Archive for Uncategorized

Why Is Self Development Important?

April 18, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

You’re thinking about starting a self development program. But you’re not sure. It can be an important move for you and GenuLines is here to show you some “whys.”

Why Is Self Development Important?

When you were a kid your doubts, fears and insecurities could cause you to think, “I wish I was somebody else.”

 
man doing self developmentEven today it’s common to think that some or most people are better than us, especially when we’re feeling low. The truth is often very different.
 
You look at a successful young business entrepreneur and say “What else could he ask for?” Yet he may wonder why his friends won’t talk to him any more.
 

Envy

Isn’t it funny? We look at other people and envy them for what seems to us to be their perfect lives.
 
We wish we could trade places with them, while they look at us and think the same thing. We’re insecure about other people who themselves might be insecure about us.
 
The result could be low self-esteem. Or low self-confidence and loss of faith in self development
 

Not So Magnificent Obsession

So it can happen that you spend all your time obsessing about what seem to be your negative points. Yet it might be that they don’t matter to anybody else.
 
At the same time, you could have an irritating habit that you’re not even aware of.
 

Stop, Look and..

One key to self improvement is to LISTEN and TALK to a trusted friend. Find someone you’re comfortable with.
 
Someone who’ll let you open up on even the most sensitive topics you want to discuss. Ask questions in a way that makes it possible for the other person to tell you what is really happening.
 
This signals to the other person that you’re interested in self development. Usually, the person will hesitate to tell the truth right away.
 

Be Gracious

Of course it’s important to accept any comments or criticisms that you hear. You may feel hurt but try not to show it or your listener won’t want to tell you more.
 
Then you may want to check out the results with other people. It doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion.
 
Let’s say you’re the one offering self-improvement suggestions.
 
Start with letting them see that you yourself are following the path of self development. Self improvement makes us better people, more open to the world around us.
 

Re-imagine YOU

It’s vital to stop thinking of yourself as a second-rate being. Forget the repetitive thought of “If only I was richer .. if only I was thinner” and so on.
 
Accepting your genuine self is the first step to self improvement.
 
We all have our insecurities. We can wish we had better things, better features, etc.
 
But life need not be perfect for you to be happy about yourself. It’s more about acceptance and contentment.
 
When you begin to improve yourself you’ll begin to feel contentment and happiness.
 
JohnK 4-18-2022
 

stick man hears about self developmentOverheard: “The longest journey is the journey inward.”

                             – Dag Hammarskjold
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for self development

Stress and Motivation And How They Pressure Us

April 11, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

We’d all like to have grace under pressure. Easier said than done. 

Today GenuLines looks at pressure and what you can do to make it manageable.

 

Stress and Motivation And How They Pressure Us 

We’ve all been there. The deadline is looming and you’re not even out of the starting block.
 
We all recognize that feeling in the pit of our stomach as we settle down to work. But does it have to lead to stress?
 
And what does stress actually do to our motivation and focus?
 
pressure breaks pencil
 
 

Stressed Sick

Stress effects our bodies. It leads to higher blood pressure, anxiety, and a host of other symptoms.
 
It also makes it hard to concentrate on the task at hand.
 
Let’s say you’re feeling pressure at work, and it’s leading to stress. Your effectiveness could suffer.
 
You might be missing deadlines or making mistakes. You might even worry yourself sick and have to take a personal day.
 
Stress from psychological pressure can be the cause of all these problems.
 

Mounting Motivation

With good coping skills, pressure doesn’t have to lead to stress. It can affect motivation in a positive way, too.
 
When you’re feeling stressed, try practicing positive thinking or self-distraction. These are some of the many techniques that can beat stress and help your focus.
 
Like other skills, motivation under pressure takes practice. Learning to cope is crucial.
 
Positive coping mechanisms can help you melt away your stress. The stress is then replaced by a host of positive benefits of working under stress.
 

Performing Under Fire

When you master your stress levels and learn to perform under pressure you might notice a few things. You’ll keep a cooler head in difficult situations.
 
Your thinking is clear. Those around you may be struggling with the thought of some terrible outcome.
 
You’ll notice that your leadership skills improve, and that people turn to you in a crisis.
 
Up your game
You might also see that you perform better under pressure, People who do are in huge demand in most every industry.
 
At the office or behind a counter, performance under stress can lead to positive feedback. And promotions.
 
Employers value someone who can keep their cool. With a little bit of practice and some positive habits that someone could turn out to be you.
 
 
JohnK 4-11-2022
 
Stick figure hears about pressureOverheard: “No pressure, no diamonds”
                             ~Thomas Carlyle
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for pressure
 

Find Time In Your Busy Morning

April 4, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

Morning rush hour isn’t only on the highway. GenuLines knows you deal with your own rush before you head out the door. 

With that in mind, here are a few ideas to help you “tap the brakes” during your earliest hours. 

Find Time In Your Busy Morning

Mornings are busy and they can be quite chaotic. If you have a young family and plenty of people to get ready and out the door, you know this first hand.
 
The hourglass sands of timeThe good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way, no matter how busy you think you are first thing in the day.
 
The first few hours in the morning set the tone for the entire rest of the day. Do you want a panic scene, feeling like you’re running and trying to catch up?
 
Or do you want it to be calm, collected, productive, and with a feeling that you’re in control? It’s up to you and it’s all about embracing two simple concepts.
 
 
 

Get Up Early Enough

 
It’s tempting to hit the snooze button and catch a few more minutes of sleep, isn’t it? It’s even hard to set the alarm early enough that you have plenty of time for everything you want and need to get done.
 
I get it.
 
If you’re not a morning person, moving up the alarm by 30 minutes to carve out a little extra time can be tough. But after the first few mornings, it won’t be anywhere near as hard as you think.
 
And you’ll get used to it.
 
Getting up early enough and avoiding the snooze button at all costs is the key to an unrushed morning.
 

Buying Time?

 
Here’s the problem with cutting corners with time, or worse hitting the snooze button a few times. It gets you behind from the very start.
 
You have to rush to make it out the door in time and any little problem or speed bump along the way turns into a huge problem. Not being able to find the car keys becomes a major crisis.
 
It could cause you to be late for work and the kids to be tardy at school. Remember, your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day.
 
If you start it chasing downtime and things, that’s likely how you’ll spend the rest of your time.
 
But getting up early enough puts you ahead of the game. You’re in control.
 
You can take care of everything that needs doing in a calm manner. And you’ll still have time for the important things you want to work on.
 
In short, getting up early enough sets you up for an amazing, productive day.
 

Restructure Your Routine

 
Think about your current morning routine and where you’re spending time. Look for things you can change and tweak to find more time for the things you want to do.
 
For example, let’s say you want an extra 20 minutes in the morning to meditate. Look at what you could take care of ahead of time, get rid of, or delegate to make that time.
 
You may spend a lot of time getting breakfast for everyone. So get in the habit of setting the breakfast table the night before.
 
Arrange for your spouse or partner to get the coffee ready, so all you have to do in the morning is push a button. Teach the kids to make their own breakfast.
 
Have them take their dirty dishes and prep them for the dishwasher. Make sure clothes are set out the night before (including yours).
 
Give book bags, purses, briefcases, and car keys a designated spot. Know that they’re where they need to be before you turn in for the night.
 
Small changes like this to your morning routine can make a big difference. I challenge you to come up with a few more small tweaks that will save you at least 30 minutes in the morning.
 
JohnK 4-4-2022
 
Stick figure hears about timeOverheard: “A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.”
                 ~Charles Darwin, The Life & Letters of Charles Darwin
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for time

Why Self-Confidence Matters

March 28, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

You know that self-confidence is important. You just don’t think about it much.

Today you’re invited to sample some food for thought from GenuLines. 

Why Self-Confidence Matters

It often seems that confidence is elusive, like a smoky mirage.
Sometimes, it feels magical and wonderful; other times it can be frustrating.
 
But you can build up your self-confidence without having to resort to mystical means.
 
‘How?’ you ask. It’s simple.
 
Superman shows confidence
 
 
Start by recognizing that confidence is a skill you can learn. You set a goal and take small steps each day to work towards it.
 
Keep reading to find out more about self-confidence and why it matters.
 

 

 

 

What Is Self-Confidence?

Self-confidence isn’t tangible. You can’t touch it and say, “This is confidence.”
 
It’s something we get a feeling for when we, or others, have it.
 
Likewise, we can recognize when someone lacks it. Even when they try to attempt to compensate for it, we sense it and feel bad for them.
 
The good news is that self-confidence is a soft skill. Which means you can learn it and apply it to your daily life.
 
It’s not fixed, like your height for example.
 
It’s based for the most part on your mindset and the actions you do to follow through. You can boost your confidence and self-esteem by trusting your abilities.
 
Seeing yourself succeed in your mind is the first step in making better decisions.
Then, when your decisions make your life better, your confidence gets a nice little boost. And round and round it goes.
 

Confidence is Infectious

Even though we can’t see it, we still sense other people’s confidence levels in the way they behave and speak.
 
When you’re confident, you exude excitement and energy. You’re motivated to work hard and feel that same energy.
 
The downside is it goes both ways.
When one person lacks confidence, it can deflate everyone around them. They get the sense that there’s no point in trying.
 
Why Does Self-Confidence Matter?
 
There are different reasons why being confident can improve your life. Below, you’ll find a few examples of how it can make you a happier, more fulfilled individual.
 

Allows You to Take Positive Risks

Confidence can your life bring balance and a sense of direction. Making a conscious decision to develop your confidence does several things.
 
It allows you to take positive risks. It gets you out of your comfort zone.
 
And puts you on the path to success. The trick is understanding your own strength.
 
You have to believe that you can master whatever skill you’re working on.
 
Yes, it’ll be weird and difficult in the beginning. Yes, you’ll make mistakes along the way.
So what?
 
That’s what life is about. This is what boosts your self-esteem and makes you better at everything you do.
 

Empowers You to Embrace Your Failures

We all make mistakes. We all fail and meet obstacles in our lives.
 
The key is to understand that failures are a necessary part of progress. Read that again and let it sink in.
 
You may think that when you fail, it’s the end of the journey. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. To embrace your failures, you have to think of them as detours.
 
When you’re forced to change lanes or take a detour that doesn’t mean the entire journey is over. It means you’re taking a different path.
 
You’ll get there when the time is right.
 
Now, why do some people succeed after failing and others don’t? Those who manage to do that learn from their mistakes.
 
They go over what went wrong and find a way to fix it. In other words, they use their failures to their advantage.
 
They use them to prop themselves up and give them the push they need to keep going on their path.
 

Let’s Pause

Think about Thomas Edison and Michael Jordan. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of these two names?
 
Success? Fame? Glory? All of the above?
 
What about failure?”
 
These are two of the most familiar names you can think of. You say they haven’t failed.
 
Well, in truth they have—many times, in fact.
 
Yet, they’re smart enough to use their failures as stepping stones to aim higher and work harder.
Imagine the contributions we would never know if these two men had given up every time they failed! One of Edison’s quotes about refining the light bulb is, “I haven’t failed.
I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
 

Enables You To Trust Yourself

Many times, we can be our own worst enemies. We critique every move, every word, and every thought over and over again.
 
In moderation, it can be a great incentive to do better. Although, this only works if we treat ourselves with the same kindness and empathy, we show others.
Sad to say, it doesn’t happen very often. The best way to break out of that negative self-talk is to have faith in yourself.
 
Have faith in your decisions Even if you made mistakes in the past, that doesn’t ensure future failures. Own up to your bad decision, embrace it, and move on.
 
That’s now part of your DNA; it’s helping shape a stronger, more resilient person. Imagine it being part of your arsenal or a superpower.
 
Now, you’ve turned your mistake into something that can make you more resilient and less anxious.
 

A Final Note

Self-confidence is an integral part of who you are. Knowing why it matters may be the difference between being happy and being miserable.
 
Having that self-assurance can help boost your relationships and career. You’ll also be able to inspire others to become happier and more fulfilled.
 
JohnK 3-28-2022
 
stick figure hears about confidenceOverheard: “With confidence, you have won before you have started”
                              ~Marcus Garvey
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for confidence
 

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
 

Lesson Learned On A School Bus

March 14, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

Often the most important lessons you learn are outside of the classroom?  And they can double as stories you tell again and again throughout your life.

Today via GenuLines I share one of those with you.

Lesson Learned On A School Bus

It was sort of a side hustle. A job that would back up another job that would fund my college tuition.
 
lesson on chalkboard
 
I was a 22 year old school bus driver.
 
Most of my driving consisted of extra curricular activities and outings. One of those involved a field trip for kids from an inner city school in Pittsburgh.
 

 

Off we go

This group was like most. Talking, laughing, happy for a break from their stuffy classrooms.
 
We headed for the park and its wide open spaces. As I wheeled toward the entrance there was an anticipation that was palpable.
 
Everyone piled out of the vehicle full of happy expectation- with one exception.
 
The boy
He stayed in his seat, saying nothing and sort of staring into space. I wondered why he wanted to stay inside and miss a chance to enjoy the day with his friends.
 
I made an attempt to open him up a bit. It didn’t do much good.
 
He mumbled his responses and I couldn’t make them out. I did convince him to get up and go outside and I was sure he was going to run to catch up with the group.
 
But he didn’t.
 
He stood there in the same quiet state that kept him entranced during the ride. I thought the best thing for me to do was go back inside the bus and leave him to his thoughts.
 
But after a minute or so I heard, and felt, a loud bang on the side of the bus. Then there was another.
 
Ready, aim..
Outside the bus I saw this boy picking up chunks of dried mud from the parking lot. He was breaking off pieces and throwing them at the bus.
 
And I mean throwing them with a gusto a major league baseball scout would have admired.
 
This time I thought it best to get him back to his seat and away from any people who might be in the area. And now I questioned him in a more persistent way.
 
But his answers didn’t shed any light on why he would target a 72 passenger bus for a shelling. I did manage to keep him engaged in conversation.
 
And then the talk switched to movies.
 
Scene and heard
He volunteered that he had recently seen the movie Jaws. As he took me through the scenes of the movie he became more upbeat and animated.
 
I hadn’t yet seen the movie. But I didn’t mind hearing about the final scene without a spoiler alert.
 
The rest of the kids came back from their visit and we headed back to the school. I felt glad that I could diffuse the situation.
 
But I started to wonder what kind of a life this boy might be going back to.
 
Is he ignored in a dysfunctional house? Do his needs go unmet?
 
Is he a victim of violence?
 
Learning curve
Would this experience change the boy’s life? Probably not. 
 
But it taught the driver the importance of listening and caring. And that lesson would never show up on a college syllabus. 
 
JohnK 3-14-2022
 
Stick figure hears about lessonsOverheard: “Some people come in our life as blessings. Some come in your life as lessons.”
                                 ~Mother Teresa
 
 

 

disclaimer lessons

Eight “Bad” Habits That Are Actually Good for You

March 7, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

Some habits we break, while other habits we make. But some of the not so good ones can work in your favor.

Join us as GenuLines unwraps this riddle for you. 

 

Eight “Bad” Habits That Are Actually Good for You

picture of habits

 
Believe it or not, some bad habits are good for you. Your parents may have tried to punish you out of or control us out of doing these things.
 
Of course, everything in moderation, right? Let’s look at eight “bad” habits that are actually good for you that you can stop trying to end now.
 

 

1. Fidgeting

If you tend to wiggle a lot, your mom might have tried to stop it. Your partner might try too.
 
Yet, fidgeting is good for you because it burns more calories and keeps your blood moving.
 
This is especially true if you have a job that requires a lot of sitting. Sitting is comparable to smoking in damaging health.
 
So anything that can undo that damage is a good thing.
 
2. Gum Chewing
Sugarless gum is good for you. That’s if you have the right dental work or your own teeth.
 
Chewing gum burns calories and helps you eat less. It freshens your breath and also cuts down on cavities.
 
3. Video Games
While there may be some games that aren’t worth the added benefit. But in general playing video games helps with developing fine motor skills.
 
It keeps the mind nimble. And by some reports can help give relief for chronic pain conditions by taking your mind off the problem.
 
4. Daydreaming
Finding a way to allow your mind to get bored enough to be able to daydream is very good for your mind. It clarifies your goals in life, too.
 
You won’t create lofty goals for your life if you can’t daydream.
 
5. Swearing
Most of us feel that swearing is inappropriate. But studies show that swearing in a certain way reduces stress.
 
Remember that swearing is completely different from a slur. A slur is something you say about a person, whilst a swearword is a curse word – otherwise known as an expletive.
 
6. Messiness
If you are a messy person by nature, take heart; you’re likely also a very creative person. Messiness is sometimes a sign of creativity.
 
If you want to be more creative, don’t become messy on purpose. But realize that sometimes being messy is part of the creative process.
 
7. Sleeping in Late
They say that “the early bird gets the worm,” but does it? Sleeping well and enough each night is important to your health and brain function.
 
If you stayed up late and need to sleep in and it won’t cause you to get fired or miss something important – go for it.
 
8. Passing Gas
Passing gas is a normal action. It gets rid of built-up gas from your digestive tract. to prevent bloating and pain.
 
Of course, you don’t want to do some of these things when other people are around. But it’s okay to accept some of them as part of who you are and part of living life.
 
As long as you can choose the habits you create, you can build a life in line with what you want it to be.
 
JohnK 3-7-2022
 
Stick figure hears about habitsOverheard: “The truth is that everyone is bored, and devotes himself to cultivating habits”                                       
                          ~Albert Camus, The Plague
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for habits
 
 

Stress Management In Easy Steps

February 28, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

Living in times of stress can leave you feeling as though there’s nothing you can do about it. Each stressful event seems to dish out more than the one before. 

Take some of the stress off your plate with this GenuLines look at stress management, 

Stress Management In Easy Steps

man relieves stress

 

Feeling at least occasional levels of stress in life is unavoidable, But you don’t have to feel it at all times.

We can often prevent stressful incidents and decrease our negative reactions to them.

 
In fact, many times all we have to do to reduce our stress is to acknowledge that it’s there. And in many areas of our lives, there are steps we can and should take toward effective stress management.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Managing time
Time management skills can allow you more time with your family and friends. And they can help your general performance and productivity.
 
This will help reduce your stress.
 
To improve your time management:
 
· Save time by focusing and concentrating, delegating, and scheduling time for yourself.
 
· Keep a record of how you spend your time, including work, family, and leisure time.
 
· Rank tasks by importance and urgency. Redirect your time to those activities that are important and meaningful to you.
 
· Manage your commitments by not over-or under committing. Don’t commit to what is not important to you.
 
· Deal with procrastination by using a day planner. Break large projects into smaller ones.
 
And set short-term deadlines.
 
· Examine your beliefs to reduce conflict between what you believe and what your life is like.
 

Build healthy coping strategies

It’s important that you identify your coping strategies. One way to do this is by recording stressful events, your reaction, and how you cope in a stress journal.
 
Knowing this, you can work to turn unhealthy coping strategies into healthy ones. Those that help you focus on the positive and what you can change or control in your life.
 

Lifestyle

Some behaviors and lifestyle choices affect your stress level. They may not be a direct cause of stress.
 
But they can interfere with the ways your body seeks relief.
 
Try to:
 
· Balance personal, work, and family needs and obligations.
 
· Have a sense of purpose in life.
 
· Get enough sleep. Your body recovers from the stresses of the day while you are sleeping.
 
· Eat a balanced diet for a nutritional defense against stress.
 
· Get moderate exercise throughout the week.
 
· Limit your consumption of alcohol.
 
· Don’t smoke.
 

Social support

Social support is a major factor in how we experience stress. It’s the kind you get from family, friends, and the community.
 
It shows how they love, esteem, and care for you. Studies link this to good mental and physical health.
 

Ways of thinking

When an event triggers negative thoughts you can experience a cascade of reactions. Like fear, insecurity, anxiety, depression, rage, guilt. and a sense of worthlessness or powerlessness.
 
These emotions trigger the body’s stress, much like an actual threat does. Dealing with your negative thoughts and how you see things can help reduce stress.
 
· Thought-stopping helps you stop a negative thought to help calm you.
 
· Disproving irrational thoughts helps you to avoid exaggerating negative thoughts. Anticipating the worst.
 
And giving the event an incorrect interpretation.
 
· Problem-solving helps you identify all aspects of a stressful event and find ways to deal with it.
 
· Change your communication style. You’ll get your views across and others won’t feel put down, hostile, or intimidated.
 
This reduces the stress that comes from poor communication.
 
Anybody can get stressed. You don’t have to have a high-powered job or any job at all.
 
In fact, unemployment is stressful in itself. Whether you’re the mail guy, the CEO, or the average parent, stress is going to affect you from time to time.
 
How you deal with it is what counts.
 
JohnK 2-28-2022
 
stick man hears about stressOverheard: “ In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers”
                                                   ~Fred Rogers
 
 
 
 
 
Article image by SHVETS production from Pexels
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for stress
 

Signs Your Current Routine Needs an Update

February 21, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

Your daily routine can be so hum-drum that you don’t even notice. This can leave you feeling that you’re sort of stuck in “neutral.” 

Get your life back in high gear with this GenuLines look at how you can get back up to speed, 

Signs Your Current Routine Needs an Update

Daily routines can be invaluable for improving our lives. But they aren’t all equal.
 
When you’re creating your first routine, there are several things you may miss out on or get wrong. At first, it may have worked for you.
 
But now you’ve stopped seeing the progress you wanted.
 
As humans, we change and evolve over time. Where you are now and how you feel willDull routine look completely different from how it did a year ago.
 
This means, what works for us, in the beginning, may not work for us further down the line.
 
Not sure whether your routine is working for you? Examine the issues, situations, and signs below.
 
They can help you decide if you need to hit the “refresh” button.
 
 
 
 
You find the routine is difficult to stick to
The right routine will become easy to follow over time. But, all routines need effort in the beginning.
 
When you’re making changes, the mind needs time to adjust. It has to re-learn different patterns of behavior.
 
It’s often said that it takes around 21 days to build up consistent habits. If you’re still struggling after 21 days, it could be a sign you need to change it.
 
You don’t see the value in it anymore
When you first start following a routine, it adds a lot of value to your life. It can boost energy levels, reduce stress, and make you feel happier.
 
You’ll have few problems identifying the value in the things you’re doing.
 
If you’re struggling to see the value in your routine, changing it up can help. Over time, you change and the things that once helped you are no longer relevant.
 
This means it’s important to make changes as you and your circumstances change.
 
There is no room for spontaneity
Daily routines create structure. Yet you want to leave some room for flexibility.
 
Life is unpredictable and it needs factoring into your routine. If you make it too strict, you’ll find it’s much harder to follow.
 
Stick to including the most important tasks in your routine. These include habits to improve your mornings.
 
Don’t aim to create a strict timeline of how your day should go.
 
You find change more difficult now
One of the great things about a daily routine is that it gives you structure. And it should leave room for change, too.
 
If you use your daily routine to avoid change, it’s time to stop.
 
Many people find that change is a lot tougher if they’ve been following a strict routine. Such as adjusting to a rigid new schedule.
 
Any change can leave you feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. But it’s important to be open to change so re-doing your routine may be necessary.
 
These are some of the top signs you may need to update your current routine. Remember, over time you may need to alter your routines.
 
You’ll be making room for any lifestyle and personal changes.
 
JohnK 2-21-2022
 
stick figure hears about routineOverheard:  “The fixity of a habit is generally in direct proportion to its absurdity”
                                      ~Marcel Proust
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for routine

Taking Action Even When You’re Scared to Death

February 14, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

You visualize taking action. But thinking about it grips you with fear. 

This GenuLines report can help you take action while putting fear on the back foot. 

Taking Action Even When You’re Scared to Death

Fear is a normal emotion. Sometimes it can be beneficial because it makes you aware of risks.
 
It also keeps you alert, and improves mental focus.
 
man with fearBut too much fear will have the opposite effect. Don’t fret since even the most successful people experience this feeling.
 
The key is to prevent it from dictating your actions.

 

 

The many shades of fear

This human emotion isn’t all black and white. Fear can take many forms. They range from mild anxiety to downright debilitating over thinking under certain circumstances.
 
It can protect you from danger and stop impulsive behaviors. But because it’s closely tied into your gut instinct, it can also help you improve your decision.
 
Not all types of fear are good for you. In fact, this emotion often does more harm than good.
 
It can stop you from reaching your full potential, fuel procrastination.

It can cause stress

Let’s say you want to quit your nine to five job and start a creative agency or work as a freelance web designer. You might be afraid that you’ll lose time and money if things don’t workout as you planned.
 
But what if you won’t have enough clients? Or what if you get sick and can’t work anymore?
 
The risks are real, so it’s normal to experience fear. But you’ll never know what you’re missing if you don’t try.
 
Who knows, you might have a huge success and build a loyal customer base five years from now. You could have enough money to buy the home of your dreams.
 
Do you want to live your life wondering what if?
 
How to Conquer Your Fear
No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be able to get rid of fear completely. Instead, you can make it your ally.
 
Picture yourself reaching your goal whatever it is. Imagine a worst-case scenario then come up with a backup plan.
 
Ask yourself: what are the facts? Am I making assumptions? What’s the best thing that can happen? Who can I call for help?
 
Use your fear as a source of guidance. Assess your inner fears and seek possible solutions.
 
Using our example above, you could start a web design side hustle to complement to your regular job. This way, if your business fails, you’ll still have an income.
 
If it keeps growing, turn it into a full time job. With this approach, you’ll get to do what you want and mitigate risks.
 
JohnK 2-14-2022
 
Stick figure hears about taking actionOverheard: “A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a short cut to meet it.”
                            ~ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Children of Húrin
 
 
 
 

 

disclaimer for taking action

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