Tag Archive for personal growth

The Many Shades And Flavors Of Success

August 16, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

They say success leaves clues, but for you the trail has run cold. Or has it?

Join GenuLines for this investigation into ways your success might be hiding from you in plain sight.

The Many Shades And Flavors Of Success

Webster’s dictionary defines success as…
top of the world success
 
a: degree or measure of succeeding 
 
b: favorable or desired outcome.
 
also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence
 
 
 
Have you ever stopped to think about how successful you are? For some reason we tend to look at success as it pertains to work and money.
 
But what about all the other successes that we achieve throughout our lifetimes?
 
Consider one part of the Webster definition above, favorable or desired outcome. Now realize that you’ve no doubt had lots of little successes that you’ve overlooked.
 
This could be finishing a report at work, or a school paper. Did your husband send you flowers for no special reason?
 
Did your child say she loves you because you’re the best mom? These are all favorable outcomes that result from our own efforts.

Effort And Achievement

Whenever you put effort into something you achieve, consider it a success. We don’t have to build a Bill Gates empire to consider ourselves successful.
 
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau
 
How about personal success? Consider for a moment how you live your life.
 
Do you take good care of yourself? If so, you’ve experienced another great success that eludes many people.
 
How many times a day or a week do you actually succeed without even thinking or planning to do so? It’s who you are.
 
You might even say that being who you are makes for success in its own right.
 
For example, a good friend needs help and you drop everything to be there. Color this a success.
 
What’s better than being there for the people we care about?

Acknowledgement

I’ll bet there are achievements in your week that you don’t notice. Why is that?
 
Wouldn’t it boost your emotional and psychological wellness to do so? Sure, it would.
 
Sometimes we miss the big picture. Those every day successes are some of our biggest.
 
It’s time to stand up and take notice of all that you do, every single day that makes you a success. Consider all the different shades and flavors of success in your own life, and celebrate them!

The Many Shades And Flavors Of Success

*Setting and following through on a fitness plan
 
*Being a loving and supportive parent
 
*Raising responsible kids• Eating healthy
 
*Taking good care of your mind, body and spirit
 
*Being a good friend
 
*Looking out for an elderly neighbor
 
*Taking good care of your family
 
*Being a responsible citizen
 
*Being a good friend
 
*Working a full time job and still coming home to cook dinner and do homework with kids
 
*Forgiving someone that wronged you
 
*Introducing a friend to her future husband
 
*Being honest when it’s hard to do so
 
*Saying sorry when it’s hard to do so
 
*Being your real self and living an authentic life
 
*Sticking with goals you set
 
*Giving your time and being of service
 
These are a few examples of the many shades and flavors of success.

Final Thoughts

Next time you consider whether you’ve succeeded in your own life, realize that big dreams and long-term goals are great. But there are many shades and flavors of success, and they all have value and meaning.
 
JohnK 8-15-2022
 
stick man hears about successOverheard: “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.”
                                ~John Wooden
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for success

You Can Improve Your Character Defects

March 21, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

Your character is not set in stone. There are ways to make changes that can power up your life. 

Let GenuLines start you on your own character re-charge.. 

You Can Improve Your Character Defects

Everybody has at least one character defect. But it’s how you go about changing your bad habits that define you as a person.
 
Life is non- linear and non- stagnant, and nobody is perfect. Keeping that in mind, be gentle on yourself.
 
And open your mind as you discover your character defects and work towards changing them.
 
examples of character

 

 

What Are Character Defects?

They are what seem to be harmful or toxic traits hindering your growth. These present issues for you in your life.
 
It could be a vice, your habits, or a way of thinking. It’s something that you have may have recognized as a problem area that you would like to fix.

Changing Your Personality

Personality changes don’t happen overnight. It’s a process.
 
As humans, we spend most of our lives changing and evolving. The key is to acknowledge and work on what you see as an issue in your life and take action to fix it.
 
Personality has to do with your mind and the way you think. Here are some steps and things to think about as you work on overcoming what you believe is holding you back.

Progress Not Perfection

We spend the majority of our lives working to better ourselves. The goal is to start the process chase this idea of making progress, not finding the solution.
 
It’s the steps you take toward the solution that count.
 
Time is linear. But remember that progress and life are very much non-linear in how and when events in life happen.
 
It’s okay if something doesn’t work. The goal is to keep trying. 

Replace Behavior

Replace malicious behavior with positive behavior. Substitute destructive activities with alternative tasks.
 
Use these to distract yourself. It can be something productive, but it doesn’t need to be.
 
The goal is for it to be less harmful than whatever it is you are trying to replace. This will do one of two things.
 
It will rewire your brain until you won’t focus or crave that harmful activity. And two, it would provide you less time to think about such.

Persistence

Don’t give up. Aim to change and improve yourself as a person.
 
This is an ongoing process. We’ll spend our whole lives improving.
 
And we’ll become better versions of ourselves each time. It won’t be perfect, but the idea is progress, not perfection.

Let Go

Let go of old negative behaviors from your past. Work towards conquering past pain so that you can move forward.
 
Let go of the things that stop you from moving forward. The ones that make you bitter or bear a grudge, and in general, anything that’s not making you happy.
 
Taking off that bitter edge will allow you to move forward and give up things that no longer serve you.

Bloom

Envision what you want for yourself and who you want to be. In a sense you’ll be a role model for yourself.
 
And you provide yourself something to strive toward. Control your narrative.
 
You can become the type of person you want to be. You have the power to change.
 
Not right away, but over time.

We grow

Everybody has something that could fall into the category of a character defect. We’re always growing and evolving.
 
Identify your problem areas and make a plan to address them. This will go a long way to a happier, healthier life.
 
JohnK 3-21-2022
 
Stick figure hears about characterOverheard: “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”
                                            ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for character
 

Personal Growth: Find Things You Need To Work On

February 7, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

Life’s ups and downs move you through a process known as personal growth. There’s a lot to keep track of while you make this journey.

This “road map” from GenuLines can help make your sailing a little smoother. 

Personal Growth: Find Things You Need To Work On

Personal growth is the process of developing and bettering yourself. You can work on this throughout your life.
 
How does a person figure out what parts of their life they need to work on? Everyone has some part of like they need or want to improve.
 
It’s one thing to want to improve some part of life. It’s another thing to actually do it.
 
How do you go about making a change in your life? Especially if you’ve spent most of your life up to this point living day-to-day?
 
Thinking of personal growth
 
 
Do you ever think about the things in your life that you’re sure you’d like to change? Finding things, you need to work on is not as complicated as we make it.
 
Start where you are.
Project You
An important skill for life success is self-development. But self-mastery and general competence in daily life are only the beginning.
 
Tap into your own motivation and drive to find the path to elevate yourself beyond the status quo. You are your own self-development project.
 
You are the boss, the architect, and the quality control team.
 
Start With A-List
Make a list of what YOU think you need to work on. Then pick one and create a plan of tasks to take on one at a time.
 
Do this once a month.
 
Some of your goals will change. Others won’t matter anymore.
 
Some new items will pop up. There is nothing more satisfying than marking off a goal you have accomplished.
Treat Yourself
Making progress is motivating. Reaching milestones lights the fire to keep going.
 
Reward yourself for progress along the way. Rewards don’t have to be extravagant.
 
They could be as simple as watching a favorite movie or treating yourself to a favorite take-out meal. A small treat after hard work, and reaching a goal is a great way to motivate yourself to stay on track and keep going.
 
Celebrate that progress.
 
Network
Share your goals and vision with like-minded individuals. This can be friends, supportive family, or even social media groups.
 
You don’t have to all be in the same physical location to support each other. You’re not alone in your desire for change.
 
Revise, Regroup, And Reframe
 
If it’s broke, fix it. Don’t be inflexible about your methods.
 
When you are working on personal growth you have to be open-minded and a little flexible. Sometimes the best plans fail.
 
It’s ok.
 
Nothing has to be perfect. You have a lifetime to work on improving yourself and reaching goals.
 
If a plan needs adjusting make the change. Then get started again right away.
 
Expand Your Mind
Personal improvement doesn’t happen in a single day. This journey is a process.
 
The change is gradual.
 
There are many ways to create a growth mindset in your life. Browse social media, read self-help books, or psychology books.
 
Consider studying goal setting, attending conferences, and listening to podcasts. to open your mind up to new ways of personal growth.
 
Final Thoughts
These are only some of the tips and tools to help you on the journey to personal growth. Life is an ever-changing journey.
 
At different stages in life, your goals and perspectives may change. Keep going in the process for self-knowledge, self-mastery, and personal improvement.
 
This is one aspect of living a fulfilling and balanced life.
 
JohnK 2-7-2022
 
Stick figure hears about personal growthOverheard: “The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live”
 
                                       ~Mortimer Adler
 
 
 
disclaimer for personal growth

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.
 
graph showing growth
 
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!

Read More

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
 
Stick figure hears about growthOverheard: “Don’t go through life, grow through life.”
                                    ~Eric Butterworth
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for growth

Is Staying In Your Comfort Zone Holding You Back?

January 25, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Your comfort zone has a way of betraying you. I mean, it’s supposed to be a comfortable place, right?

Let GenuLines show you how it might be working against you. 

(Listen to this article by clicking here)

Is Staying In Your Comfort Zone Holding You Back?

We’ve heard a lot about getting out of our comfort zone. But have you ever thought about why you should?
 
After all, it’s a place where we feel safe and in control. 
 
It’s where we can predict what will happen and how we will feel. There won’t be any surprises that we can’t deal with.
 
So why would you feel compelled or even want to get out of your comfort zone? You need to do it because that would be key to your personal growth and happiness.
 

 

 

 

 

The benefits

Stepping out of that zone helps you build up your self-confidence and the way you view yourself.
 
Is being there holding you back from living a fulfilled life and growing in your career? The answer is yes.
 
It can also keep you from realizing and achieving your desires. You avoid challenges and you don’t have to rise to any new levels.
 
Here are 3 ways this is holding you back.
 

1. It’s keeping you from personal growth

When you’re afraid of something, staying in your comfort zone keeps you from facing that fear.
 
Then you suffer from it forever or until you do face it. You sidestep situations that would force you to face the fear as a way of overcoming it.
 
For example, say you have a fear of public speaking. It could keep you from taking a job that requires you to speak in front of others.
 
You hesitate even though it’s a step up on your career ladder.
 

2. Your happiness suffers

You might be prone to struggle with self-confidence and self-esteem issues. These problems can grow unless you begin to address them.
 
Stepping outside your comfort zone helps you build self-confidence. You see yourself in a better light.
 
When you’re confident and have good self-esteem, you’re happier. For example, if you’re not confident in your abilities, you may fear trying something new.
 
This drags down your confidence. You feel less competent and it’s making you unhappy.
 

3. Your comfort zone can make you feel trapped and unhealthy

Often our comfort zone keeps us doing bad habits out of fear. You might want to be more active, run a marathon, feel fewer aches and pains and go on adventures.
 
But to do any of these things means doing something that is outside your comfort zone.
 
For example, you want to run a short marathon. It’s always been a dream of yours, but you procrastinate and make excuses why you can’t.
 
You’re too out of shape. You don’t have time. You’re too old.
 
But the real reason is that you’re afraid to get out of your comfort zone and begin working with a trainer. As a result, you continue to eat unhealthily and you gain weight.
 
You lose muscle tone and put your dream on the back burner. At some point, your health takes a hit.
 
Staying in your comfort zone holds you back from living a life you love, from being happy, and from growing. You end up letting your fears rule.
 
And that’s a recipe for mediocrity.
 
JohnK 1-25-2021
 
Stick figure hears about comfort zoneOverheard: “Dare to learn, to be different, to set your goals, to move out of your comfort zone, to be persistent.”
                                          ~ Unknown
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for talking about comfort zone
 
 

A Dad’s Challenging Journey to “cross the veil”: Next CHI FOR YOURSELF

May 23, 2016 John Uncategorized No comments

picture of john kobikWhen Matthew McKay’s son Jordan was murdered, he set out on a quest to discover the truth about why we are here and what happens when we die. He became determined to listen and look for his dead son in any way he could.

In his book Seeking Jordan: How I Learned the Truth about Death and the Invisible Universe, McKay shares what he learned along the way. Matthew McKay will be our CHI FOR YOURSELF guest this Thursday May 26th at 4pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific time at chiforyourself.com

picture of Matthew McKay

Matthew McKay, PhD

Plan to be with us!

 

 

JohnK 5-23-2016

chiforyourself.com home

 

listener animation

Overheard:

“No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye. You were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.”

~ Author Unknown

Inner Guidance From Your IGS: Amaze-ZEN!

May 16, 2016 John Uncategorized No comments

picture of john kobikIt’s no secret that around here it’s all about the inner guidance. Our CHI FOR YOURSELF guest this week is going to tell us about a system that wants you to be happy, successful, and stress-free- and you need only to go inside to find it!

Zen DeBrucke is an internationally renowned teacher, speaker, and coach whose programs have helped people all over the world transform their personal and business lives for the better. She’s the author of YOUR INNER GPS: Follow Your Internal Guidance to Optimal Health, Happiness, and Satisfaction. The book is designed to teach you to tune into this guidance to learn the best course of action in every situation.

picture of Zen de Brucke

Zen DeBrucke

 

That’s Zen DeBrucke on CHI FOR YOURSELF. This Thursday May 19th at 4pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific at chiforyourself.com 

 

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Empowerment was the order of the day when we welcomed Cara Bradley to CHI FOR YOURSELF. Cara’s the author of ON THE VERGE and she brought us plenty of encouragement to not be spectators of life but to instead cultivate ways to live beyond our busy minds and be present in each moment.

Here are some of the talking points from the show:

  • Cara defines “Verge”
  • Her a-ha moment at the age of 19
  • There’s no such thing as self-improvement
  • Living in the heart instead of the head
  • Why rhythm is more important that movement
  • Verge practices and strategies
  • Do we all have some “drama queen” in us?
  • Coming down from the bleachers and getting into life’s game
  • Cara’s time as a pro roller-blader
  • Advice for dealing with low self esteem moments

 

Click on the BlogTalkRadio image to hear the show..

Blog Talk Radio logo

 

JohnK 5-16-2016

chiforyourself.com home

 

Clipart image of overheard

Overheard:

“Inner guidance is heard like soft music in the night by those who have learned to listen.”
~ Vernon Howard

CHI FOR YOURSELF This Week: We’re “On The Verge” with Cara Bradley

May 9, 2016 John Uncategorized No comments

picture of john kobikCHI FOR YOURSELF brings you empowering information, and this week we get a visit from the very empowered Cara Bradley, author of ON THE VERGE: Wake Up, Show Up, and Shine. Cara’s a passionate teacher of yoga, meditation, and fitness who has been in the trenches of personal transformation as a “mental strength coach” for more than three decades. Her intention is to help us reach peak performance at home, at work, and at play.

picture of cara bradley

Cara Bradley

Hear Cara Bradley on CHI FOR YOURSELF this Thursday May 12th at 4pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific time at chiforyourself.com.

 

JohnK 5-9-2016

chiforyourself.com home

 

Clipart image of overheard

Overheard:

“The very cave you are afraid to enter turns out to be the source of what you are looking for.”

~ Joseph Campbell

 

Making a (Genuine) Living: Putting Who You Are Into What You Do

March 2, 2014 John Uncategorized No comments

Jennifer Louden PictureThe Chi For Yourself guest this week is Jennifer Louden, author of The Life Organizer. Jennifer is a personal growth pioneer who helped launch the self-care movement. She’s written five books on well-being and whole living, a national magazine column, and she can say that she sat on Oprah’s couch.

You can hear the interview with Jennifer Louden this Thursday March 6th at 4pm Eastern time, 1pm Pacific at chiforyourself.com.

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Article…

Making a (Genuine) Living: Putting Who You Are Into What You Do

Workman PictureI just returned from Central America.  I’m considering moving to a home outside my native United States.  I am grateful to be able to make surch a trip, and for the reasons I made it. Doing print and audio/video related work allows a person to live just about anywhere in the world while doing the things he or she feels inspired to do. One of the areas of my life where the small “inner voice” becomes my navigator is the type of work I do. I’ve felt this way since I was a small boy, but I’ve learned that what I do and who I am are two distinctly different things. I would advise anyone to make that important separation. And I’ve also felt the satisfaction of knowing that what I’m doing is what I must do- kind of taking a page from Maslow’s idea of Self Actualization.

So many of us feel that to present who we are to the world means to point to our occupation. But society puts different professions on different levels and it’s easy for a person to feel “less than”. Less than for holding what others see as a menial job. Less for being in a not very glamorous position. But history is full of the names of people who have been able to give us their skills and talents while holding down jobs seen as ordinary. Whether you’re in real estate or retail, a business person or a bus driver, your worth is folded into who you are an not what you do for a living.

Doing something that you enjoy and lets you meet your needs while allowing you to live in line with your values will always be more fulfilling that being in a high-status job you dislike. But it’s possible to find happiness in most any line of work. That’s because what you are doing is often not as important as how you you’re doing it. There’s much to be said for a good attitude. Couple that with good intentions and you can turn a so-so working situation into one that fulfills you because of your attitude.

If your efforts are benefiting others you’re adding value to the world. And if you’ve found happiness in your work and you feel that you’re living genuinely while also getting your emotional and physical needs met then you are are adding value to your life. If you’re sweeping streets then be the best street sweeper you can be. Know that you can bring your ability and skill to us no matter what work you do. Choose to be of service and your choice will be a wise one.

 

John K 3/3/2014

chiforyourself.com home page

 

Stalled on the Inspiration Superhighway? Get Your Bearings and Get Back on The Road to Fulfillment.

March 25, 2013 John Uncategorized No comments

Our lives wind along a sometimes tricky web of avenues that take us from one segment of life to the next. For some the route includes clearly marked road signs and few hills. For others it’s not so easy to see where to go next. The destination is fulfillment- defined as ‘satisfaction or happiness as a result of fully developing one’s abilities or character.’ But figuring out which turn will put you on the direct road to fulfillment and the living of a genuine life may not be as obvious.

There are a lot of ways to uncover what the next road on your life path should be. If you are looking to follow that “faint inner voice” then it’s vital that you start asking questions. Often that inner voice will suggest that it’s time for change. At this point it is important that you go inside for answers since only you know what’s best for you. When you push past the limits of your comfort zone you gain more confidence and you are able to guage your personal growth.

It’s also a good time to take a look at where you’ve been so far. Those things that made up your list of needs and wants may not be serving  you any more. Knowing this could shine a light on what you no longer want and more importantly what you might need to do next. This little rest stop is a good point to get a clear picture of your perfect future. Start listing ways to bring that future into form and in line with your intentions. Meditation is a favorite of mine. You may want to keep a vision board, or a journal. These can give you the courage and the insight to move toward the next segment of the life road that will be most satisfying.

Pull back the curtain of fear and inertia that keeps you from knowing which step to take next. With trust your path will make itself known. When you move past the fear and listen to yourself getting to that next step will become easier.

JohnK 3/25/2013

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