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The Benefits of Meditation for Motivation

July 12, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

The next scheduled Chi For Yourself is set for a couple of weeks from today. I won’t go into details. But, if you’re someone who suffers from constant pain you’ll want to listen in.

You’ll get the details in an upcoming GenuLines blog post. You can get those sent to you if you subscribe.

Put your email address in the box at the top of the page and get the updates.

Today we’ll look at motivation. If you’re not doing well in this department you might benefit from a shot of mindfulness.

Read on to learn more:

ARTICLE:

Do you struggle with low motivation? The stress and strain of a busy life can overwhelm you.

The most basic tasks seem difficult.

The downward spiral of low motivation can seem like an impossible cycle to break. Productivity and accomplishment look like unattainable goals when you lose your spark.

There’s a simple tool you may not have considered before that can get you back on track, and that’s meditation. You can gain a lot of good things through your practice.

Let’s look at some of the benefits of meditation for motivation.

Strengthened Focus and Concentration

Focus and concentration are essential elements of motivation. If you can’t get your mind to center on the things you need to do, your motivation will also go out the window.

Meditation involves focus and concentration. You’ll be engaging in focusing your attention in some way.

Increased Happiness

We all get down now and again. But staying in the “happy zone” pays dividends.

Happy people tend to have more energy and higher self-confidence. Motivation increases happiness by stimulating the release of the brain’s “happiness hormones.”

When you’re feeling more positive, you’re likely to have more internal desire to get things done.

Less Stress

Meditation allows the brain to slow down as it receives sensory input. This leads to a more relaxed feeling

This relaxation and improved processing leads to reduced feelings of stress and overwhelm. With less stress comes a feeling of more control, which then fuels your motivation.

Positive Thinking

One of the biggest killers of motivation is negative thinking.

Pessimism can come from many sources. These include depression, poor habits or general life difficulties.

Meditation “rewires” brain patterns to naturally trigger more positive ones. The result is the “reset” you need to be more motivated.

Clarified Goals and Purpose

Taking time each day for meditation gives you loads of personal insight. This self-reflection can be the fuel for reassessing what’s really important in your life.

When you have a better picture of your priorities, your goals and life’s purpose become clearer. Knowing where you want to go kicks your motivation into high-gear.

You feel a greater urgency to take the steps necessary on the path to your dreams.

The benefits of meditation for increased motivation are many. And there are many different types of meditation.

You can begin to research on your own or find a skilled teacher who can help you develop a practice that works for you. What’s most important is that you get started.

And be consistent in your meditation practice. You’ll see more effective results.

The energy uptick will help you tackle your to-do list and go after the life goals that matter.

JohnK 7-12-2018

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Overheard: “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.”

~ Florence Nightingale

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5 Confidence Tips for Dealing With Strong Personalities

July 3, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

Does your confidence take a tumble around mid-week? Do you roll your eyes as you say the words “hump day?”

Is there a strong personality leaning on you? And if so, what do you do?

Chi For Yourself wants you to find that sweet spot between “monster” and “doormat.” So the following tips are offered for your consideration–

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ARTICLE:

We’ve all come across people with strong personalities.

But what exactly does this mean?

It’s difficult to find one definition of a “strong personality.” Urban Dictionary online defines it as “an aggressive person; a difficult person.”

Others use the following descriptive terms: intimidating, overbearing, impatient, intolerant, controlling, bullying behavior.

You want to deal with these strong personalities without punishing your confidence level.

Fortunately, there are ways to do this. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.

1. Get to know the person underneath –

You can’t over-emphasize this point. Getting beneath a person’s tough exterior can help you understand why that person is the way he/she is.

Family of origin for example.

You may be dealing with an oldest child. One who came from alcoholic parents, and had to raise three brothers and sisters.

Ways to get to know the person include engaging him/her in conversation. At the start, it may be a sincere compliment about a new hairstyle or a new coat, or asking how his/her weekend was.

You want to stay on that person’s good side, and you can do this by being likable and friendly. In turn, you’re also likely to pick up on traits about the person that you like.

2. Don’t take it personally –

Strong personalities tend to be direct and they don’t mince words. If you learn to shrug off the way something is said to you, you’ll do well.

3. Stay calm –

People with strong personalities are up to the challenge of arguing their point. So it’s better not to go there.

Stand your ground, but don’t let it get to the point of an argument.

4. Use humor –

Let’s say someone is barking orders at you even though you have a good relationship with them. (as explained in tip #1 above). Consider using humor.

You could say, “Sure, I can do that, but I expect you to buy me a coffee when we go for break.” In this way, you’re acknowledging a request, but you’re showing that you’re not taking it to heart.

5. You have valuable ideas too –

Often people with strong personalities are testing you. They don’t like to see weakness in others as much as they don’t like it in themselves.

Keep your confidence up by speaking clearly and with conviction, but do it kindly. Don’t be a wishy-washy type of person who can’t make a decision.

If you can’t come to an agreement on something, don’t walk away exasperated. Instead, leave room for discussion later.

It may go nowhere later too. But at least you keep your self-respect and the knowledge that you can deal with all kinds of people.

JohnK 7-3-2019

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Overheard: I am very confident. I look confident. I act confident. I speak in a confident way…

~ Milton H. Erickson

Develop Creative Ideas- And Make Them Your Own

June 27, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

Creativity is a word that’s familiar to you. You probably use it from time to time. But do you understand it?

Creativity is about imagination, newness, freshness, and ingenuity. Yet it’s tempting to copy creativity from others. Below you’ll find some ways to fuel your creativity ‘engine.’

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ARTICLE:

Creative genius. It’s all around you. In the phones and other tech devices you use. In the music you listen to and the movies that keep you riveted to the screen.

And maybe you have the mistaken opinion that only a select few are able to unleash a steady flow of creative genius. It probably comes from the idea of ‘personality type.’

This makes you think personality and style of working are set in stone.

That’s not true at all. Your so-called personality type is only a set of behavior patterns. You took these on to help you meet the different challenges of your early life.

You can change those patterns.

The fact is, creativity is very much like a muscle that needs exercise to give you great results.

If you don’t practice harnessing creative thinking, this skill will atrophy. And the ‘muscle’ will become weak.

But keep it working and it will come to you whenever you call.

So how do you unleash your creative thinking? Well, the first thing to do is to become a human leech.

No, we’re not talking about sucking the blood out of every living being in sight. We’re saying that you should take in as much knowledge and learning as you can find.

Read everything available — good and bad. And keep your mind open to the infinite possibilities of the universe.

The more you know, the more you’ll want to know. And the more your faculty of wonder will kick in.

Prepare to be amazed at little facts that add a bit of color to your life.

Focus on a creative activity every day. Yes, it’s an effort. But even doodling is a creative activity.

Don’t let anything hinder you.

Sometimes daydreaming is a creative activity. But if you’re new to creative thinking you might need concrete evidence.

When you see it you’ll be able to say “hey, what I’m doing is getting somewhere.”

JohnK 6-27-2018

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Overheard: “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without”

~ Cecil B. DeMille

Should I Be Vegan or Vegetarian? What’s the Difference?

June 20, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

Vegan and vegetarian. Words we hear pretty often.

But do you know exactly what they mean?

And what about their cousins?

Words like pescatarian.

What the heck?

Today we’ll try to clear the air a bit with a quick look at eating styles. See if any of these fit you. Check out the article below.

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ARTICLE:

Going vegan, or vegetarian is a great way to eat smarter, lose weight, burn fat and feel energetic. Choosing to live a healthier lifestyle starts with your diet.

Estimates show that up to 70% of your physical fitness level is a direct result of your diet. So, “Good for you!” for deciding to go vegan or vegetarian.

By the way, what is the difference?

A vegan is definitely a vegetarian, but not all vegetarians are vegans. And what is this pescatarian thing anyway?

Defining the Difference Between Vegan and Vegetarian

Before you join a club or organization, you first find out what they are all about, right? What do they believe?

What are the basic tenets, rules and unwritten laws which govern that organization? Choosing between a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle? Ask yourself the same questions.

– Vegan – A person who excludes the use of animals for clothing, food or any other purpose. They do not consume or use any products made from animals.

This means they do not eat eggs, meat, milk or any other animal-based food.

– Vegetarian – This is someone who does not eat meat or fish. Unlike a vegan, some types of vegetarians eat dairy products, eggs, and cheese.

Vegetarians don’t usually concern themselves with excluding animal-based non-food products. These include things like clothing.

The Different Types of Vegetarians

Now you’re beginning to see the differences. Vegans look at food and nonfood production in a different light. They can be more passionate about the exclusion of animals from the process.

Vegetarians pretty much stick to a plant-based diet. But you may find them wearing leather shoes and clothing. Or they may eat eggs and cheese and drink milk.

Check out these different types of vegetarians …

Pescatarian – This person is pretty much a vegetarian. But, they also eat fish and other seafood products, dairy, and eggs.

Flexitarian – If you would like to be an “almost vegetarian”, the flexitarian diet might be right for you. This is a vegetarian who sometimes eats eggs, cheese, and dairy products.

They also eat less meat.

Lacto vegetarian – As a “lacto” you can exclude poultry, meat, fish and any egg products from your diet. But you can still eat dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, and milk,

Lacto ovo vegetarian – Do you love cheese, eggs, egg-based food items. Do you have to have yogurt, milk and other dairy products?

When you add these foods to an almost completely plant-based diet you are a lacto ovo vegetarian.

JohnK 6-20-2018

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Overheard: “There is no love sincerer than the love of food.”

~George Bernard Shaw

Forgiveness Can Restore Your Life: It’s Your Choice

June 13, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

It doesn’t take much looking around anymore to find a real need for forgiveness. Society keeps a laundry list of “somebody-done-somebody-wrong-what-should-be-done-about-it” items.

Look at your own life. What are you carrying around? More importantly, can you “put it down?”

Chi For Yourself answers in the affirmative. Read on to find out how you can lighten the load through forgiveness–

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ARTICLE:

Does it seem that your days are a constant stream of anger and resentment? Is it tough remembering when you were happy?

You know, those times when you greeted your days with more enthusiasm?

Ah, but that was before my partner (and love in general) let me down!

You may think that holding on to anger and grief grants you a certain power. One that you wouldn’t have if you forgave and let go of the anger and confusion.

It doesn’t seem logical that forgiveness can give you a new outlook. An outlook free of constant thinking about how and why you were “wronged.”

Forgiveness is not excusing or condoning the act. Nor is it letting someone back into your life.

Forgiveness is actually a gift you can give yourself. Doing this will restore your life to a sort of normalcy. You’ll enjoy the good things about life. And, you won’t let the bad stuff get you down.

I like to say that we make choices. And forgiveness is a process you must choose. It’s not a sudden awakening that pushes you to let someone “off the hook.’

Forgiveness is a powerful ally in your life. It’s critical to restoring relationships and/or carrying on with life. No more wallowing in self-pity.

When you forgive, you take a load off of yourself. You rid your mind of thoughts of revenge. You can move forward with a happy here-and-now. And you de-clutter your path toward manifesting in the future.

You’ll be surprised how forgiveness can soothe aches and pains. Plus you’ll be able to open yourself up to better relationships.

You may not feel able to trust someone immediately. But gradually you’ll experience honesty and respect. You’ll have a newfound trust and openness.

You may not be ready to forgive – and, that’s okay. But, you can begin working toward forgiveness and enjoy the journey.

Just deciding to forgive starts freeing you from corrosive feelings that bother you.

It feels nothing short of traumatic when your life has been rocked by someone you trusted and loved. Forgiveness is a path to restoring your life so that you’re open and your spirit is ready.

Choose to experience life again!

JohnK 6-13-2018

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Overheard: “Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.”

~Indira Gandhi

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Photo by Ryan Franco on Unsplash

A Chi For Yourself “Happy Dance”, And Law of Attraction Re-visited

June 6, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

Happy was the order of the day when Andrew Matthews visited Chi For Yourself. Andrew reminded us that to be happy we have to emulate happy and successful people. And he says that it’s what you feel that attracts the sort of life you have.

Andrew Matthews is the author of How Life Works: Why Happy People Are More Successful. How You Can Be Like Them!

Listen to last week’s show by clicking on below–

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Recently I had the chance to respond to a blog post and I just couldn’t resist. I rarely do this. The writer read The Secret, did affirmations, and felt this “belief” was all fueled by ego wants. The following is an excerpt of my response. As the saying goes, “Ignorance of the Law is no excuse.”

O.K. kids, time to clear this up once and for all… Law of Attraction does not manipulate anything. And, ego is not the driver of LOA.

Let’s put away our copies of The Secret and get this thing right. Law of Attraction is more accurately known as Law of Vibration.

This vibration occurs in everything in the universe, including YOU. Work on honing your energy or vibration- think gratitude, love, and so on.

You’ll ACTIVATE and work with The Law of Vibration to deliberately manifest. You do this by seeking out ways to optimize your energy and clear the way for the alignment process to work.

Universal Law is not about “believing.” It’s not a faith, a cult, a fad, a superstition, or a parlor trick.

It’s not the fast track to a new Lexus or a winning lottery ticket. It’s been around forever and it ain’t goin’ anywhere.

Honing this magnetic energy as mentioned earlier can have extraordinary effect. It’s constantly affecting individuals, communities, and even countries.

Studies have shown that attractor energies can impact something as basic as water. And, water makes up more than half of an adult male’s body. See Dr. Masaru Emoto’s study

https://thewellnessenterprise .com/emoto/)

Still having a problem believing this Universal Law business? Step off of a tall building and see if you believe in another Universal Law- the Law of Gravity.

Whew! Law of Attraction is not a threat to you or your religion for that matter. You don’t have to convert to a dogmatic creed, do penance, or sacrifice any virgins.

JohnK 6-6-2018

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Overheard: Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality.

~Earl Nightingale

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Happy Days And How You Can Have Em’: Next CHI FOR YOURSELF

May 30, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

What’s it take to be happy? We’ll explore that question on this week’s CHI FOR YOURSELF.

Our scheduled guest is Andrew Matthews, author of How Life Works: Why Happy People are More Successful. How You Can Be Like Them!

Andrew teaches how to emulate happy and successful people and that it’s what you feel that attracts the sort of life you have.

You can listen in this Thursday, May 31st at 4 pm Eastern, 1 pm Pacific time at chiforyourself.com.

C’mon, get happy!

JohnK 5-30-2018

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Don’t Let Excuses Destroy Your Momentum

May 24, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

Are excuses getting in your way? Another week is passing by and you’re no closer to reaching your goal. Or wish. Or dream!

Here’s a gentle reminder from CHI FOR YOURSELF about excuses and what you can do about them.

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ARTICLE:

Excuses. They’re some of the biggest momentum destroyers. But you can overcome the need to create excuses by keeping moving in the right direction.

The smallest actions toward achieving your goal can keep your momentum moving along.

You want your action to be consistent. This will keep momentum moving and your goals on track.

In time, your progress will become easier and your actions will be done without even thinking. You’ll enjoy the actions much more too. And you’ll become more enthused as you realize one success after another.

Here are some common excuses. They’re often used to keep you from beginning or following through with a commitment:

Time constraints –

“I just have too much to do and can’t exercise (or whatever else you need to do). Everyone has the same amount of time, but they don’t set the proper priorities.

Decide what’s most important to you. Then take action after weeding out some of the less important tasks in your life.

It’s too difficult –

You may need to break down the goal into small steps so that you better understand and can complete it. Make it a point to study and analyze what you want and how to get it.

That may mean going back to school, but if you want it badly enough, it’s worthwhile.

Too old (or too young) –

Look at older folks. Some have accomplished what seemed like impossible feats in their later years.

And look at those who’ve reached phenomenal success at very young ages. If you have the will and commitment to gather the momentum you need – you’ll succeed.

The time isn’t right –

You might think you’ll do it when the kids are out of school, when you retire, or when your finances are in better shape.

Chances are, the time will never be quite right to begin the motions to reach your most lofty goals. Begin now – even in small increments – to create the momentum necessary to move you along.

What are some of the excuses you’ve used in the past? Did they keep you from completing a project or beginning the process to reach a goal?

Decide whether your excuse is valid or a momentum killer that’s holding you back.

JohnK 5-24-2018

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Overheard: “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”
~ George Washington

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How Much Exercise Do You Need Every Day To Lose Weight?

May 16, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

Warmer weather seems to be more conducive to exercise. Maybe you’re looking to break a sweat and lose a few pounds in the process.

GenuLines always supports good health, and managing your weight is a big part of that.

Below are some things to keep in mind during your program. All the best!

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How Much Exercise Do You Need Every Day To Lose Weight?

Weight loss requires both a disciplined dietary approach and exercise. Other factors are important too. But, how much exercise do you need to do?

There’s no magic number of minutes, reps or hours needed to produce weight loss. Rather there are variables that you have to consider to reach the right numbers.

Here are some options to help you come up with an exercise time frame that works best for you.

Variable 1: Calories Consumed and Calorie Quality

The first principle of weight loss is that to lose weight you must reach a caloric deficit. This means burning more calories than you’re consuming.

So, to know the amount of exercise needed to lose weight, you need to know your daily caloric intake. Just as important are the sources of those calories.

For example, vegetables versus potato chips. If you function on a low-calorie diet you’ll need less exercise to lose weight.

You may be fine with a moderate 3-4 day a week training plan. If you eat large amounts of food you’ll need to up your exercise plan.

Variable 2: Exercise Type and Intensity

The second key variable is the type and intensity of exercise. 20 minutes on the elliptical has a far different energy output than 20 minutes of all-out sprinting.

This variable can also dovetail with our first variable. The greater the calorie consumption, the more energy for high-intensity exercise. Otherwise, you may not need to exercise for an especially long time or at a high intensity.

In general, aerobic-intensive exercise is different. It requires a longer time to see any sort of effective impact on weight loss.

Jogging, biking, the elliptical or other options eat up more time. This could consume hours over the course of a week before you see a meaningful impact.

Anaerobic activities will be more effective in a shorter amount of time. These include sprinting, resistance training or interval training methods.

But, their intensity level is much higher. So, you’ll need a certain level of fitness to get the full potential and results.

Variable 3: What is the Weight Loss Goal? How much time do we have to achieve it?

The third variable is arguably the most important. Think of your car ride or travel plans.

They’re determined by your destination. Your exercise plan and weight loss journey will be dictated by the goal we have set. If the goal is to lose 5 pounds in two months, that is a fairly modest and achievable goal for most.

If you’re a sedentary person you would only need to exercise 20-30 minutes a day for 3-4 days a week to achieve this goal.

Conversely, if your goal is to lose 30 pounds in two months, the equation is quite different. This would involve more hours every day at high intensity to achieve that same goal.

Putting it All Together: Finding the Right Number

We’ve examined the variables. Now we can consider how much exercise we need per day to lose weight.

Let’s say you have a low caloric intake, low-intensity aerobic exercise, and a modest goal.

You might be O.K. with 30-45 minutes of aerobic exercise a day. Not so if you love to eat, love to lift weights and also have an ambitious goal for weight loss.

You’re going to have to spend considerable time every day working out to reach those goals. Your best bet would be to assess your starting point as compared to your goal.

Look at how much time you have to reach that goal. Then make your plan to reach it.

This is a better bet than relying on a standard number or cookie-cutter approach.

JohnK 5-16-2018

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Overheard: ”Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

~ George Bernard Shaw

Breaking Up With Busy: This Week on CHI FOR YOURSELF

May 9, 2018 John Uncategorized No comments

Being busy has become a status symbol in society. Overworking and under-sleeping are two of the byproducts of this. But what does all the busyness accomplish?

Our scheduled guest on this week’s CHI FOR YOURSELF has written a book that shows you how to reclaim your time and get off the busyness hamster wheel.