decluttering? Or will you let it continue to ruin the lives of you and your family members?
 
JohnK 12-21-2020
 
stick figure man hears about clutterOverheard: “Good order is the foundation of all things”
                              ~Edmund Burke
 
 
 
Article image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay 
 
 
disclaimer for clutter
 
 
 
 

Are You Making Your Life Hard?

July 7, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

When life is hard we tend to look outside ourselves for reasons. We don’t want to think the cause is a lot closer to home. 

As always, GenuLines helps re-direct you back to your “self” as a start toward getting your bearings. 

 

microphone for speaking about life

 

 

 

 

Are You Making Your Life Hard?

life training pictureEvery day brings us a million things to take care of and it’s easy to fall behind. But sometimes life is hard because we’re making it that way.

One reason we make it harder is that we want to feel like we have some control. Let’s look at some ways you might be getting in your own way.

 

 

 

You Assume Malicious Intent

Most of the time people don’t mean to inconvenience you or make your life harder. Could be the person who cut you off in traffic was in a hurry.

Your significant other was quiet this morning. It may have been due to fatigue rather than anything you did.

If we decide the world is out to get us, we make life harder than it has to be. Be very slow to assume malicious intent.

It usually leaves you angry and unpleasant. The truth behind someone’s intentions is usually far from malicious.

And often not personal at all.

You Maintain Unreasonable Expectations

One thing we can control about life is our expectations. That doesn’t mean that we should go through life expecting and getting nothing.

Instead don’t expect the glass to be half full, half empty, or even a little full. Be grateful that it contains any wine at all!

You’re Afraid of Risks

Avoiding risk is part of human nature. We don’t want to run into danger unless we know we can get out of it.

But our bubble of comfort can often become a prison. Risking social rejection, loss of money, and loss of time is a trade-off for making our lives better.

When we spend most of our time avoiding risks, we make life harder.

Make sure you take smart risks! Think of an area in your life you’d like to expand upon and set some short terms goals.

Once you’ve challenged yourself and become comfortable again, set some higher goals!

You Compare Yourself to Others

One negative feature about social media is that it enables us to compare ourselves to others. Even worse, we compare ourselves to others in only their best moments.

Your friends may not have it as good as they’d like you to think. There will always be someone with more money, more friends, or whatever else than you.

The only person you should compare yourself to is the version of you from the past.

In short, we need to worry less about others, less about risks, and maintain our expectations. Don’t spend your life trying to be other people.

Or thinking the world is out to get you. Or afraid to take a chance.

Don’t expect things to get better without changing your actions. That sets you up for failure.

Stop making life harder!

JohnK 6-7-2020
chiforyourself.com home

Stick figure hears about lifeOverheard: “The greatest pleasure of life is love.
                             ~Euripides

 

 

 

Article image by David Mark from Pixabay

 

 

disclaimer for life

4 Self-Care Tips For Extra Busy People

June 24, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
Even in a time of downtime you can find yourself short on time.Here are some GenuLines tips for making sure that self care is one of your priorities.  
 
microphone for speaking self-care

 

 

 

 

4 Self-Care Tips For Extra Busy People

Living in challenging times can leave little time to take care of yourself. The constant wail of news and social media take a toll on your physical, mental and emotional health.
 
If you’re struggling to find time for self-care, try these four tips. They’ll help you work good self-care habits into your schedule.
 
banner to boost self care

1. Establish a morning routine                                                       

Starting the day right is a good way to maintain your mental and physical health. This might include a healthy breakfast, daily exercise or meditation.self care means breathe
 
Figure out what works for you and do it every day.
 
Over time this will become a habit, helping you to take some time for self-care every day.
 
 
 
 
 
2. Schedule time off
It’s easy to find yourself in a cycle of continuous activity. You move from one activity to the next until it seems you’re just going through the motions.
 
Schedule some time off so you don’t get lost in the chaos.
 
It might be an afternoon away from your normal routine. Then again it could be something more extravagant like a weekend away or a vacation.
 
Whatever you choose, taking a break will allow you to relax and rejuvenate.

3. Get enough sleep

Don’t underestimate the importance of sleep.Good quality sleep allows your body to heal and re-energize.
 
Proper sleep helps you maintain good lifestyle habits, too. You’ll be less likely to make bad diet choices and avoid exercise when you’re rested.
 
Sleep is critical for physical and mental health. Make sure it’s one of your priorities.
 
4. Set realistic goals
Manage your mental health by setting realistic goals. Why let your commitment to something unachievable cause you to feel like a failure?
 
Spend some time considering your aspirations.
 
Make goals that are challenging, but possible for you to reach. You also need to set realistic goals when it comes to your self-care commitments.
 
Add things to your routine that will work long term with your lifestyle.
 
We all get 24 hours in a day. Make sure yours include time for self-care.
 
JohnK 6-24-2020
 
stick man hears about self-careOverheard: “Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop”
                                                         ~Ovid
 
 
 
 
 
 
Article image by Tim Goedhart on Unsplash
 
 
disclaimer for self care
 

 

5 Great Reasons To Cut The Sugar From Your Diet

June 3, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Sugar is sweet. We know that.

But GenuLines reminds you that cutting back on sugar can sweeten your overall health. microphone for reasons to cut sugar

 

 

 

 

reasons to cut sugar

 

5 Great Reasons To Cut The Sugar From Your Diet                                        

reasons to cut sugarThere’s been a lot of talk in the media about the evils of sugar consumption. Sugar is hiding in all sorts of foods including bread and salad dressing.

 
 
 
 
Add to that our love for things like cookies and ice cream and it’s no wonder our sugar intake is skyrocketing. Unfortunately, all this added sugar is doing a lot of damage to our health.
 
And it’s causing weight gain like never before.
 
banner to counter sugar
 
It’s time to cut added sugar from our diets. Here are five reasons why you should do a sugar detox and do as much as possible to avoid sugar consumption.

Consuming Sugar Spikes Your Insulin

As soon as your body starts to digest sugar, your insulin spikes up. Insulin is the hormone that’s in charge of keeping blood sugar levels from rising too high.
 
It converts extra sugar into fat for storage. This is a delicate process. Consuming sugar in large quantities will cause your insulin to spike.
 
The insulin then faces more than it can handle. Over time it becomes less and less effective.
 
This is when you get a negative effect on your health.

Consuming Sugar Makes You Gain Weight

Because of the insulin and because sugar adds a lot of calories to food. It can make you gain weight and you don’t have to be eating a lot of candy and cakes for that to happen.
 
Health authorities tell you to watch and lower your fat intake. The food industry gives us all sorts of low fat and fat-free food options.
 
But, to make these low-fat foods taste o.k, they added a lot of sugar. Take a look at regular and low fat or fat-free salad dressing.
 
The lower fat options have a lot more carbs and in particular, sugar.
 
You may not taste it, but it’s there. Sugar gets digested a lot faster than fat.
 
You’re hungry sooner after consuming a low-fat meal, so you eat again. The end result is weight gain.

Consuming Sugar Increases Your Risk For Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome

With all that increased sugar and weight gain comes a higher risk for diabetes. And a condition called metabolic syndrome.
 
This is a group of symptoms and behaviors that put you at a much higher risk for heart disease and Type II diabetes. The good news is that both conditions are reversible.
 
The first step is to cut out the sugar.
 
Sugar Doesn’t Have A Lot of Nutritional Value And It Makes You Hungrier
Remember that aside from a little boost of energy, sugar doesn’t provide a lot of nutritional value. If you want something sweet, you’re much better off grabbing a piece of fruit than a cookie.
 
At least with a piece of fruit, you’re getting some vitamins and fiber with your sugar fix. If you want or need to lose weight, begin by cutting out sugar.
 
It causes spikes in your blood sugar.
 
These make your body produce a large amount of insulin to pull the sugar out of your system (and convert it to body fat). The sad little side effect of that process is that your blood sugar goes on a roller coaster ride.
 
This nowhere ride will leave you hungry and craving more sugary treats. 
 
JohnK 6-3-2020
 
 
Stick figure hears about sugarOverheard: “I seek constantly to improve my manners and graces, for they are the sugar to which all are attracted.”
                                          ~Og Mandino
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for sugar use
 
 

Powerful Goals Are Yours If They’re S.M.A.R.T.

May 20, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
The lockdown gives you time to make plans and set goals. When it’s over you’ll want to resume your life with a full head of steam.
 
GenuLines offers a list of steps to make sure your goals are powerful- and genuine!
 
 
microphone for speaking about goals

 

 

 

 

Powerful Goals Are Yours If They’re S.M.A.R.T.

There are smart goals and then there are S.M.A.R.T. goals. The acronym S.M.A.R.T. can help you set better goals.
 
The letters stand for Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Reasonable, and Timely. Let.s take a look at each one.
 
Rubik's Cube toward goals

 

S

Stands for specific. Be precise.

Use language that spells out what the goal is. 

Why you want to reach it. And how you will get there.
 
Detail is important here. Take the time to do this part right.

M

Stands for measurable. For example, you want to add 100 dollars a week to your income. So you decide to write 5 articles a week for buyers that will pay you for them,

A 

“A” can stand for several things, like actionable, assignable, or achievable. Actionable goals give you daily activity to get you closer to them.
 
Goals should also be achievable or you will only get frustrated. Be accurate about the time it takes to reach a goal, and what actions it takes to get there.
 
Also, know who will be responsible for doing it.

R 

This can stand for realistic or relevant, and either or both are important and are true. If you want your goal to succeed, it should be something that is realistic or you’ll fail.
 
It should also be relevant to your life’s vision and match with your values.

T

Various authors refer to the “T” in the S.M.A.R.T. acronym as time-bound, timely or trackable. These are all important parts of the goal creating and setting process.
 
If you don’t set a time limit and you can’t track what’s happening, your goal will be hard to count as achieved.
 
There are plenty of words you can use to help you craft your goals. The important thing is that you need to have a process to help you set smart goals.
 
The ones you know you’ll follow through on and know when you’ve met them.
 
JohnK 5-18-2020
 
Stick figure hears about goalsOverheard: “A goal properly set is halfway reached”
                                       ~Zig Ziglar
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for goals

Patience Is A Virture And It Can Be Yours

March 11, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
So patience is a virtue. Well, let’s get a definition of virtue.
 
Merriam Webster defines patience as “the ability to remain calm and not become annoyed when dealing with problems or with difficult people.” Simple but not always easy!
 
GenuLines drills down a bit deeper to help bring patience a little closer to you
 
(Listen to the article by clicking on below or scroll down to read)
 
Radio for the patient
 
 
 
 
 
 

____________________
 
banner to boost patience

Patience is a Virtue And It Can Be Yours

Patience is one of those things that can make life go more smoothly. But, a lack of patience can cause serious problems, even health issues.
 
Some of life’s irritants move us to squeeze a little harder on the hair-trigger of impatience. But we can learn to overcome and enjoy life one day or even one minute at a time,
 
man needs to patiernce
 
 
Circumstances
What triggers your impatience? For some, it’s certain situations or circumstances, such as a job or a family problem.
 
Others may lose their patience when they’re driving or cooking. Impatience with job or family situation can be especially tough to address – and even harder to fix.
 
A good start though is to acknowledge it. Then focus on anything that may help relieve tension.
 
Seek help
Work toward focusing on pleasant things in your life. If a certain task at your job is causing your impatience ask your supervisor or co-worker for help.
 
They may be able to offer help or suggestions.
 
Also, they may have a better way of dealing with it or be able to adjust your workload. The problem with many of us is that we don’t want to ask for help.
 
We want to be able to take on everything even though we aren’t able to do it.
If it’s a family situation the best way to handle it may be to talk about it, which can be difficult.
 
Again, many tend to shy away or avoid difficult situations.
 
But, getting it out in the open and talking about it is often the best solution. Seek outside help if a difficult challenge amps up the impatience.
 
The problem itself may not cause the impatience. But it may trigger something in you that causes you to be impatient.
 
Focus on other things
Impatience can affect your driving, housework, or other routine tasks. Be ready by conditioning yourself to relax and focus on your breath.
 
You could try relaxing before you start or listening to music while doing any of these tasks. This is where gratitude comes in.
 
Be grateful that you can do routine tasks.
 
Some only imagine cooking or driving but aren’t able to for any number of reasons. Keep this in mind during the tense moments.
 
It’ll help you to focus on the task at hand, but it may also make you more patient.
 
JohnK 3-11-2020
 
stick figure man hears about patienceOverheard: “A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else.”
                                               ~George Savile
 
 
 
 
 
Article Image by ErikaWittlieb from Pixabay 
 
disclaimer about patience

Find The Value In Criticism

February 11, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
Where’s the value in criticism?
 
Value learned from criticism
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
After all, taking criticism can put you in a funk. 
 
Today GenuLines unpacks this thing called criticism and gives you some ways to put it on your side.
 
(click on the image below to listen to the article or scroll down to read)

 
Find The Value In Criticism
The concept of value is kind of unusual when you think about it. Most every person on earth has a different system when it comes to determining what’s important. 
 
In general, the three things that we tend to value the most include our lives, our families and our jobs.  And within each of those aspects, everyone will, again, have a very different value system.  
 
And what is that system based on?  What gives value to something? 
 
banner to help with criticism
 
(continue reading)
Often it’s determined by your upbringing, your experiences, and your education.  This sets you apart from others.
 
And it touches off more than a few debates.
 
But who says those debates and differences have to be bad things?
 
You may meet someone who has the same values as you do, but there are still plenty of possible areas of disagreement.  We all have different experiences and we all bring a different point of view to a relationship.  

Value and Respect

Now let’s say that you have great respect for someone. Each of you has the same values in life.
 
You know their past. You could even say that you respect their opinion. 
 
Now ask yourself if you would respect their criticism?  Would you keep an open mind when it came to their critique of your work? 
 
Is it only because you know them?
 
Why is it that we’ll value the criticism of a friend, but we’re quick to shy away from the criticism of a stranger?  Don’t they hold the same value? 
 
Could be it’s the mere fact that they don’t know us, they don’t know our experiences.  But in reality, you don’t know their experiences or level of expertise either.
 
All too often we seem to equate the word value with respect.  In some way, this seems to justify ignoring the opinions of someone we don’t know.
 
Or it could be that for personal reasons, we don’t care what their opinion is. 
 
Does not knowing someone well mean we have to find no value or worth in their opinion? I mean, in the final analysis, criticism is an opinion.
 
What if we could find value in every opinion, of every criticism we ever received?  Imagine how enriched our lives would be if we could put value to everyone’s opinion.
 
No matter who it’s coming from.   
 
JohnK 2-11-2020
 
stick figure man taking criticismOverheard: “The trouble with most of us is that we’d rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
                                              ~Norman Vincent Peale
 
 
 
 
 
 

Article image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

 
 
 

 

disclaimer about criticism

Five Effective Ways to Find Inspiration

January 28, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Inspiration can come to you in a flash. But it can also avoid you when you need it most. 

GenuLines invites you to read on for some ways to get access to this thing called inspiration.

(you can listen to the article by clicking on below or scroll down to read)

____________________

 

banner to help inspiration

Five Effective Ways to Find Inspiration

light bulb of inspirationAt a loss for inspiration? Here are five techniques you can use to try and coax something new and exciting out of your brain.
 
They won’t always work, but give them a shot. They may just surprise you!
 
 
 
Go for a Walk
Walks are inspiring for many reasons. For starters, they allow us to take a break from what we’re doing and to change our environment.
 
In turn, this leads to new input. This can help us to gain a new perspective on whatever problem or task we’re wrestling with.
 
At the same time, walking is a monotonous task that allows our default mode network to kick in.
 
You could end up daydreaming, which is often, a source of great inspiration.

Ask the Right Questions

Sometimes, inspiration is merely asking the right questions. This can help to re-frame the problem and see it in a new way.
 
Let’s say you’re wondering how to solve a problem and you can’t come up with an answer. Make up a name.
 
Then try asking yourself how ‘Johnny’ would approach it. Likewise, instead of thinking about what you want something to be, decide what you don’t want it to be.

Take a Break

Sometimes, the best thing you can do to spark some creativity or solve a problem is to take a break. With a time-out, you stop trying to force the idea.
 
You ease your stress, and that lets ideas come to you much easier. This is why we’re often encouraged to sleep on big decisions.
 
Listen to Music
Music can be a great inspiration. It alters our mood and energy level and takes us to different places.
 
Often, you’ll find that music can leave you lost in thought. So try listening to some tracks while you mull over a subject, and see if that helps.

Talk it Over

You’ve seen ideas depicted as light bulbs. Or, as lightning strikes that show up in a flash, fully formed.
 
When you ask them most people admit that their best ideas formed slowly. They’ll tell you that they gestated for days, months, or even years before showing up.
 
Often, the best ideas come to us when we discuss them with other people. Even if we’re just thinking aloud, this can help us to see new perspectives.
 
And it can lead to new breakthroughs.
 
JohnK 1-28-2020
 

stick figure talking about inspirationOverheard: “Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out”

                                        ~John Wooden
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer about inspiration
 
 
 

Happiness Is More Than Thinking Positive Thoughts

December 24, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
 
Your happiness level isn’t what you’d like it to be. Someone in your circle suggests that you should think positive thoughts. That’s the answer, or so it seems. 
 
Today GenuLines looks at happiness as more than just staying in a positive mindset.  
 

Banner helps with happiess

Happiness Is More Than Thinking Positive Thoughts

The dictionary defines happiness as “the state of being happy.” Not a lot of information to go on there.
 
Let’s look at some different things that happiness can be. But realize that in truth, happiness is in the mind of the beholder.
 
smiley faces show happiness
 
Your Needs are Met
When a person is happy, they usually aren’t wanting for much. It doesn’t mean that they’re not having a tough time.
 
Rather, they’re making what they have fill their needs.
You feel satisfied
When you’re happy you tend to feel satisfied with your life. You think about your life and feel good about your good fortune.
 
This could include your living space, your life partner, or the fact that you live alone.
 
Contentment is a hallmark of happy people. Whether it’s their job, home, health, or things in general.
 
Happy people do experience stress. But they have a way of drawing on their contentment when things are less than perfect.
 
You Are at Peace
A happy person often feels a lot of peace surrounding their life and family. They tend to know that everything will turn out okay.
 
They’re pretty good at turning negativity into positivity.
 
Your Definition
You can set your own definition of happiness. It’s not necessarily about getting tons of stuff.
 
It’s not about finding a spouse unless you want that. Or about having kids, unless you want that.
 
It’s a Journey
Happiness isn’t a destination where you’ll forever dwell. It’s a lifelong journey that will have many ups and downs and struggles.
 
Still, you manage to feel good about it.
 
In the 1989 movie “Parenthood”, one of the main characters is a struggling mother. She says she loves “the roller-coaster” of life.
 
Her husband, though, is struggling and not as happy. He focuses on the downs instead of the ups.
 
It’s How You Act
When you’re happy your actions lean toward the positive. You eat better, you move more, you think better thoughts.
 
Know that you have it in your power to be happy where you are in your life right now.
 
Thinking positive thoughts is not the be-all and end-all of happiness. It’s having your needs met, yes.
 
But it’s not about having everything, or even the best. It’s about being satisfied with what you have while also being able to work toward the things you want.
 
It starts with your thoughts. And it manifests with your actions.
 
JohnK 12-24-2019
 
stick figure talking about happinessOverheard: “If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.”
                                                         ~Epicurus
 
 

 

 

Article Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay  
 
 
disclaimer about happiness
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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