Why You’re Not Happy (And How to Change This)

February 10, 2025 John Uncategorized No comments

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Why You’re Not Happy (And How to Change This)

So you’re reading this while you grapple with feelings of discontent in certain areas of life. Especially when it comes to being happy.

I get it.

Quick fixes and hacks don’t deliver and don’t help your mood. The changes they bring don’t last.

Their temporary highs don’t give you genuine fulfilment. Enter GenuLines and our ways to point your life toward fulfillment.

The truth is, your life isn’t a circumstance beyond your control. Your happiness and fulfillment are not accidents or the result of external factors.

happy smiling character

They/re a direct result of the choices you’ve made in the past.

The law of cause and effect is undeniable: every decision you’ve made has led to where you are today. Your thoughts, more than anything else, have shaped your life.

Your thought patterns and the way you choose to think have created the circumstances you’re in. And here’s the good news: you have the power to change your thoughts and, in turn, change your life.

As humans, we’re incredibly adaptable. We can thrive in most any environment, no matter how challenging.

But we often forget this power and allow our circumstances to define us.

We become victims of our own expectations and standards. We forget that we created those standards in the first place.

One key to happiness and fulfillment lies in recognizing that you have the power to choose. You can choose to focus on what you can control and scale up from there.

You don’t have to be held back by your current circumstances.

So, where do you start? Focus on the areas of your life where you’re doing reasonably well – the areas where you have control.

See if you can improve them, broaden them, or expand your area of control. From there, you can tackle the more challenging areas that may be holding you back.

Remember, your life isn’t a fixed landscape. It’s a dynamic, ever-changing environment that reflects your choices and decisions.

Choose to focus on what you can control and adapt to your circumstances and you can create a more fulfilling and happy life.

Don’t wait for external circumstances to change; change yourself by changing your mindset. You have the power to choose.

And with that power comes the ability to create a life that truly reflects genuine living.

JohnK 2-10-2025
chifoforyourself.com

stick man hears about being happyOverheard:  The habit of being happy enables one to be freed, or largely freed, from the domination of outward conditions”

~Robert Louis Stevenson
 

Article Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/yellow-cube-on-brown-pavement-208147/

 

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5 Steps To Decide What To Do Next In Life

January 27, 2025 John Uncategorized No comments

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5 Steps To Decide What To Do Next In Life

Are you feeling stuck in life and have no idea what to do next? Do you feel paralyzed with fear at the very mention of change?

First off, you can be proud of reaching this state. It means you sense that your life is shifting.

Yet, knowing where to begin or what to do can be overwhelming. So, if you’re facing this decision, these GenuLines points are for you.

Below are five steps to help you decide what to do next in your life.

Take a Step Back

When you’re looking at what to do next in life, it’s imperative to stop and take a step back. Take a look at the big picture to identify where you want to go and what you want to do.

Too often, we struggle with all the ways of how to get there without fully knowing where ‘there’ actually is. We don’t take the time to highlight what’s working in our lives and what’s not.

man facing life decision

So when we reach a crossroads, we’re baffled and unable to move forward. This is when taking a step back can help you specify where you want to go as you move on in life.

Understand What Fulfills You

Get to know what makes you you. Dig deep and do some soul-searching to understand what motivates you.

Ask yourself these questions: What drives me and makes me excited? What are my values and beliefs?

And, what contributions do I want to make to my community?

What’s important to me? What are the skills and talents that I bring to the table?

Explore Your Passions

Make a list of all the things that you’re passionate about and explore those options in more detail. It’s important to analyze your options on emotional and intellectual levels.

To do this, try to imagine how each one impacts your thought processes and your emotions. Do this step without worrying about any of the whys, should-haves, and would-nots.

Instead, connect more with your subconscious. Find out what resonates with you and your core values.

For instance, let’s say you value innovation and technology. You might look for positions at industry-leading businesses.

If family culture suits you might be better off seeking a job at a small family-owned organization.

Learn New Skills

No matter how many great skills you already have, it’s always nice to learn something new. Whether it’s soft skills or hard, think about what you’d like to learn.

Look for places in your community or online where you can take classes.

For example, you want to learn more about graphic design. You may consider applying to an art program.

Or you could be interested in gardening. You can take a class in gardening and plants, then apply for a job at a garden center or arboretum.

Whatever ever you do remember to set short-term goals that follow the SMART plan. This framework ensures that your goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based.

Let Go of What Could Be

Change is scary because you don’t know what to expect from your decisions. This fear keeps you in a state of inaction and apprehension.

But what if you could let go of all that worry just for a few minutes?

To do that, you need to trust yourself and maintain a positive mindset. Have faith that whatever comes along, you’ll find a way to handle it.

Stop thinking of change as something to be dreaded and feared. Instead, you can begin to think of it as something stimulating that adds a layer of excitement and intrigue to your life.

Be open to whatever life brings your way. It may surprise you with an even better outcome than the one you first imagined.

Final Thoughts

These five steps can help your personal and professional life short term and long. It’s a tough journey, but if you’re determined to make it, it can also be extremely rewarding.

Now, all that’s left to do is take that first step to discover your purpose and get back on your life’s path.

JohnK 1-27-2025
www.chiforyourself.com

 

stick man hears about life decisionsOverheard: “The purpose of life is a life of purpose”

~Robert Byrne
 

 

Article image by Yan Krukau: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-gray-suit-sitting-on-black-chair-covering-his-face-7793987/

 

 

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Moving On Might Be Exactly What You Need

January 13, 2025 John Uncategorized No comments

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Moving On Might Be Exactly What You Need

It may be hard to believe, but there’s tremendous strength in releasing the past and moving forward. I understand it doesn’t feel that way.

Right now it’s easy to get caught up in what’s already happened.

young man moving on

 

But there’s a lot of power in letting go and moving on. I know it doesn’t feel like it.

And GenuLines knows that at this point, you’re focusing on what happened in the past.

 

 

 

You’re thinking that if you keep dwelling on what happened, you might be able to figure it out. You think that with enough contemplation, things would fall into place.

And you’d see the rhyme and reason for the negative things that happened in the past.

This isn’t the first time you’ve thought this way. In fact, this might be the thousandth or so time you’ve entertained that idea.

What happened the previous days when you thought this way? How about the days before those?

Focusing on the past isn’t going to help you. And understand that past misfortunes don’t make your life a complete disaster.

You do want to map out a more clear path for your life. You’ll see that things are not so bleak.

There are very promising possibilities

Understand that these areas of light are areas of hope in your life.

You haven’t completely dropped the ball in those areas. You haven’t completely screwed up.

There’s your cause for optimism. It’s something to feel good about.

Focus and move on.

Focus on the fact that you have control. Given time, that area of control in your life could grow.

But these areas of control can’t grow if you don’t focus on them. As the old saying goes, “Where attention goes, energy flows.”

How can you take full ownership of your life if your attention stays on the things you can’t control? I’m talking about people from the past.

I’m talking about situations in the past. And I’m talking about people in your present you can do nothing about.

Focus on your area of competency, which is your choice to respond to things going on in your life.

This is your area of control. It’s the only area of control.

But the good news is the more you focus on it, the more competent and self-confident you become.

This helps you to become a more responsible and powerful person. Focus on these and move on from things that waste your time, attention, and emotional energy.

JohnK 1-13-2025
chiforyourself.com

 

stick man hears about moving onOverheard: “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind”

C.S. Lewis
 

 

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Time For New Beginnings and Final Endings

December 30, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

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Time For New Beginnings and Final Endings

There has to be endings to create new beginnings. An old year ends and a New Year begins, full of promises of change and new experiences.

It’s a good time for GenuLines to look at the endings in your life. For example , the death of a loved one, will leave you sad.

But if you accept the loss and focus on the good memories the person brought you can move on.

sprout shows new beginnings

Each step in your life

These are necessary for you to continue growing. The end of high school or college signifies the beginning of adulthood.

This might give way to a career that you’ve studied for.

Every New Year is an opportunity for you to sit down and figure out what you want to change in the coming year. What will make you a better and happier person.?

Do you want to lose weight, quit smoking, move on to another job? Now is the time to rethink and reset your goals and make the necessary changes in your life.

Endings can only come when you let go of thinking about the negative events. When bad things go beyond your control you’ve got to distance yourself.

Make space for the positive 

Get a grip on the reality of endings. You don’t like all endings, but you do need to accept their reality.

If you don’t learn to accept endings to allow for new beginnings, you might give up. That could open the door to a lifetime of regrets.

Think about things in a new way. You may think of yourself as “set in your ways,” about certain things.

But you have the right to change your mind if something changes, like more facts about what happened. Sometimes it helps to gain a fresh perspective on life and let go of old beliefs.

Remember, if you don’t take chances, change isn’t possible. You can hold on to the good things in your life, but if a new idea triggers excitement and fulfillment in your life, try it.

If you don’t, you may regret it.

JohnK 12-30-2024
chiforyourself.com

stick figure hears about new beginningsOverhead: “You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down”

                                                                    ~Mary Pickford

 

Article photo by Kindel Media: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-person-holding-a-plant-in-a-glass-6774951/

 

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How to Deal With People Who Drive You Crazy

December 16, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

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How to Deal With People Who Drive You Crazy 

There’s one in every office, every family and every group you’ve ever been a part of. A person who drives you up the wall and makes your blood boil.

They seem to have a cheat sheet on what pushes your buttons. And GenuLines knows they can get under your skin.

So how do we deal with these people who frustrate us and make us impatient? Try these  tips during your next work meeting, family reunion or carpool.

man upset with people

We all have different priorities

What you think is a must-do isn’t always everyone else’s. This thinking has been the cause of many spousal disagreements and work resignations.

Keep this in mind when it seems someone isn’t taking action that you think is important. They might not be trying to drive you nuts; they might only have a different priority than yours.

Put yourself in their shoes

Sometimes, all you need to throttle down your impatience is empathy. Someone could be dealing with major life events or be under a great deal of stress.

And they aren’t thinking about the fact that they might be driving you nuts. Put yourself in their situation and see if you can offer them a little empathy.

Ask yourself why they bother you so much

Could it be that they mirror a fault of your own that drives you to distraction? Are they always late and that habit holds everything up?

Look at your own habits

How often are you late? How often do you keep people waiting or expect them to wait for you?

You might actually be responding more to something you see as a character flaw in yourself, but can’t admit to.

Remember that everyone has a different natural rhythm

We don’t all march to the same drummer, and we don’t all have the same internal pace. Some people are more easy going and have a slower rhythm, even when they’re in a hurry.

This can be frustrating. But keeping in mind that we all have a different pace can ratchet down your anger.

People move at the rate that feels right to them.

Focus on their best qualities

It’s easy to focus on the little things that irritate us, but when we do, that’s all we are able to notice. Rather than get impatient with someone, think about what you like or respect about them.

This helps put those little irritations in perspective.

JohnK 12-16-2024
chiforyourself.com

 

stick man hears about peopleOverheard: “I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him”

~Booker T. Washington
 

 

Article image by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/upset-male-with-headache-taking-break-after-intensive-work-3974785/

 

 

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Is Your Money Mindset Setting You Up For Failure?

December 2, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

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Is Your Money Mindset Setting You Up For Failure?

Dreaming of getting rich? You can’t help but admire the extravagant lives of celebrities and influencers, right?

It’s easy to fantasize about living like them. But as you chase after riches, are you losing sight of the things that matter?

Today, GenuLines invites you to explore this crucial question.

Man showing money mindset

It’s often said that if you do something you love, the money will follow. This worked for me and it provided me with a good life (story for another time)

And after all, common sense says that you’ll approach something you love with passion.

But what if?

What if making money is your driving force? You’ll chase the dollar from one job to the next or from one opportunity to the next.

You’ll get seduced by false offers of riches. Over time, you’ll look back and see that you didn’t actually get real fulfillment.

The quick buck

You may be successful in the short term. You get that extra dollar from a new job.

Or you squeeze a quick buck from your business. But, you’ll be searching for more and more money.

You could even put yourself into a position where you can’t handle the new job due to lack of experience.

In other words, you didn’t give your previous level enough time to develop a foundation. You jumped ahead, and now you’re unclear what to do.

It’s a concept known as the Peter Principle, named after the person who came up with the idea, Peter Drucker.

Money isn’t as important as many try to make it out to be. For instance, what good is having a high-paying job when you have to work 80-90 hours a week?

Regrets?

Many people who do this look back at their lives and wonder why they did it. While they may have a lot of money when they get older, they likely don’t have fulfillment.

Another possibility is the heavy workload needed to get that wealth also gets them to an early grave. The money they earned is useless to them.

If you’re happy with what you’re doing, money becomes a less urgent priority. You do need money to live, and you shouldn’t settle for work that pays less than you’re worth.

So reach a balance between your paycheck and doing something that you enjoy. It can bring a whole bunch of fulfillment into your life.

JohnK 12-2-2024
chiforyourself.com

Stick figure hears about money mindsetOverheard: “Wealth is largely the result of habit”

~John Jacob Astor
 

 

Image photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-in-gray-long-sleeve-shirt-5717843/

 

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The Perils of Your Self-Doubt

November 18, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

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The Perils of Your Self-Doubt

Have you ever doubted yourself? That seems like a silly question.

Most people have doubted themselves at some point.

And GenuLines realizes that many people continue to doubt themselves. This can be a major contributor to holding you back from success.

Why do people engage in self-doubt?

man facing self doubtThe reason is that it is easier to doubt yourself than it is to believe that something is possible. When you believe in your concept, it’s something that hasn’t materialized yet.

It’s unfamiliar territory for you. Your protection mechanisms tell you to reach for something that is familiar.

 

 

You use this as a reason to quit

The unknown also helps you to come up with excuses. It’s easy to say it won’t work because…, and then insert whatever reason can set your mind at ease.

You can even find help from others in coming up with excuses. They have plenty of them for you to choose.

If they didn’t, they would be succeeding at their goals.

Doubt as survival skill

For instance, someone says you can jump off a cliff and not die. Your self-doubt will reassure you that this is a bad idea.

Self-doubt can also steer you away from a situation. Like a business opportunity that sounds too good to be true, etc.

In most cases, self-doubt is not something that will advance your life. It will hold you back, and you need to always be aware of that.

Don’t take the easy way out

Prepare yourself as much as possible for unfamiliar situations. But, go forward with a strong belief that you can do what you set out to do.

Try to structure your life so that you have more positive than negative energy. Use affirmations, support groups, or whatever works.

Flush out as much negative energy as possible

Negative energy is what self-doubt is all about. So try to tip the scale to as much positivity as possible and push away the negativity.

It’s unlikely that you can ever have 100% positive energy. But, you can work towards exposing yourself to positive energy.

You can stop listening to or reading the news, and you can reduce your exposure to negative people. Positive people do exist.

You only need to find them.

JohnK 11-18-2024
chiforyourself.com

 

Ostick figure hears about self doubtverheard: “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today”

~Franklin D. Roosevelt
 

 

 

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Self Development And Your Success

November 4, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

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Self Development And Your Success

Life experiences come and go. But, how do they impact your life’s success?

Some of us insist that every event serves a purpose. Negative events can challenge you to see the positive in them.

A “looking with new eyes” mindset might open you up to more positivity. And GenuLines has some practical tips on guiding you on this journey.

Feeling as if you’re a failure

There are no failures in life – only people moving through different experiences. How can others accept you if YOU can’t accept yourself?

Comparing yourself to media figures

Don’t compare yourself to them. The same holds true for the real people you meet.

There is no need to obsess about your looks, financial situation or anything else. Self acceptance does not depend on those things, nor does the approval of others.

Man prepares for success

Down and out

When you see that other people are feeling down about themselves, give them a helping hand. But if you find that they’re determined to stay in their negativity, leave them to it. Nobody benefits when you’re both in a tailspin.

There are no mistakes – only lessons learned

Don’t feel stupid or doomed because you failed some kind of test. See failure as a step on the road to success.

Take things one at a time

It’s fine to have big goals but split them down into realistic, simple steps. Self development means working on habits that you have built up over years or decades. You will not turn everything around overnight.

At YOUR best

Understand that self development will help you to be the best YOU that you can be. It will not turn you into somebody else. Look for your own strengths and build on them, instead of comparing yourself with others.

Little things matter

Sometimes, we don’t realize that the little things that we do are like a pat on the back. Saying “hi” or “hello”, or passing little compliments can mean a huge amount to other people.

Be sensitive to other people’s plight. Help them to see the positive in their lives. This will come back to you in a positive way.

You’re willing to accept change

But it doesn’t mean that everyone else is. It may not be the right time for them, or the method you are using may not be what they need. So do everything you can to be successful with your self development, but don’t bore others with it.

There’s a profound quote that says that “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” We’re all here to learn our lessons.

Your parents, children, friends, colleagues, neighbors, even strangers. They all have the potential to be your teachers.

Open the door to self development. You can learn from every person and every situation that you encounter.

JohnK 11-4-2024
chiforyourself.com

 

stick man hears about reaching successOverheard:  “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out”

~Robert Collier
 

Article image by Zen Chung: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-pen-writing-on-a-notebook-5749155/

 

 

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The Importance Of Your Mindset In Anything You Do In Life

October 21, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

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The Importance Of Your Mindset In Anything You Do In Life

There are two distinct approaches to this thing called mindset. And the outcome of each type of thought lies at opposite ends of the spectrum.

The first is a “fixed mindset,” while we call the second one a “growth mindset.” Read on as GenuLines shows you which brings more success in life.

Sign reads mindset

The “fixed mindset” tends to see skills, potential and abilities as pre-determined. So, you can’t improve on them.

The growth mindset is open to the idea that there’s always room for improvement by way of working at it.

The “fixed” category tends to make you feel powerless. In the growth category there’s more optimism about who’s calling the shots so to speak.

But there are a few other big differences in these two attitudes.

The main one is how you view mistakes or obstacles and your attitude toward them.

For example, if you have a fixed mindset, you’re quicker to get discouraged by your first setback. The growth mindset and its optimistic attitude help you “make the best of it.”

Any negativity can turn into a chance to learn and grow. Are you getting the idea that the fixed mindset doesn’t leave much room for growth?

But wait, there’s more!

For one, there’s knowing that your mindset can have a major impact on your health and well-being. A depressed and discouraged attitude can suppress your immune system.

You’re more prone to illnesses. And you might take longer to recover from what your defeated attitude brought you.

With a growth mindset you tend to be sick less often- and happier too.

Experts on the subject agree that you have control over your attitude. Their consensus is that it’s smart to switch out of a fixed mindset.

And you can do it in any phase of your life.

This is good news if you find yourself stuck in the pessimistic fixed mindset. Your fatalistic attitude toward accomplishments and success don’t have to be permanent.

You can always improve.

John K 10-21-2024
chiforyourself.com

Stick figure hears about mindsetOverheard: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

                                     ~ Earl Nightingale

 

Article image by Brian Jones from Pixabay

 

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Stop Letting The Past Dictate Your Future

October 7, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

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Stop Letting The Past Dictate Your Future

On one level you know that clinging to the past is a bad option and that you need to progress in life. But have you taken a moment to reflect on this?

Why should you move on from the past? Let GenuLines show you how not moving on from your past can affect most every other aspect of your life.

What’s so bad about focusing on the past?

First, we look at a negative aspect: holding grudges. This can stunt your emotional and mental growth.

The more you focus on that, the less attention you have to give to what’s happening in the present.

Now flip the script to the positive side of things. Fixating on a positive event from your past steals attention from your future.

You also run the risk of comparing everything that happens from then on to that one “perfect” event.

This fixation can lead to negative outcomes in your future. The more you focus on the past, the less you witness the present.

You have a tendency to miss special occasions or important events.

You move through life in a more distracted way. Worst of all is that you stunt your development and growth.

How can focusing on the past dictate your future?

You could get distracted when you need to pay attention to the present. And you start making comparisons to another moment in time

Plus, you risk turning down new opportunities. You’re afraid they won’t live up to the past experience.

How do you stop focusing on the past?

The first step in putting an end to this behavior is to resolve to let it go. Yes, it’s easier said than done.

But you have to make a conscious decision to let go and move forward with your life.

Fixated on a positive past event

This is different than letting go of a grudge. Letting go in this sense is to stop comparing other events to this one.

It doesn’t mean that you have to forget the moment you’ve valued for so long. But it does mean that you continue to experience and enjoy each new moment.

Fixated on a negative past event

When you let go of a grudge you forgive the person and move on from the event. You don’t condone what happened.

But don’t let it live rent-free in your head or you’ll only hurt yourself.

JohnK 10-7-2024
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about the futureOverheard: “Only you can control your future”

~Dr. Seuss
Article image by Photo by Thirdman: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-black-jacket-fixing-the-rear-view-mirror-6945902/

 

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