As I sit down to prep this GenuLinesblog post a new morning is starting. I have my own way of approaching each day.
I call it my daily regimen.
How about you? Is there something you want to do that would make a big difference?
A habit you can do on a daily basis?
It could be in any area of your life. From exercise and healthy eating to working on your relationship with your kids.
Sit back and imagine your perfect morning. It isn’t stressed or rushed.
Best of all it’s a day when you have time for everything on your list.
This could mean having time for a long shower. Or going for a run before breakfast.
Or having a few minutes to connect with your spouse over breakfast.
There are a lot of “maybes” but the key is to start with what’s most important to you. Then think about how you could fit it into your morning routine.
Dream On
Remember, you’re only dreaming and imagining at this point. You’ll work on figuring out where to find the time to fit it in and how to make it all work out later on.
For now paint a vivid picture of what your new morning could look like. Get very clear on what you want that perfect morning to look like.
Imagine it in as much detail as possible. (And I would suggest you keep all this to yourself)
Write it down somewhere so you can refer to it as needed. In short, define your perfect morning.
Why is this so important?
Because you can’t start to make any meaningful changes until you know what your goals are.
You need to know your destination before you can start to pick a route and figure out how you’ll get there.
That’s what today’s task is all about.
It’s figuring out where you want to get to. Don’t stop until you have it figured out and firmly pictured in your mind.
Live a More Fulfilled Life- Choose to Accept Yourself
You want a fulfilled life. But do you wear a mask of perfection?
Beneath that facade lies a whirlwind of strengths and weaknesses. It’s the messy reality of being human.
Even the most benevolent among us can’t escape the occasional dark cloud; So, what happens when your best intentions get sidetracked by your demons?
How do you navigate those turbulent moments that test your genuine self? Today GenuLineswill dive in to the topic.
The truth is, all of us are a mix of strong points and weak ones.
That’s to be expected. It’s part of the human condition.
Usually, it takes just one bad day for the demonic side of a person to show up. What do you do when those days come your way?
How do you deal with that?
My point is that your flaws are what give you character. They’re actually what make you special and unique.
If people wanted to date you based on your good looks you’re going to be in trouble. Why?
Looks fade. What happens when the wrinkles appear?
What gives you character is your weird laugh, your quirky sense of humor, your off-beat way of looking at situations. These are things that people hang on to.
Crazy High Standards
Unfortunately, if you keep on focusing on impossible standards, you become blind to the flaws that give you character. Now, a lot of people can accept this, but they would try to rework their flaws.
They would try to reshape their flaws.
You could try this. Flaws can be reshaped, but understand that they never go away.
This is all part of the territory. Learning to accept yourself is really the first step in learning to live in a flawed world.
That’s how things work. That’s how they are.
You’re actually tapping into a deep reservoir of personal power if you accept your flaws. This means you choose to stop running away from them, apologizing for them, justifying them, pointing the finger at others, or otherwise avoiding them.
Instead, you acknowledge them. Acknowledgment is the first step.
Next, you learn to live with them. Then you take ownership of them.
Eventually, you’ll get to the point you need to reach: making your flaws work for you instead of against you.
Let’s be real: frustration is a part of life. But managing it?
That’s a whole other ballgame. It’s not a subject they cover in the classroom.
And our parents? Well, let’s just say they weren’t always the best teachers on the subject.
If you’re struggling to deal with your own frustration, that’s understandable. But managing frustration is possible.
And these five essential tips fromGenuLines can help to help you keep your cool.
Even in the most frustrating of circumstances.
Take a Step Back
A smart thing to do when feeling frustrated is to take a step back. Breathe.
Don’t react.
Take a minute to distance yourself from the situation. This way you can ask what happened and try to figure out an answer.
By stepping outside of the situation, you can see it with less judgement.
Ask if there are pros or cons to this situation. Remind yourself if you’ve been here before, and you’ve gotten out of it unscathed.
Even if this is new territory for you, chances are it wasn’t for someone else. Just know that you will survive this. .
Embrace the Emotion – Then Let Go
When you’re frustrated, you put a lot of emotion into a situation. Your first reaction might be to suppress these feelings. Instead of pushing down and trying to ignore them, identify what you’re feeling.
Then allow yourself to feel it before letting it go. That keeps emotions from controlling the situation.
Act When Calm
When you think you’re outside your emotions act in a rational way. You should make all decisions from your logical self, not the emotional one.
The goal is to respond to a frustrating situation, not react.
Identify What You Wanted in the First Place
Frustration tends to happen when you’re not getting something you want. What triggered this frustration?
Was this a want or a need? If it’s a want, is it practical or reasonable?
Or is this something you need to let go?
Make a Choice
In the end, frustration only leaves you with two choices. Accept the status quo, even If it’s painful, or change the situation to ease the frustration.
Decide which it’s going to be.
If you’re going with the status quo, you have to accept the frustration as being part of this decision. and learn to live with it or let it go.
Managing frustration isn’t hard so long as you can stay out of the emotions of the moment. Keep a handle on yourself and take the time to think things through.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. AndGenuLines 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stuck in a job that doesn’t exactly ignite your sweet spot? That doesn’t mean you can’t find happiness.
A lot of us put in the hours, earn a good wage and reap the rewards that help support our families. It’s entirely possible to appreciate what you have while still longing for something more fulfilling
But does that mean you should be complacent? Does that mean you have to give up on branching out to find where your real skills and enthusiasm lie?
The answer is no, and GenuLines is going to show how you can make changes by playing to your real strengths.
What Happens When You Play to Your Strengths?
Most of us have at least a few things that we’re good at. And for most of us, those are the things we love. We spend more time practicing them and we love them because we’re so good at them.
So, when we work on that ability or strength, everything about our demeanor changes.
For starters, we become much more focused on what we’re doing.
Our brains produce dopamine and catecholamine hormones to keep us fixated.
This is what some circles refer to as ‘flow states’.
You’re much happier and more confident when you’re doing what you love. You’re motivated and you become much less likely to take breaks.
All this of course helps you perform at your very best. At the same time, you’re more focused, happier, and you’re more motivated since you’re in flow.
It means that you’re now going to produce better work that gets you noticed and that gets you promoted. You’ll earn more and perform better because you’re doing what you love.
Signs You’re Playing to Your Strengths
All these are the benefits of playing to your strengths. They’re also a tip-off that you’re doing what you love.
Ask yourself: when was the last time you felt completely focused on a project and found it rewarding? That you worked so hard you ended up holding your need to go to the toilet?
The phrase “The quickest route from point A to point B is a straight line” is a familiar adage,. But this can be a challenging practice when you aim to reinvent yourself.
You might run into obstacles on this path that discourage you. The result may be that you’re taking longer to reach your goal.
Yes there are unavoidable barriers. Today GenuLines reminds you that you can remove some of the ones that stand in your way.
Don’t be Afraid to Let Go
Fear can affect you in a positive or negative way. It can help you achieve your goals.
On the downside it can hinder you from letting go of things that are holding you back.
The words “what if” can put a downslope on any thought process. Dwelling on the what if puts your focus on the obstacle in your way and not the goal you are moving towards.
The fear associated with “what if” only entrenches the thing that is in your way.
Don’t be afraid to let go of the “what ifs.” Focus instead on what you want.
For example, say you’re thinking “what if I start my own business and then get into financial trouble?” Switch to “what I want to achieve is independence in time, finances, and passion.
“So I’ll open my own business.”
Don’t be afraid to let go of the fear that’s littering your path to success. This is a necessary key to reinventing yourself.
Keep an Open Hand
You want to create an environment where your emotional hands are not clenched shut. When you’re holding onto things, you’re not able to use your hands for anything else.
Your hands need to be free and functioning. An open hand is free to move what needs moving.
Get A Pair of (non rose-colored) Glasses
Sometimes we need help to clear our vision. This is particularly true when it comes to seeing what’s in our way.
You might want to get the help of a friend, mentor, or advisor. They can often identify the things we are not able to see.
Your own eyes tend to identify the larger items in your path. But the small ones can slow you down every bit as much as one large boulder.
Do the Heavy Lifting
At the end of the day, moving the things that are in your way requires that you do some heavy lifting. There’s going to be sweat, effort, or even a little pain.
It’s part of the process. So, roll up your sleeves and get to it.
The fastest way from point A to point B is a straight line. Reinvent yourself and take the fast route to success.
Overheard: “Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it”
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