You can look at fear as friend or foe. It depends on the situation.
Today GenuLines reminds you that sometimes you just have to kick it to the curb.
Setting Aside Fear Can Free You
Fear is something that can protect you. When you enter into an unknown area, your sense of fear increases.
You want to survive to live another day. In this way, fear can help you determine whether you should move forward or go somewhere else.
But that same fear can hold you back from experiences that may advance your life. People fear the unknown.
Most will need to venture into the unknown to reach their goals or to get out of unwanted situations.
Stories
One way to overcome fear is to read about others who have faced similar situations like yours. See what steps they took and try to fit what they did to what you would like to do.
Not every solution will be viable.
But if you search for ideas from different people, you may find a set of ideas that will work. Know that usually most of what we fear is not as bad as we first believe.
In other words, try something that you’re afraid to try,
That Was Easy
You may find it was much easier than you thought it would be. This won’t happen in every case, but with a fair majority, it will.
Think about those times when you said to yourself, “that wasn’t so bad!” There are likely to be many of those in your life.
Create a vision of what your situation would be without the fear. Continue this vision for as long as it takes to reduce or end it.
Mind Game
The very act of believing the fear is not real can help convince your mind that there is nothing to be afraid of.
There are circumstances where we should take heed of our fears. Jumping out of a 50-story building is going to kill you unless you are somehow very lucky.
Of course you have to respect and acknowledge these fears. Other fears have the potential of positive outcomes.
Get Started
Think asking for a raise, buying a stock for the first time, or starting a new business. These are the types of fears that we need to try and overcome.
It can cripple you in other ways, too.
For instance, you have a lot of experience in your job. So you get caught up in avoiding new experiences since you’ve already “done it all.”
Your experience tells you that these new situations will not work. This is also the reason why inexperienced people try things without fear.
Think of your personal growth as the measuring stick of your life. The quality of your progress can affect the quality of your years.
And GenuLines wants to make you aware of that quality and how you can improve it.
Why Personal Growth Matters
How much time have you dedicated to your personal development in the past year? Six months? Week?
Unfortunately, society trains us to put other things first, like education and careers. We’re not downplaying their value in life.
We only want to point out the importance of taking the time to invest in our self-improvement.
Today, we’re talking about all the reasons why personal growth matters. As you’ll find out below, it makes up a huge chunk of your life as a whole, no matter how old you are.
So, let’s get started.
What Is Personal Growth?
Working on accomplishing things in life, setting goals, and achieving them. This is personal growth.
It starts with the drive to do and be better.
Even before that, you have to start with a positive mindset. That helps boost your resilience and keeps you going, even when things don’t go your way.
The beauty of personal growth is that it’s subjective. It’s different for everyone, like success.
A Closer Look
Some people define being successful as having a happy, healthy family. Others define it as having a career, or more money than they know what to do with.
Even though personal growth is a bit more elusive, it’s all improving as an individual. This can be polishing up your education or refining your temperament. Whatever it is you’re seeking out of life, that’s your personal growth journey.
What’s In a Name?
Because it’s so diverse and covers so many aspects, it goes by several names, including:
*Self-improvement
*Personal development
*Self-growth
*Self-help
Why Does Personal Growth Matter?
Now that we understand what personal growth is, you can see how it can have a positive effect on someone. Then, without even trying, that person will motivate others to work harder and do better.
So, personal growth isn’t a solitary journey. Yes, you do the hard work. Yet, you reap so many rewards that soon you realize it was all worth it.
Working on developing as a person will help you in various aspects of your life. You’ll shine at work and you’ll notice people will start to praise your accomplishments.
You’ll also grow into a more compassionate and loving person. Listening and being attentive will become second nature. You’ll feel good about yourself, and you’ll make others feel good as well.
How to Start Your Personal Growth Journey
Empathy and positive thinking are two traits we seem to lose over the years. Personal growth can help you regain them.
Here are some of the things you can do to begin achieving personal growth.
Set Short-Term Goals
Aim to set and achieve short-term goals. When creating goals, keep the following in mind:
Make your goals realistic
Divide long-term goals into several short-term ones
Write each goal on a Post-It and hang it on your desk or bathroom mirror
Recognize and accept your strengths and weaknesses
Treat yourself to something nice every time you complete one of your goals
Keep Learning
We’re never too old to learn. Keep an open mind and take a step out of your comfort zone, and you’ll find fascinating things to learn about.
Ask any entrepreneur, and they’ll tell you they never stop learning. Their fascination with the world is what keeps them a step ahead of everyone else.
The trick is to find something that piques your interest. Nowadays everything is evolving so fast, there’s no shortage of that!
Find Your Purpose
What makes you happy? Find what makes you giddy with happiness, a.k.a. your purpose in life.
Each one of us has something that drives them and sets them apart from everyone else. Find what you want and go after it.
Even if you don’t know much about it, you can always learn. Thanks to modern-day technology, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Wake Up Early
Having healthy sleep patterns will regulate your physical, emotional, and mental states. You’ll feel more energized and ready to tackle the day that lies ahead.
Studies looked at people who make a habit of waking up early. They found those people to be healthier, happier, and more productive. It may take some time to get used to, but, once you do, you’ll never go back!
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!
Reminiscing and thinking about the past can be a great exercise. It’s always good to have a healthy respect for things that have come and gone.
But you don’t want to live in the past, and GenuLines can help you adjust your view of days gone by.
Stop Focusing on Your Past Mistakes and Failures
They say that learning from history is how you best ensure a good future. That said, if you’re living in the past you’re doing more harm than good.
And if you’re replaying negative events in your mind it’s even worse.
It’s also a surefire way to temper your boldness. And it lessens your resolve when you face future challenges.
So how do you stop doing that?
Learn to Value Your Mistakes
The first thing to do is to value your mistakes. Remember that mistakes teach you things.
They make you stronger and wiser. And they give your personal narratives a more interesting and more unique bent.
It’s not our successes that cause us to grow and develop but our mistakes. And each failure brings you one step closer to being the person you want to be.
Realize that your mistake has merit and value in itself. Then you can be a little more comfortable accepting it as part of your story.
Looking Forward
The next thing to do is to look forward and to remember that things are going to get better now. You’ve had your mistake, so how are you going to learn from that and use it to drive you in the future?
Don’t think about how your last relationship was a failure, Focus on how you’re going to make the next one a success.
Forgive Yourself
Many of us focus on our failures. We obsess over them because we’re frustrated with ourselves or we even feel guilty.
The key then is to stop aiming for perfection. Remember: you’re only human and mistakes are par for the course.
They’re acceptable and in fact, you can expect them. Know this and let your missteps go.
Ask yourself: would you beat someone else up if they had the same failure?
Learn to Let Go
Letting go in itself is something of an art form. If you’re an obsessive personality this is a skill that’s well worth learning.
You might consider seeing a cognitive-behavioral therapist. Besides learning to let go you’ll re-work your thoughts in a more positive way.
But, you can begin to change things and GenuLines wants to put you on the path!
(You can listen to this article by clicking on below, or scroll down to read)
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6 Tips For Building Optimism Into Your Life
Optimism…it’s a four-syllable word for something that can be harder to find than diamonds in South Africa.
But believe it or not, you can tap into the earth of your surroundings and dig up a rich store of feel-good.
Here are a few ways to do that.
#1: Find the laughter
You won’t have to go far to find it. Start with Youtube and social media.
No shortage of funny memes, videos, vines, and more here. You could also rent a funny movie, watch stand up comedy, or hang out with funny people.
Laughter will lead you to smile, and smiling will lead you to feel good. Which brings us to our next point.
#2: Turn the frown upside down
It’s hard to believe that something like smiling can improve your mood. But studies have linked outward acts of happiness to an internal shift.
Practice by looking in the mirror and smiling, even it if feels cheesy, stupid, and inauthentic. Hold your smile for a minute, two minutes, or more…see how long you can go.
Start the day off with a smile, and make a conscious effort to smile more.
#3: Use positive words
Studies have shown and confirmed what spiritual traditions have long held. Words can shape the reality around you.
If you want to build a more positive vibe, try using more positive words. Scrap the negative talk about yourself and others, too.
#4: Find positive people
The impact of those we hang out with is enormous. Avoid negative influences and people who bring you down with complaining and criticism.
Misery loves company, the old adage goes. And these people will send you into a downward spiral.
Be with friends who are upbeat, positive, and happy, and their resilience and optimism will rub off on you.
#5: Stay healthy
If you’re feeling tired and sick, it’s easy to get irritable and negative. By contrast, try maintaining an active lifestyle of healthy choices.
These will maximize your energy levels and build you up. It’s easier to be upbeat and happy when you feel good inside and out.
#6: Spirituality and/or self-actualization
Most spiritual traditions promote a positive outlook on life. Not keen on organized religion?
Find something that can provide a positive outlet. Like exercise, music, art, or reading.
Yes, positive words can turn your perspective around. And filling your heart and mind with good stuff will help optimism come easier.
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)
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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,
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.
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?
(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.
(You can listen to this article by clicking on the player below)
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A Good Morning Routine Can Change Your Life
How would it feel to start your day motivated and organized? It would be great, wouldn’t it?
You’d know what you were doing, and that everything was sorted out. You’d feel brilliant.
It wouldn’t take much to get a great start to your day every day. The key is to create a morning routine that motivates and organizes you for success; every day.
One of the secrets of success for the very successful is a morning routine. It doesn’t need to be complex nor does it have to be time-consuming to create or follow.
First, you’ll need to commit to planning it. Then practice it daily until it becomes a habit.
Now let’s look at the morning routine of motivated and organized people:
Early Start
Forget about long lie-ins and putting the alarm on snooze every 5 minutes. Set your alarm for an hour (or even two) earlier than normal and see your productivity soar.
The early start may be tough at first. But if you go to bed earlier and get enough sleep you’ll soon notice a positive difference.
Positive Visualization and Affirmations
Set the tone of your day with a positive charge. Visualize your success from the get-go.
Use positive affirmations. To boost their efficacy display those affirmations where you can see them often.
Do this step within the first 20 minutes of waking. The affirmations will reach your subconscious before your conscious mind takes over.
Exercise
Do some form of exercise. It will get your blood flowing, send oxygen through your body, and generally wake up your entire system.
You don’t need to go for a 5-mile run every day. Your regimen could consist of morning stretching, yoga or Tai Chi.
These will help calm and ground you as well as provide time for inner contemplation.
Hydration
Make sure you keep your body hydrated. Many people start their day with a glass of water and lemon.
Herbal tea or green juice are also good choices for an early morning drink to get your day started the right way.
Planning
When you know what needs to be done you increase your chances of having a successful day. Have a to-do list ready and identify the order of priority.
Make sure the list isn’t too long, 10 items or fewer is an ideal length.
Nutrition
A healthy breakfast fuels your body for the day ahead. You’ll feel more alert.
And you’ll be better able to concentrate on what needs to get done.
Reading
Take some time to read. A few minutes of inspiring material will help you be positive and motivated.
Even 10 minutes can be enough to get your mind working and your motivation kick-started.
The list of possible reading material is endless. From biographies to self-help the writers can inspire you and even act as role models.
Money Tasks
Somewhere during your day, you want to do something that will either make you money or keep you from spending it. Pay your bills so that you don’t get overdue notices and charges.
Kitchen Patrol
Prep the day’s meals so that you don’t feel tempted to get take out when you’re feeling tired at the end of the day. Load the dishwasher.
Clear (and clean) the kitchen counters.
If you want to have a successful day, start it in a positive way. Having a morning routine will ensure that you’re organized for success.
Goals are a sort-of road map on your life’s journey. You want them to be satisfying, yes. But you don’t want them to be too challenging.
In this first of a two part post GenuLines offers a map to guide you on a comfortable and rewarding trip!
How to Set Powerful Goals You Can Achieve
Say you need a fresh start? O.K., you want to challenge yourself, but you don’t want to make things so tough that you fail.
First we’ll look inside, at the things that are important to you. And we’ll make sure that these goals are even doable.
Match Your Core Values
Start with four main areas in your life.
Family
Financial
Physical
Personal
The better you goal fits into one or more of these the more likely your goal is achievable.
If for some reason a goal doesn’t fit into one of your core values, it’s not likely you’ll experience much success.
Be 100 Percent in Control
Goals that rely on others are not necessarily wrong. But they can be harder to achieve.
A goal you control 100 percent is one that you can reach.
Make sure fear isn’t getting in your way. Be realistic about whether you do have control or not and give yourself more credit. And, don’t blame fate for your setbacks.
Don’t think you lack control over your financial future because “that’s just how it is,”
Be Able to Envision the Goal
If you can’t see the end result, it will be very difficult to move forward toward achieving the goal. If you need to draw a picture, make a vision board.
Or take a day off to fantasize about your big dreams. Imagine how it all fits together in the big picture of your life. You need to see the end to be able to achieve it.
Be Specific-Spell It Out
Every goal you set needs to be very exact in nature. If you want to be sure to reach the goal, you have to know when you’ve actually reached it. Instead of saying “I want to start a business,” state exactly what type of business you want to start.
Know who you want as your clients. Know all you can to make the goal more concrete.
Self-belief makes you unstoppable. Don’t believe it?
Allow GenuLines to offer you a little reminder of how this works.
The Power of Self-Belief
You’ve heard it before. If you believe in yourself, there’s little to stop you in whatever your pursuits.
It gives you the power to push forward and to defy the odds. You’ll be able to handle any roadblocks that come your way.
And you’ll brush off the naysayers.
It gives you peace of mind when you stick to your self-belief. To keep that self-belief strong, you need to define your goals.
You wouldn’t expect a general to fight a war without a map. You too need a map to guide you on how to proceed.
Too many people skip this step and wonder why they aren’t getting anywhere. Goals are your guidance, but carrying through with them is only done when you believe that it’s possible.
This belief is the energy you need to take action.
It helps you to focus on getting your tasks completed. You’ll also build confidence when you have self-belief.
It’s a powerful tool that will attract others to your confidence.
They’ll follow your lead, and you’ll help show them what is possible. When you run into any stumbling blocks (and you will), that confidence will help you see them through.
You’ll know how to take alternative action when necessary. The people following you will respect that as well. Several forces will try to beat you down.
You may even find yourself letting it happen.
You need to get centered on why you started your journey in the first place. Use affirmations to reinforce your message.
Be consistent with your affirmations
Unfortunately, many of the negative forces are going to be from your family and friends. They will see it as helping you avoid mistakes.
Many people will succumb to this negative pressure and give up. One way to prevent this is to join groups of like-minded individuals.
These can be connections to your business. Or they can be groups that focus on self-help.
These organizations exist to try and push the negative forces out. It’s great to go to meetings and get encouragement from the group.
These associations can lead to friendships that help you encourage each other. You may even form business partnerships from these friendships.
It’s good to know that you have this kind of support. They understand when everyone else around you doesn’t.
Overheard: “Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve”
Optimism…it’s a four-syllable word for something that can be harder to find than diamonds in South Africa. 
Overheard: “A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else.”
It wouldn’t take much to get a great start to your day every day. The key is to create a morning routine that motivates and organizes you for success; every day.
First we’ll look inside, at the things that are important to you. And we’ll make sure that these goals are even doable. 
It gives you the power to push forward and to defy the odds. You’ll be able to handle any roadblocks that come your way. 
Overheard: “Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit”
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