Archive for Uncategorized

How to Fight For What Is Yours

September 5, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

banner forfight

An old saying tells us to pick our fights carefully. We’re not suggesting violence. But there are times when you can be more combative and GenuLines shows you how to do that.

How to Fight for What Is Yours

Everyone has needs which at some point will collide with others. In such cases, you may need to fight for what is yours.

There are ways to handle the situation and not get too overheated or out of control.

chess pieces fight

 

Always be respectful of others’ feelings. There is nothing wrong with fighting for what you deserve.

But keep in mind that others are going to try to fight for themselves.

That could cause you to become angry with them.  And you might  say something disrespectful in the heat of the moment.

 

Stay Calm
Try to remain calm and remember that the other people are trying to get the same as you.

Along those lines, always present your case based on the facts. Don’t introduce false information to try and sway the decision makers to your side.

When you have the facts on your side, you can reference them and where you found them.

Be ready for any counter-arguments from others fighting for what you want. Preparation will help you know what to say when they present those arguments.

And you’ll be able to prepare an answer ahead of time.

Sticks And Stones?
Never revert to name calling and don’t make the situation personal. In most cases, what you’re fighting for has little to do with peoples’ personalities.

So it has no place in the discussion.

For instance, you may be competing with someone for a promotion at work.  If you start attacking them on a personal level, it’ll likely backfire on you and you’ll look bad.

Make Room
Let other people speak. If you interrupt people before they speak their minds, you may not get the full story.

You may jump to incorrect conclusions. By allowing others to finish what they have to say, you can present a more appropriate argument.

Expect the same when you speak.  And ask to speak without interruption.

Above all, try to remain calm throughout the process. You’ll exude confidence.

That can strengthen your position when others are getting hotheaded. You’ll be the bigger person.

And that could give you the advantage.

JohnK 9-4-2023
chiforyourself.com

 

stick man hears about fightsOverheard:  “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight”

~ Sun Tzu
 

 

disclaimer for fights

 

 

Are Your Self Limiting Beliefs Bringing You Down?

August 28, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

banner for limits

It seems as though you’re going through life with the emergency brake on. Your efforts are cancelled out by limits of one sort or another.

Your beliefs could be the problem, and GenuLines has a closer look at how this is happening.

Are Your Self Limiting Beliefs Bringing You Down?

You’re not moving forward in life, why is that? The answer could be self-limiting beliefs.

Self-limiting beliefs relate to our abilities, skills, looks, motivation, and other personality traits.

Self-limiting beliefs are often self-identified. This means that they are beliefs that focus on oneself rather than the world in general.

But self-limiting beliefs may also be about other people or the world.

note tells of limits

What Are Self-Limiting Beliefs?
Self-limiting beliefs include: I do/don’t I am/am not:

These beliefs define us by things we are or are not. “I am an accountant.”

These types of self-limiting beliefs may also connect to things you tell yourself you do or don’t deserve.

“I don’t deserve a raise because I’m a bad accountant.” Self-limiting beliefs come from the self-image.

Typical I can’t self-limiting beliefs are statements that begin with I can’t. “I can’t do this because… I can’t learn that because…”

Value Beliefs
Value beliefs usually come from norms laws cultural restraints and other conditions.

But, not all these are mandatory, and some are limiting. “I must clean my house every day until the floor shines.”

This is a very limiting value belief about cleanliness.

Others will/are: these are beliefs based on how other people perceive us or what they will do based on our actions. These are often guesses about other people’s behavior, and they are often wrong.

These self-limiting beliefs are wrong. We view people through our own mind rather than through their perception.

We don’t have accurate ideas of how other people think because we have not lived their experiences.

How Do Self Limiting Beliefs Affect Your Life?
We’ll refer to Psychology Today. We’re told that limiting decisions in our lives prevents us from becoming who we wish to become.

Self-limiting thoughts do this by affecting our decisions.

There have been several studies in this area over the years. They looked at what we perceive, our emotional state, and how we perform.

All showed ties to our self-belief system. Self-limiting beliefs turn into self-limiting actions.

Often people with self-limiting beliefs will not even attempt to test that limit. For example, people who think that they are not attractive will never attempt to ask for a date.

If you think you’re too old to get a new jobs you won’t try to find a more satisfying one.

You can see how self-limiting beliefs can bring you down without you even knowing. Self-limiting beliefs are controlling your decisions every day.

4-Steps To Eliminating Self Limiting Beliefs
The lucky thing about thoughts is that you are in complete control of them. Anytime you have a thought, whether it’s positive or negative, you can change it.

Psychology Today has a four-step process to end self-limiting beliefs. Let’s take a look:

1. Write the limiting belief down.
Find out how strong each belief is and what emotions they make you feel.

2. Acknowledge that they are beliefs and not truths.
Many people struggle with this step, but the reality is a belief and not a fact. Many self-limiting beliefs are limitations based on fictional ideas we have about ourselves.

When you realize that these are not real limits, you free yourself to act against them.

3. Try on a different belief.
This may take some practice, but over time you’ll be able to change your belief system. An example from Psychology Today was changing a self-limiting belief about handling money.

Instead of saying, “I am not good with money and that is why I have financial difficulties.” You would change that belief to “I am experienced with money because of my past. ”

“I’ve learned how to handle my finances.” These simple tweaks in your internal dialogue can help you change your actions.

4. Take different action.
The final step is to take action on your new belief as if it were true. If you’re trying on the belief that you are a successful artist, you may enter your first art show.

Scary? Sure.

But it’s also a big step in overcoming negative and self-limiting beliefs.

JohnK 8-28-2023
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about limitsOverheard: Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.

~Arthur Schopenhauer
 

 

disclaimer for limits

 

Is Brain Fog Killing Your Focus?

August 21, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

banner on focus

When you experience brain fog, you’re in a sort of prison.  You’re not sure what to do next.

The focus of this GenuLines message is that you can do a lot to free yourself from the fog and get moving again.

Is Brain Fog Killing Your Focus?

You’re at work. You feel like you’re having to fight through cobwebs to get your thoughts straight.

Or sometimes you find it very hard to concentrate or focus for long stretches.

These are signs of brain fog. This can kill your productivity and ability to focus.

So, what causes brain fog, and what can you do about it?

man lacking focus

What is Brain Fog?

It’s a feeling of being somewhat confused or disoriented. Forgetfulness is very common, too.

When your thoughts are hazy or lazy, slow to come together, or when you can’t seem to concentrate, you have brain fog. In more severe instances, it can lead to feelings of depression and unhappiness.

You lose your ability to find inspiration in life.

Brain fog is a slowing or impairment of your cognitive functions. These control your ability to plan, organize, remember, and solve problems.

Very often brain fog is the result of poor lifestyle and dietary choices. You can wind up with imbalances in hormones and nutrient levels.

Causes of Brain Fog And How to Address Them

Lack of sleep is the prime contributing factor to fogginess. Your brain can’t restore neural connectivity that regulates memory and learning.

Chronic sleep deprivation can impair motor functions. Same for the ability to reason. If you’re feeling foggy, examine your sleep habits.

Make adjustments that guarantee you at least seven hours of rest each night.

Dehydration is also a leading cause of brain fog. Your brain is about three-quarters water, and when you don’t have enough, it can have a significant effect.

Even a small amount of dehydration can cause problems.

You may experience confusion, impaired mental performance, and disorientation. Be sure to get enough liquids, especially water, throughout your day to stave off the mental fog.

Poor eating habits can also affect concentration or clear thinking. Your brain needs energy to work well, but you won’t find it in refined carbohydrates.

They’ll leave your brain feeling sluggish. Instead, try more fruits, vegetables and lean proteins and plant- based food.

There are other contributing factors to mental fog, too. They include stress, inactivity, hormone level changes, and certain types of medications.

Add to the list various medical conditions. If you suspect you have any of these, you should talk to your doctor.

One thing you can do to help clear your mind and refocus is take a brisk walk. You can try changing your environment or engaging in a stimulating conversation.

Final Thoughts

Clearing away the fog can be a simple matter. You can eat better, get more sleep, and drink plenty of water.

For a quick pick-me-up in your day, it’s good to challenge your mind to something new or different for a short period.

Then again, clearing your brain fog may be a little tougher, so find some strategies that work best for you. Work on recognizing when you start to feel foggy.

And be proactive about addressing this before it becomes a bigger problem.

JohnK  8/21/23
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about focusOverheard: “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light”

~Aristotle Onassis
 

 

 

disclaimer for focus

 

 

 

The Importance of Resilience: The Survival Skill

August 14, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

banner on resilience

A big part of any survival plan is resilience. It’s crucial to endure a situation until you can get the upper hand.

Let GenuLines help you in the process as we look at this quality called resilience.

The Importance of Resilience: The Survival Skill

Failure is always an option. In fact, failure is inevitable,

Every successful person has had their fair share of failure. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall, only that you get back up again.

The ability to recover after failing a task is resilience.

runners show resilience

Why is resilience important? Well, there are several reasons:

● Protection from overwhelming experience
Without resilience, every obstacle that you face can be daunting. Developing mechanisms for handling these difficult experiences makes them a little less scary.

● Handling stress
Stress isn’t all bad. It pushes us to act and make decisions in life.

Instead of stress being something to hold you back, you can use it to draw motivation and push you forward.

● Mental wellbeing
If you’re resilient you won’t let failure get you down. Repeated failure at a task can be draining.

Resilience gives you the mental toughness needed to maintain a strong psychological balance.

● Realistic mindset
Without resilience, we tend to have a different world view. One that doesn’t seem so intimidating.

Resilience can help you see the world for how it is. An often unnerving, threatening, and even terrifying place.

But it’s okay for the world to be a scary place. As long as you have the psychological capacity to handle it. you don’t have to bend reality to feel more comfortable.

● Make the best of a bad situation
Failure is not the end; it’s an opportunity. Failure teaches us to learn from our mistakes. We can use that knowledge to move forward more in a more efficient way.

If we don’t learn from our mistakes we can never improve and do better the next time.

● Improve the way you value yourself
Being able to bounce back from a bad situation can help improve your self-worth. You won’t see yourself as someone ill equipped to handle bad situations.

Resilience can make you feel strong powerful and worthy.

Relying on yourself isn’t always easy. But to do it time and time again proves that you don’t always need someone else to do something for you.

In turn, you’ll see yourself as someone who can succeed regardless of the challenge.

Remember, resilience is a skill that you can cultivate and grow with training.

Next time you find it difficult to pull yourself up from failure, do it anyway.

See how being resilient can change your entire mindset.

JohnK 8-14-2023
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about resilienceOverheard: It’s not the strongest of a species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most resilient and responsive to change”

~Charles Darwin
 

 

disclaimer for resilience

The Impact Of Bad Habits On Your Work

August 7, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

Your bad habits can make their way into your work. This doesn’t bode well for things like promotions and raises.

We’re raising this issue with a GenuLines look at what can go wrong,.

The Impact Of Bad Habits On Your Work

social media habit

Some of the bad habits you’ve developed over your lifetime are causing you problems at work. And You may not even realize it

If you’re not aware that you  have any of the following habits they could be affecting your job (or business)

Lack of Sleep

Say you have the bad habit of staying up late because you see yourself as a night owl. You do this even though you have to get up early to go to work.
 
What’s more, not sleeping enough at night can also cause health problems. Among these-cardiovascular disease.

Not Eating Breakfast

You don’t have to eat a giant breakfast at the crack of dawn to be healthy. But at some point during the morning you should eat something – even if it’s a banana with some peanut butter on it.
 
If you don’t eat when you’re hungry, you can weaken your body and make your brain unable to focus.

Constant Email Reading

Even at work you should not check your email all the time. Checking email (and social media) is a trap that might take you down a rabbit hole of no return.
Instead, set a timer to check your email and social media or any other communication channel. You can do this three or four times a day at set times.

Sitting For Long Periods of Time

You can’t always help it, but if you sit for work then go home and sit some more, you’re making a big mistake. This can impact your health and make it hard for you to do your job at all.
Find ways to move around the office more. Take small walks or volunteer for the food runs.

Complaining About Everything

This can be a habit that sneaks up on you. You may not even realize that you’re doing it. .
To stop doing this, recognize the behavior. Say something nice instead of something negative.

Comparing Yourself To Others

This can be a big mistake. You have no idea what the person has experienced in their life or what happens to them at home.
 
This habit can erode your confidence. It can cause you to second guess yourself and make you look incompetent.

Thinking You’re a Great Multitasker

Here’s some news for you; no one is good at multitasking. If you’re trying to multitask – even if it’s required at work, it’s going to be hard to get things done . 

Multitasking Can Result in Mediocrity

Do what you can to get out of that situation. Do your best work by keeping your mind on one thing at a time.

If you can replace these habits with good habits, you may end up becoming irreplaceable at work. Or you might boost your business to the next level.

The main thing you want to do is to at least recognize which bad habits you have. Then you can plan to combat them with good ones.

JohnK 8-7-2023
stick man hears about habitsOverheard: “All people are the same; only their habits differ.”
~Confucius
disclaimer for habits

Why Stress Is Terrible For Problem Solving

July 31, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

You know that stress can be bad for your health. And it can make a big problem even bigger

Start downsizing that problem with a GenuLines look at how this happens.

Why Stress Is Terrible For Problem-Solving

Got a challenging problem that’s stressing you out? Is it preventing you from working to the best of your abilities?

Man feeling stress

 

Then take a lie down!

Lying down on the job might sound like the worst thing you could do when you have a problem. But it’s one of the very best options of all.

Let’s take a look at why…

 

 

Neurochemistry And Problem-Solving

Your brain reaches a different state when necessary. And it uses different neurochemistry to get there.

When we’re stressed, our body assumes that we are in immediate danger. It responds by putting us in the ‘fight or flight’ mode.

This means you’re flooded with norepinephrine, dopamine, and cortisol – stress hormones.

They have many effects on the body. From contracting our muscles to clotting our blood (helps us survive injury). to taking blood and energy away from digestion and immune functions.

And these give you intense focus.

You get ‘tunnel vision’ so that you can escape from the threat you’re facing. This is very useful if you need to keep your eye on the terrain while a leopard chases you.

But it’s not very helpful when facing the kinds of problems you encounter in the office.

Creativity and Problem-Solving

To be specific you have to be able to think outside the box and to make connections between disparate ideas. That’s why you’re actually at your most creative in a relaxed state – even when you’re close to sleep.

The hypnagogic brain produces many creative works and scientific breakthroughs. And, by definition, this happens right before dozing off..

In fact, studies show that sitting in a more supine position increases creative thinking.

Likewise, the color green alone is enough to help us increase creativity. That’s because we associate it with being in natural environments.

Even alcohol can help increase creativity in some circumstances. It’s a depressant that puts us in a subdued state (though GenuLines is not recommending that you do this.)

Next time you’re faced with a difficult problem, remember this. Your stress will only make it tougher to find the answer.

So relax, take a breather, and come back to it when you feel calmer!

JohnK 7-31-2023

chiforyourself.com

 

stick figure hears about stressOverheard: “Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.”

– Hans Selye

 

 

disclaimer for stress

 

Why Do We Avoid Certain Tasks?

July 24, 2023 John Uncategorized 2 comments

You can avoid some tasks but they don’t go away. It’s like a child covering it’s eyes and thinking that will make something go away.

With that in mind GenuLines opens your eyes so you can get things done.

Why Do We Avoid Certain Tasks?

Do you find yourself dreading a particular task in your life every time you must complete it? Do you often wonder why you avoid it?
There are several reasons we avoid completing specific tasks. And the reason why this is can vary from individual to individual.
list of tasks

You Don’t Think You’ll Have Fun

You may not believe you’ll have fun completing it when you think about that task. Or it could be you’ve performed the task before and didn’t have fun.
Humans generally want to avoid doing things that lead to unhappiness. This is especially true when they are especially difficult or complex.

Fatigue

When you’re tired, you will generally avoid certain tasks. Even if they are tasks, you usually have fun doing.
This is because you’re tired and need to get some rest.
If you avoid a task because you feel exhausted, then it’s time to get some rest and try to approach it again later. It’s tough to focus when you’re fatigued.
And that could lead you to become distracted as an avoidance tactic for certain tasks.

You Don’t Think You’ll Do Well

Fear of failure can leave you feeling afraid of embarrassment or looking bad. This fear is quite common and one of the easier ones to overcome.
Usually you can remedy it working on self-confidence and self-acceptance.

Medical Conditions

When everything else fails there may be a medical problem behind your procrastination. If so, get treatment and you see an uptick in your motivation.
The reasons on this list may be separate, but they all boil down to a lack of motivation. If so, you need to own up to it.
Once you realize this, you can find the cause to motivate yourself in the future better.
JohnK 7-25-2023
stick man hears about tasksOverheard: “There is nothing so fatal to character as half finished tasks.
                                     ~David Lloyd George
disclaimer for tasks

Fear Setting – How to Remove Your Fear of Failure

July 17, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

Your fear of failure could be holding you back. So what should you do?

Today GenuLines offers some ideas that turn the tables on fear and make it serve you.

Fear Setting – How to Remove Your Fear of Failure

Many of us have an innate fear of failure. We say that if we let things go wrong, we won’t have the means to carry on.

But real success actually requires failure.

And that’s why the world’s most successful people are actually not at all afraid of failing. They’re quite happy to put themselves out on a limb taking regular risks.

 

So how do you remove a fear of failure?

What is Fear Setting?

One option is to try fear setting. This is a technique that was first popularized by Tim Ferris in his book The Four Hour Workweek.

The general idea is to ‘set’ your fears in the same way that you would ‘set’ your goals.

This way you turn those abstract and vague fears into things that are more concrete and real. To do this, make a list of those fears and contingencies.

Planning on trying something new? Then write down everything that could go wrong and why you’re afraid of it.

Next, write down all the ways you might deal with those things going wrong. And write down how likely each of those things is to go wrong in the first place.

On the face of it, that might sound like it would make matters worse but in fact the opposite is true. That’s because, writing down your fears and making them ‘real’ often robs them of their power.

More so when you have a plan in place for how you would deal with them. And you realize that they’re actually quite unlikely to be a problem in the first place.

An Example

If you were thinking of finding a new job you might have the following fears:

You will:

*lose your current job and end up with no money
*not enjoy your new job
*end up leaving your family without a steady income

But how likely are each of these things and how could you make them less of a problem? For instance, could you not survive on savings for a little while?

Would you not be able to get help from parents if it came down to it? Couldn’t you look for work without leaving your current job?

And isn’t it quite likely that you’d actually be able to get work back with your old employer if things went wrong?

The fears tend to be somewhat unfounded. Fear setting allows us to see that and as a result makes things a lot less scary.

JohnK 7-17-2023
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about fearOverheard: “There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them”

~Andre Gide

 

 

disclaimer for fear

3 Easy Ways To Cut Back On Sugar Consumption

July 10, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

It’s tough to avoid sugar. It seems to be an ingredient in most everything.

But you can be more aware of the sweet stuff, and GenuLines can show you how.

3 Easy Ways To Cut Back On Sugar Consumption

You’re no doubt aware of the explosion of processed foods and the sugary drinks and snacks in society. Especially refined sugar.
 
And there are potential health problems associated with excessive sugar consumption.
 
Things like increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. It’s important that you read nutrition labels and be mindful of how much sugar you’re taking in daily.
sugar cubes
Think of the damage this causes. It rots our teeth.
 
It gives us Type II Diabetes. And it contributes to the obesity epidemic in the western world.
 
What’s more, added sugar has found its way into all sorts of foods we consume on a daily basis. And it isn’t only the sugary breakfast cereal or the ice cream that is the culprit.
 
There’s sugar in our salad dressings, our frozen dinners, and pasta sauce to give you a few examples.
 
What can we do to cut back on the amount of sugar we consume on a daily basis? Let’s start by cutting out some of the big offenders.

Cut The Soda and Other Sugary Drinks

Let’s start with something easy that will also have a huge impact. Stop drinking soda and other sugary drinks.
 
This includes what seem like innocent things.
 
It could be the sweet tea you’re enjoying. Or the fancy coffee drink.
 
But, it could also be your favorite juice beverage. Look at the labels and figure out how many teaspoons of sugar you’re drinking each day.
 
Then cut them out.
Stick to water, black coffee and herbal tea for a few days. It’s not an easy transition, but it will be well worth it in the end.

Stop Indulging In Sugar Laden Treats

Next it’s time to give up your favorite sugary treats. Enjoy a bowl of oatmeal or scramble up some eggs instead of pouring a bowl of sweet cereal.
 
Skip the muffin, cake, cookies and candy. Instead reach for a piece of fruit or cut up some fresh veggies.
 
Find sugar free or low-sugar replacements for your favorite treats. Fix a sandwich if you’re hungry in the afternoon instead of raiding the cookie jar.
 
Or grab some cheese and crackers. Do your best to train your brain and taste buds to not crave sweet treats all day long.

Stick To Real Food

Finally, work on reducing the added sugars. They sneak into your diet via all sorts of convenience foods.
 
Anything that’s labeled low fat, fat free or gluten free is worth avoiding. The fat in these items is usually replaced by lots of sugar and salt to make them palatable.
 
Your best bet is to stick to real food. Stick with single ingredients and cook your meals from scratch. This allows you to control what’s going into the food you eat – including the sugar.
 
JohnK 7-10-2023
 
stick man hears about sugar dangersOverheard: “An overdose of praise is like 10 lumps of sugar in coffee: only a very few people can swallow it”
                                                        ~Emily Post
 
 
disclaimer for sugar

What is Self-Reliance?

July 3, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

You might see self-reliance as your natural state of being. But is it really?

Use this GenuLines check list to change your state if necessary.

What is Self-Reliance?

The idea of self-reliance is a broad one and one that covers many different concepts. Everyone has a different idea of what makes up self-reliance.

And there are many different types of self-reliance for different situations.

You can be self-reliant in that you don’t need the accolades of other people. You can be self-reliant in that you are able to do things on your own without becoming lonely or bored.

And you can be self-reliant in as much as you’re able to solve problems without help.
Self-reliance is none of these things and all these things.

And as such, none of us are self-reliant though most of us strive to be more-so in various areas of life.

sign says self-reliance

Read on and we’ll look at some of the different ways in which you can be self-reliant and some of the forms it takes.

Independence

Independence is being able to do things on your own. You don’t need the encouragement or the company of others.

This is a valuable trait. Your options aren’t limited by what other people are willing to do with you.

Many people struggle with independence. They think they need to be with friends or to spend all their time with a partner.

If you do this too much you can end up losing your own identity.

Resourcefulness

This is a form of self-reliance in as much as it helps you to cope in situations where the chips are down. This means being able to draw on a limited pool of options and still come up with a satisfactory solution.

Financial Independence

You don’t rely on an employer or anyone else for your income. Most of us are dependent to at least some degree.

But having savings and the ability to gain alternative income makes you much freer.

Self-Starting

Entrepreneurs are the perfect examples of self-starters. They motivate themselves to work without needing a boss.

You have the ability to forge your own path. You’re self-motivated and able to drive yourself to achieve what you want.

Capable

Being self-reliant means being able to fix your car engine or take out the trash. What’s more, it means not relying on someone else to do everything for you.

Thus you’re ready for almost any situation.

JohnK 7-3-2023
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about self relianceOverheard: “Discontent is want of self-reliance: it is infirmity of will”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Article image Jon Tyson on Unsplash 

 

disclaimer for self-reliance

 

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