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Consider Doing a SWOT Analysis on Yourself

June 18, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
We’re about halfway through a year-long GenuLines series of articles on self-improvement. It’s a good time to pause for an overall look at how we’re doing. 
 
The following offers a template for doing that.
 
 
call to action for analysis
 

Consider Doing a SWOT Analysis on Yourself

man doing analysis
 
When people create case studies on businesses, they often include a SWOT analysis. SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
 
If you can do this for business, why not consider doing one for yourself?
 
 
 
It can help you gain insight into yourself and reinforce the idea of believing in yourself.
 
The SWOT concept is usually diagrammed in quadrants or squares. Each represents one word or letter in the acronym.
 
You can put any of the words into any square
 
It’s customary, though, to use the upper left square for Strengths. The lower left square is for Opportunities.
 
The upper-right square is for Weaknesses, and the lower-right square is for Threats.
 
Fill up each quadrant with appropriate items relating to the heading of the quadrant. To take this a step further, ask family and friends to help you fill up the quadrants.
 
After you have them all filled, you can decide what needs improvement.
 
Stay positive
Don’t let the negative aspects of this process (Weaknesses, Threats) trip you up. You’re listing them to gain perspective in areas that you need your focus.
 
In fact, some weaknesses you may not want to tackle because it doesn’t interest you. Threats are merely items to be aware of and may help you try to overcome them.
 
The key to success is to be as honest as possible with yourself about all the items included in the analysis. If you aren’t, it isn’t going to help you much, and you may focus on the wrong items to improve.
 
Further, you may not be as strong in some areas as you believed, which also can lead you on the wrong path.
 
A good SWOT analysis is a great foundation for your personal and professional life. You can use it as a tool to advance your goals.
 
You’ll learn about yourself and who you are. But don’t rush this process.
 
You want it to be as representative of yourself as possible. It’s better to take several days or even weeks than to try to list items for the sake of filling up the quadrants.
 
Feeling comfortable with your analysis can help your self-belief.
 
It’s all there for you to reference and to refine your tasks and goals.
 
JohnK 6-18-2019
 
stick figure doing analysisOverheard:  “The analysis of character is the highest human entertainment”
                         ~Isaac Bashevis Singer
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer to help our analysis

Project Into Your Future: Appreciate the Small Stuff

June 11, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
crystal ball to projectSuppose you had a crystal ball. You gaze into the ball, and it starts to reveal your life for the next twenty years.
 
It’s showing your future. How would it look?
 
 
 
 
Today GenuLines takes a “look.”
 
 
call to action for projecting

 

Project Into Your Future: Appreciate the Small Stuff

While there are no definite ways to peer into the future to date, you do have some control over the process. There are random events that will be beyond your control.
 
Unfortunately, some of them will be unpleasant. But, there’s a lot you can do to shape your future.
 
The point of the exercise is to try and determine if you appreciate the small things in your life.
 
A look into the crystal ball
Are you spending time with family or friends? Or are you working long hours and not interacting with anyone?
 
If you keep your focus on making money, you may look back on your time and wish you hadn’t. There’s much more to life than work.
 
At some point, the company could turn you loose. They may replace you with someone younger and less expensive.
 
You aren’t as important to them as you make yourself out to be. Everyone is replaceable.
 
People do need to work. You have to be able to provide for your family.
 
But, you need to have a balance between work and spending time with your family and friends. Work and money are things you can always manage to find.
 
Family and friends are irreplaceable as is the time you spend with them.
 

Opportunity knocks

Another reason to spend time with people is they can also present you with opportunities. For instance, you may not like your career, but you stick with it because the money is good and it’s steady work.
 
As you interact with other people, you may hear about opportunities for work that you’d much prefer. This kind of thing happens quite often.
 
If you spent the majority of your time at your job, you would never discover these opportunities.
 
Of course, you don’t want your friendships to be dependent on the opportunities they provide. Yet, friendships often lead to forming new ventures.
 
That’s a natural part of the process.
 
But don’t pick your job on the basis of forming close friendships. In time some co-workers can become good friends.
 
Just remember that these relationships are professional.
 
JohnK 6-11-2019
 
stick figure ready to projectOverheard: “We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”
                       ~Albert Schweitzer
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer to help us project
 

Teaching Kids to Deal with Adversity

June 4, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Parents want to shelter their kids from adversity as much as possible. They see the world as dangerous, and going into protection mode is understandable.
 
But kids need to learn how to deal with adversity. Sheltering them can prevent this from happening.
 
Below are some GenuLines suggestions for showing kids the way through adversity.
 
banner to appreciate
 
 

Teaching Kids to Deal with Adversity

Can you teach kids about the difficulties ahead of them? It’s a delicate balance between knowing what to tell them and what to keep from them.
 
After all, many societies use movie rating systems to limit certain children’s viewing.
 
But they learn a lot from older siblings. And they learn from classmates in school (who also have older siblings).
 
They also take cues from parents who let profanities slip out, as hard as they try not to.
 
Kboy facing adversityids know more than we give them credit for, and they can handle much more than we want to believe. They watch the news and see stories of violence, terrorism, and other horrific events.
 
Even if you keep them from watching, they hear about the events in school. There is simply no way around it.
 
 
 
When kids know they can talk to their parents, they can handle most situations. It’s better to learn from the source, i.e., parents, rather than from outside sources such as friends.
 
Chances are the information from friends is not reliable. That’s one reason kids tell outrageous stories when they get home from school.
 
To help kids deal with adversity, be sure the set the stage for their behavior. If you lose it during your own challenges you can be certain they’ll do the same.
 
Stay as calm as possible and look for solutions. The kids will take your lead on this behavior as well.
 
Kids should also learn to help others at an early age. This way, they won’t be afraid to rely on others when they need help.
 
When they get older, they may be willing to reach out to friends or family members. Of course, they should try to take care of certain situations on their own before reaching out.
 
Again, it’s a delicate balance and a learning process.
 
Every family situation is different. Each may call for different ways of handling them.
 
The variety makes a step-by-step process tough if even possible. Early exposure to life’s situations is key.
 
This will pay dividends for them when they’re adults.
 
JohnK 6-4-2019
 
stick man looking for adversityOverheard: “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”
                                        ~ Chinese Proverb
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for routine
 
 
 
 
 

Let Your Daily Routine Move You Toward Success

May 28, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Spontaneity is a lot more fun than routine. It helps to mix things up and keeps life interesting.
 
But too much spontaneity can lead to an unstructured way of life. Some people love that, but most find would find that difficult to maintain.
 
Today GenuLines asks you to take a look at or set up your daily routine.
 
 
call to action for routine

 

Setting Your Daily Routine

For starters, enough sleep is important for proper function. If you don’t have a routine, it’s not likely you will get the right amount of sleep every night.
 
a boy's sleeping routine

Your body needs to have its internal clock set to the same sleep habits.
 
What if you don’t have those things in place? You might find it difficult to go to sleep at night.
 
Or you’ll wake up from time to time during the night.
 
 
 
To help you get to sleep faster, make sure you go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time in the morning. Try to avoid drinking too much alcohol as this will disrupt your sleep.
 
You may fall asleep easier, but you will not go into a deep sleep. That deep sleep interrupts your internal rhythm, and you may not be able to fall back to sleep.
 
Snoozing over screening
Try to limit the use of electronic devices before you go to bed. Studies tell us devices such as laptops and tablets stimulate your visual senses. This makes it tougher to sleep.
 
You should have a routine for your diet, too. If you don’t set up the right diet and eat at the same time daily, you will likely have digestion issues.
 
Your erratic schedule has a downside, too. That’s because your body’s inability to regulate can cause weight gain issues.
 
An article about routines would be incomplete if it didn’t cover getting exercise. Exercise is also the one element where many people have a problem being consistent.
 
But a routine here can be a stress-buster. And it can bring better sleep.
 
You don’t have to incorporate intense exercise. Take a daily or every other day walk.
 
Then you can check off a big part of your exercise need.
 
Find the routines that work for you, and work hard to stick with them. Routines are habits, and it takes some effort to develop habits to the point where you don’t even think about them.
 
There’s room for some spontaneous activity, which everyone needs once-in-a-while. Don’t try to make major changes all at once.
 
Small changes are best since it’s easier to succeed with them.
 
JohnK 5-28-2019
 
 
stickman looking for routineOverheard: “The only routine with me is no routine at all”:   
                                      ~Jackie Kennedy
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for routine
 
 
 

Today’s Chi For Yourself: “Panic Free” With Tom Bunn

May 23, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments

What if you could stop panic by tapping into a certain part of your brain? 

man talking panicLicensed therapist (and pilot) Tom Bunn discovered an approach to panic that uses a part of the brain not affected by the stress hormones that bombard a person experiencing panic.

Tom Bunn is the author of PANIC FREE: The 10-Day Program to End Panic, Anxiety, and Claustrophobia.

 

We get started at 1 pm Pacific, 4 pm Eastern time at ChiForYourself.com

 

JohnK 5-23-2019

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Stop Relying Too Much on Others

May 21, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments

If you have difficulty trusting yourself, you may be too dependent on others. The situation can grow and you become dependent on more and more people.

GenuLines knows that can present problems when called upon to handle situations on your own, so read for some helpful ideas. 

call to action for others

Stop Relying Too Much on Others

Have you ever let someone else take over a part of your job? You may feel relief when this happens.

But you could be setting yourself up for future failure. The reason this happens is that you didn’t trust that you could do the job yourself.

 

character explaining to others

 

In the above scenario, you’re taking on something outside of your comfort zone. It may be that your boss wants to test how you will handle a new situation.

He or she gives you an assignment knowing that you have never dealt with it before.

It’s natural to ask others for help when you find yourself in unfamiliar territory. There’s nothing wrong with doing this.

But there’s little growth in letting others solve problems for you. You won’t develop the self-trust for handling new situations.

And your manager will see that you, for the most part, passed the assignment to someone else.

Positivity helps
Face your new challenges with positivity. Be willing to make an attempt even if you make mistakes.

The mistakes are the tools for you to learn. When you do make those mistakes, ask what you did wrong.

Over time, those mistakes will get less and less, and you’ll begin to trust that you can handle the situations.

There’s a subtle result of trying something new. You’ll prove that you can handle new tasks and develop new skills.

That’s enlightening and it’s a big factor in developing trust in yourself.

Every skill you are now good at and find easy you probably struggled with at the start. If you keep this in mind, you will give yourself over to trusting that you can handle anything that comes your way.

You’ll need less reliance on others. But you still should ask questions when you are unsure about something.

That’s another part of learning.

Some people may give you a hard time because it’s inconvenient. But, you’ll find most people want to help you succeed.

It helps them when you get up to speed with new skills.

JohnK 5-21-2019
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stickman listening to othersOverheard: “Trust but verify”
                           ~Ronald Reagan

 

 

 

 

disclaimer for others

 

 

Become a “Turnaround Factory” for Negative Thinking

May 14, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Negative images bombard your life. They’re all over the television news and your favorite TV shows.
 
You see it online, at work and even at home. But, GenuLines suggests some out of the box thinking to turn things around 
 
call to fight negative

Become a “Turnaround Factory” for Negative Thinking

What if you could picture your brain as a factory? One that takes in negative thinking and processes it to churn out positive thoughts.
 
negative picture of factorySeems a bit odd since, of course, you’re not a factory. But, if you can think in these terms, you may be able to combat negative thinking.
 
Switching to factory status means you need to stop overreacting to what people say. When someone says something you don’t agree with, take a moment to consider what they’re saying.
 
 
When you get annoyed at others, you stop listening to them and only want to get your point across. You want to prove why they’re wrong.
 
Instead, after he or she speaks, take a moment and consider what the message is.
 
The next step is to try and see the other person’s point of view. If you have a difficult time doing this, calmly ask questions of the person making the statement.
 
You can say that you don’t understand the reason for the statement and would like to know more about why they said it.
 
You don’t have to agree with the other person, even after you start to process what they say. But, the act of listening and considering their point of view will transform you.
 
You may start to challenge your belief system. Sometimes you can get so focused on a belief, even when the reason why you feel that way has changed.
 
When you start to question your beliefs, you’ll be more open in considering what others have to say. The process will help you turn negative thoughts into positive ones.
 
Negative thoughts seldom lead to believing in oneself. You will end up challenging what everyone says as wrong if they don’t agree with your way of thinking.
 
You’ll become bitter towards others and at some point towards yourself. You won’t believe that anything is possible because you shoot down every suggestion.
 
This type of thinking doesn’t make people happy.
 
When you start to open yourself to others, you will learn more and be accepting of different beliefs. You’ll become enlightened when this happens.
 
JohnK 5-14-2019
 
 
stick figure hears negative talkOverheard: ” Negativity can only feed on negativity”
                                ~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for negative

Show Others How to Appreciate the Small Things

May 7, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Life gives us lots to appreciate. People who forget that can become bitter over time.
 
But you can set an example for them. Today GenuLines looks at some ways to do it.
 
call to content you'll appreciate
 

Show Others How to Appreciate the Small Things

Your gratitude for life’s gifts can help you show others how to do the same. You don’t have to go overboard.
 
sign you can appreciateYou can make occasional references to how you enjoy your life and give reasons why. Relate experiences about your weekend to your colleagues.
 
Then tell why you appreciate them.
 
Stay as positive as you can, even if the bitter people are negative. That’s not easy since negative people can sour the moods of the people around them.
 
 
***
 

 

But, your positive outlook can cancel out that negative behavior.
 
People appreciate listeners
They haven’t been able to get their problems off their chest. These problems often build, which stokes their bitterness.
 
They feel as though no one is listening and no one cares about them. But playing the role of advisor can be the wrong tactic to use.
 
Be a listener. It’ll make a world of difference.
 
Invite them to events after work. Understand that it may take some time before they say yes to your invitations.
 
Bitter people often become reclusive. Keep inviting them, and over time you may break down their barriers.
 
Don’t pressure them. That will make them more reclusive.
 
Talk activities
Get them talking about their hobbies or their favorite sports. Even if they aren’t active in these events, ask about past experiences.
 
When they start talking it may re-ignite a spark. That can be a great starting point in helping them get through their issues.
 
Some people will never let down their guard, and that’s unfortunate. They’ve stopped living life, and they don’t appreciate any aspect of it.
 
But there’s hope for some. Even changing one life is a force for good.
 
They’ll become more pleasant to be around. And they may get to the point where they’ll help others who’ve lost their way.
 
JohnK 5-7-2019
 
 
stickman who apreciatesOverheard: When the crowd appreciates you, it encourages you to be a little more daring, I think.
                               ~ Julius Erving
 
 
 
 
 
***Photo by MARK ADRIANE on Unsplash
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for adversity
 
 

Helping Others Deal with Adversity

April 30, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
At some point in your life, you’re going to experience adversity. It teaches you that you have the strength to overcome most anything that comes your way.
 
Sometimes, others you know may need help when dealing with their adverse situations. GenuLines reminds you that your experience of self-help puts you in a good position to offer them help.
 
banner helps with adversity
 

Helping Others Deal with Adversity

cloud of adversityThe people you’re trying to help may need to open up about their situation. If they’re denying that it’s occurring, it’s going to be difficult to help them.
 
They won’t accept your offers of help because they don’t believe anything is wrong. Or worse, they’ll get angry with you for even suggesting something is wrong.
 
 
 
A helpful approach
There’s a way to help them realize they have a problem. Ask them how they would handle a similar situation if they needed to help someone else.
 
This gets them to focus on an outside entity, even if fictitious. This lets them start the process of identifying the problem.
 
It doesn’t guarantee that they’ll come around. But it can get the process started.
 
Helping people to recognize the problem helps them take action.
 
You may want to search for help online. Research before they do so that you can help them when they get to that point of doing the research themselves.
 
It’s not a bad idea to learn more about the situation. You’ll be better able to help them.
 
Your adversity experience
If you’ve dealt with the specific situation before, that will speed the process. The person you’re helping can ask questions about your experiences and what you did to cope or get through it.
 
You will likely have a list of resources prepared from your experiences. You can volunteer to go with them to any support groups or meetings.
 
But once they get started they may be able to do it alone.
 
Helping others deal with adversity is not an easy task. You should expect to get resistance, especially in the beginning.
 
But, if you can get them to see the problem, they may be ready to take action towards the recovery process. It can be rewarding to know that you helped people start on their road to recovery.
 
JohnK 4-30-2019
 
 
stick figure hears about adversityOverheard: “The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity”
 
                             ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for adversity

Money and Mindfulness on The Next Chi For Yourself

April 24, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments

Is it possible to be a conscientious citizen of the world and save more money? Our next scheduled Chi For Yourself guest says yes you can.

Jonathan K DeYoe is a Buddhist and a financial planner. He’ll talk about a unique financial plan that’s guided by your deepest beliefs, and how to save, invest, pay off debt, and fund your retirement and dreams by building a lifetime income stream. 

man who talks about money

      Jonathan K. DeYoe

 

Jonathan K. DeYoe is the author of Mindful Money: Simple Practices for Reaching Your Financial Goals and Increasing Your Happiness Dividend.

Join us on Thursday,  April 25th at 4 pm Eastern, 1 pm Pacific time at chiforyourself.com

 

JohnK 4-24-2019

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