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.
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.
You know that disappointment is part of life, and we hope you accept that fact. But it can be heavy, you say.
Well, GenuLines has some tips to help you lighten the load.
Getting Over Disappointment
It can invade your personal, professional, or romantic life. Getting over a disappointment can be tough. especially if it’s something on which you had your heart set.
Today we offer six strategies you can use to help you let go of your disappointment and move on to set new goals.
1. Avoid Getting Mired in Your Discouragement
It’s okay to feel bad, but don’t get stuck there for too long. How long you think about your sadness depends on the letdown. Losing your favorite t-shirt may deserve a few minutes. Losing a longtime relationship may require a little more time.
The point is, acknowledge why you’re disappointed, consider what you’ve learned, and then take action to move on. Staying in bed for a week will only make you feel worse, and you’ll still have to deal with the consequences.
2. Find Perspective
Whatever the disappointment’s cause, try to maintain the perspective of how this will affect your overall life. You won’t even remember minor defeats in a few weeks’ time, and more significant downfalls should be kept in the perspective of your life as a whole.
Focus on that which makes you feel grateful, what you’ve learned, and how this will impact you in the future. You may also want to consider how this setback affects others, which can be a powerful exercise in perspective.
They may be hurting worse than you.
3. Remember You Can’t Change the Past
Whatever the disappointment, it’s done. It’s happened.
You can’t change it.
So you have two choices. Stagnate on your negative feelings about it or accept that it happened and move on.
Imagining what might have been or considering the “if onlys” can create more hurt and pain. Focus instead on what’s ahead and how you plan to get there.
4. Use the Chance to Examine Your Expectations
Disappointment is when a situation doesn’t meet your expectations. After a setback, look inward to determine if your expectations were appropriate.
Did you expect too much from another person? Were you too demanding of yourself?
How realistic were your goals for the situation?
Reexamining your expectations is a great way to set new goals for moving forward. Be honest with yourself and the true nature of your dissatisfaction.
Be sure you don’t set yourself up for disappointment.
5. Take a Personal Inventory
Before you move on, this is a great chance to evaluate all the strengths you’re bringing to the table to handle this and other disappointments you may face. Look at the skills you have that will help you through your situation, think about the tools and resources you have to help you form a new plan.
Who in your life can assist you in moving on and progressing? Consider all the ways you can and are making the best of your situation and use those as resources for your next step.
6. Reassess and Set New Goals
Each blow in life is an opportunity for choosing a new direction. There is always another chance, to determine how you’re going to decide to move forward.
There is value in all setbacks, and you are only as good as what you learn from each one. Take that newfound knowledge and strength and put it toward a new plan for yourself.
Moving on from a setback isn’t always easy. But if you do the work and stay focused, you can find your way through to the other side with renewed focus and acceptance.
It may take time, but you can move past your defeat and learn from your experiences, too.
Believe it or not, some bad habits are good for you. Your parents may have tried to punish you out of or control us out of doing these things.
Of course, everything in moderation, right? Let’s look at eight “bad” habits that are actually good for you that you can stop trying to end now.
1. Fidgeting
If you tend to wiggle a lot, your mom might have tried to stop it. Your partner might try too.
Yet, fidgeting is good for you because it burns more calories and keeps your blood moving.
This is especially true if you have a job that requires a lot of sitting. Sitting is comparable to smoking in damaging health.
So anything that can undo that damage is a good thing.
2. Gum Chewing
Sugarless gum is good for you. That’s if you have the right dental work or your own teeth.
Chewing gum burns calories and helps you eat less. It freshens your breath and also cuts down on cavities.
3. Video Games
While there may be some games that aren’t worth the added benefit. But in general playing video games helps with developing fine motor skills.
It keeps the mind nimble. And by some reports can help give relief for chronic pain conditions by taking your mind off the problem.
4. Daydreaming
Finding a way to allow your mind to get bored enough to be able to daydream is very good for your mind. It clarifies your goals in life, too.
You won’t create lofty goals for your life if you can’t daydream.
5. Swearing
Most of us feel that swearing is inappropriate. But studies show that swearing in a certain way reduces stress.
Remember that swearing is completely different from a slur. A slur is something you say about a person, whilst a swearword is a curse word – otherwise known as an expletive.
6. Messiness
If you are a messy person by nature, take heart; you’re likely also a very creative person. Messiness is sometimes a sign of creativity.
If you want to be more creative, don’t become messy on purpose. But realize that sometimes being messy is part of the creative process.
7. Sleeping in Late
They say that “the early bird gets the worm,” but does it? Sleeping well and enough each night is important to your health and brain function.
If you stayed up late and need to sleep in and it won’t cause you to get fired or miss something important – go for it.
8. Passing Gas
Passing gas is a normal action. It gets rid of built-up gas from your digestive tract. to prevent bloating and pain.
Of course, you don’t want to do some of these things when other people are around. But it’s okay to accept some of them as part of who you are and part of living life.
As long as you can choose the habits you create, you can build a life in line with what you want it to be.
You think of yourself in a certain way. Yet that way may not be who you really are.
Puzzling as it can be, GenuLines points the way to more understanding.
You Might Not Be Who You Think You Are
The famous psychologist, William James, once said, “You’re not what you think you are, but what you think, you are!” This quote is a bit of a riddle.
But at its core, there’s a profound message: you’re in control of your destiny.
We know that it’s not always as easy as it sounds. This is why this post is all about self-exploration.
Let’s find out if you know exactly who you are. It may take you by surprise to realize that you might not be who you think you are.
Interested in finding out more? Then, let’s dive in!
The All-Powerful Mind
The mind is one of the most powerful tools you have in your arsenal. It can impact our moods, health, and pretty much our view of life.
Your mind is so powerful that it can make you ill, even when there’s actually nothing wrong with you.
Let’s say you’re stressed out about a job interview or an upcoming exam. Within a matter of days, all that anxiety will manifest itself in disease.
You may start experiencing digestive problems. Your blood pressure will start to rise.
Some people even start suffering from nausea, heart palpitations, and sweaty palms.
According to William James, if you create a mental picture of yourself—good or bad—you’ll begin to embody it. That’s how powerful your thoughts can be!
Your Self-Schema
Your schema is the collection of cognitive beliefs and generalizations of ourselves. We gather these from the experiences we go through and the messages we receive from other people.
These messages quite often dictate who we are and how we behave in certain situations.
In almost all cases, these perceptions develop without our even knowing about them. But they still have a big influence on how we see ourselves.
Whatever you believe is true, it will at some point become true for you.
Not all self-schemas are negative
Many of them can be good for your self-esteem and inspire you to achieve more, like:
I’m:
*talented
*outgoing
*athletic
Then, some self-schemas are incomplete, distorted, or inaccurate. As a result, they force us to view ourselves, our choices, and our entire world in a negative light.
They may make you feel hopeless, even worthless at times.
Some of these include:
I’m:
*lazy
*not successful
*overweight
See the Big Picture
If you’ve experienced any type of trauma or anxiety, you know that a negative sense of self can follow. Low self-esteem and negative self-talk also develop soon after.
Leaving yourself vulnerable to these feelings of defeat and despair can be dangerous.
The scary part is that this distorted self-image of can affect anyone. It doesn’t target the weak or lonely.
It also happens to those who are resilient, courageous, or perseverant.
Always remember that you’re more than your self-schemas allow you to believe. Still, it can be hard to see the bigger picture, especially when times are tough.
Below are a few things you can do to provide support to yourself or someone you care about. They’re a good reminder of your self-worth and help you see yourself as your true, complete self.
Question the Accuracy of Self-Schemas
It’s easy to let others determine our perception of who we are, aka our schemas. Yet, the problem starts when we convince ourselves that that’s who we are as individuals.
The only way to avoid this is by taking some time to reflect. Ask yourself, “How accurate is this belief?
Does it reflect who I am?”
Remember that if others have drawn up a certain picture of you, it may be incomplete. It may even be 100% inaccurate.
No one knows who you are and what you’re capable of except you.
Take Control of Your Thoughts
Were you able to question the truth of certain aspects of yourself? You know now that other people’s perception of you isn’t always correct.
Once you recognize that, you can be aware of how unkind you can be to yourself. Don’t worry, we’re all victims of one form of self-sabotage or another.
At times, we can be our own worst enemies. Luckily, there are ways to avoid falling into that pit.
The simplest thing you can do is to emphasize the positive, no matter how small you may think they are.
Start with some strength-based affirmations, such as:
*I welcome change.
*I don’t waste time feeling sorry for myself.
*I’m grateful for all that I have.
Making mistakes doesn’t make me a failure.
Giving up isn’t an option.
Allow Yourself to Be Whole
You are the sum of all your parts. You’re not defined by a mistake you made at work- or by your successes.
You are a combination of your strengths and weaknesses, failures, and accomplishments. Allowing them to coexist is the first step to appreciating yourself and all you stand for.
Overheard: “If you feel lost, disappointed, hesitant, or weak, return to yourself, to who you are, here and now and when you get there, you will discover yourself, like a lotus flower in full bloom, even in a muddy pond, beautiful and strong.”
You put your best energy into all you do, at least that’s your intention. But sometimes your energy tank level drops to “empty.”
You need to re-fuel, and GenuLines has some ideas to keep you on the go.
4 Easy Ways to Maintain Your Energy
You started the day ready to take on the world. From the moment you got out of bed, you’ve been thinking about all the things you’re going to get done today.
You can’t wait to get started! Then it all falls apart.
By the end of the day, you’re grumpy and out of sorts. The day somehow derailed.
Now here you are, feeling like you didn’t do half the things you wanted to today. What happened?
Well, sometimes it’s true that life does get in the way. The car won’t start, or the dog gets loose, and you spend half the morning chasing him around the neighborhood.
Life gets in the way. More often than not, though, you likely did what most people do: you crashed and burned.
You ran out of energy. So, how do you maintain your energy levels even on the toughest of days?
Check-in With Yourself
First of all, you need to be paying more attention to your body. Catch yourself right when your energy begins to waver.
You might be able to stave off a massive crash later on. When you’re lagging, it’s because you need something small, like a drink of water.
Or a little activity. Or even a small snack.
These are quick and easy fixes that only take a minute. Ignore them, though, and you’re liable to lose hours of your day before you know it.
Engage in a Routine (or Two)
We tend to burn out because we’re scrambling to sort out our day and find the things we need. If you have a morning routine, for example, you’ll have everything near at hand right when you need it.
Getting out of the door will take half the energy, giving you reserves for where you need it most.
Ask yourself what parts of your day you can streamline. Set up a routine and make sure to follow through with those routines as often as possible.
Become More Intentional
Too often, our day becomes filled with little nonsense tasks which take up energy and time. What is it you need to do?
What actions will leave the biggest impact on the day?
Put your energy where it counts most by being more intentional in what you’re doing. Remember, you don’t have to be the one to do everything.
Delegate the non-essential items to keep yourself focused on what matters.
Get to Bed!
While a bedtime routine is a great start, pay more attention to your sleep. Create a sleep environment that is free from noise and distraction.
Make sure your room is at an optimal temperature, and yes, if need be, invest in a better mattress or new pillows.
Getting a good night’s sleep will keep you more energetic throughout the day.
Brain fog leaves you feeling out of it. And you would really love to “snap out of it.”
Well, you can do something about it, and GenuLines has some points to jog your brain in that direction.
You CAN Reverse Brain Fog
We’ve all experienced mental fog. You feel like your brain is made of cloud puffs instead of brain matter. Its symptoms include:
• Difficulty concentrating
• Diminished memory
• Finding it hard to focus
• Poor communication skills
• Low motivation
• You’re easily distracted
Brain fog is a result of any type of imbalance in the control center of the brain. This control center is ,known as the hypothalamus.
This imbalance can be a result of inflammation. Or free radicals.
Or any type of stress brought on by several factors, such as:
• Multi-tasking
• Exhaustion
• Anxiety
• PTSD
• Imbalanced hormones
• Infections
• Not getting enough sun exposure
• Substance abuse
Mental fog is a natural result of our busy, nonstop lifestyles,. But it shouldn’t happen over and over.
If it does these simple changes can stop it from happening and repeating..
• Eat right
It’s amazing how much power our food has over us. Processed foods, foods high in saturated fats and gluten all have a negative effect on your brain.
In fact a study linked gluten sensitivity to low concentration and poor focus.
Also, not getting enough water into your system can lead to brain freeze.
• Take your vitamins
If your diet lacks antioxidants you can start looking for vitamins, such as D and B complex. Or minerals, such as calcium, zinc and magnesium.
Then look for supplements that work along with your diet. These will provide you with more of the nourishment you’re lacking.
• Get better sleep
We all sleep, but it’s the quality of our sleep that can either make us or break us. High quality sleep improves brain function on a whole.
While it’s ideal to get the full 8 hours each night, some people need only 6 for optimal effectiveness. Find what works best for you.
Then regulate your sleep. Set up a relaxing bedtime routine and a comfortable sleeping area.
• Work out
When you exercise, you send fresh, oxygenated blood to your entire body, mainly your brain. This boosts its cognitive functions and diminishes brain fog.
Studies have shown exercise can improve learning and study skills. Plus it can optimize concentration and memory skills.
• Find a hobby
Even in the busiest of weeks there are ways to work fun, relaxing activities into your schedule. The first step is to carve out some “me” time and stop thinking it’s selfish, as many of us do.
The second step is to find something you enjoy doing just to chill out. It could be meditating by yourself in a quiet room.
Or a class or club where you to meet new people. The final step is to decompress and enjoy.
Brain fog is completely reversible. You need to do the work and find out what works for you.
Each one of us is unique, so it may be a bit challenging at first to find that perfect fit. But you’ll be glad you put in the effort once you regain clarity and be able to perform at your best.
You’re okay with being an introvert, until you’re not. It can put into a rut that leaves you feeling sort of stale.
This list of suggestions from GenuLines is designed to ease you out of that rut.
4 Ways To Get Out Of Your Introvert Rut
Have you been feeling like you’re stuck in an introvert rut lately? Do you find yourself spending too much time on your own?
Could it be you do the same things over and over, or feel like you’re holding yourself back? There are a few things you can do if you’re stuck in an introvert rut.
Let’s get busy and figure them out!
1) Step out but within your comfort zone
One of the best ways to get out of a rut is by pushing yourself to try new things. Now this can be a bit much for the VERY introverted.
Branch out and try new things in new places. You could hang out with a larger group of people, but do so within the confines of your comfort zone.
Go to your favorite coffee shop and order your favorite drink at their busiest time of day. Go to a party you wouldn’t normally attend, but hang in the corner with a close friend.
The key to this exercise is finding a balance; you want to push yourself, but not too far.
2) Meet new people on your terms
Along the same lines, you want to meet new people within your comfort zone too. Spark up a conversation with a friendly person at your favorite store, restaurant, or bar.
This will help you meet someone that’s most likely like-minded. And you’ll do it without pushing yourself to the point of discomfort.
Push yourself to go somewhere where you might meet a new friend with whom you have common interests. This could make it easier for you to mix things up.
And you can get out of your rut without pushing yourself to the point of discomfort.
3) Push yourself to take part in something new
Doing something entirely new to you can be a good way to break yourself out of your rut. But for a lot of introverts, this is highly uncomfortable.
It could even be anxiety-inducing. You have to push yourself to do something new that you’re comfortable with.
Are you more comfortable going out to a game night at a brewery or a book club that let you be in a smaller group? Then push yourself to do that.
If you’re more comfortable going to a larger party where you can hide in the crowd if you need to. then that needs to be the something new you try.
4) Drive yourself to bust out of your shell
A great way to break out of an introverted rut is by pushing yourself to get out of your shell. This is another exercise that might prove to be very uncomfortable for introverts.
So it may not be for everyone.
Try branching out to new small groups where the attention has to be on you at some point. It could be a book club, creative writing group, local bridge game, or a small jam session among other things.
This will help you break out of your shell and push past this introversion and the rut you’re in.
Final thoughts
Getting out of an introvert rut can be tough. And the more introverted you are, the harder it becomes.
If you find the process too difficult, talk it over with a professional. You’ll get steered to more specific and custom exercises.
These will better help you get out of this rut without hurting yourself in any way.
If you’re an optimist you may live by the old “glass is half-full” theory. But if you’re a pessimist and your glass is “half-empty” you may not be okay with this.
You can work on switching mindsets, and GenuLines has some suggestions on making your mental “U-turn.”
You want to make more money. You see the lavish lifestyles of celebrities and other famous people.
You’d like to have some of that for yourself. But, is your drive for money blinding you to the important things in your life?
It’s often said that if you do something you love, the money will follow. That can happen if you approach whatever you love with passion.
Then again, if making money is your driving force, how will you do that? You’re likely to 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 how little you accomplished.
You may be successful in the short term. You’ll get that extra dollar from a new job or you’ll squeeze a quick buck from your business.
But, you’ll keep searching for more money.
Experience
It’s possible that if you lack the experience at your new job you won’t be able to handle it. 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 a lot of folks believe. For instance, what good is having a high-paying job when you have to work 80-90 hours a week?
What kind of life is that?
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 might end up quite unhappy.
Or the workload needed to reach your goal gets you to an early grave. In that case the money they earned is useless.
If you are happy with what you are doing, money becomes a secondary priority. People do need money to live, and you shouldn’t settle for working for less than you’re worth.
Get to the point where you can balance a decent amount of money with doing something that you enjoy. Then expect to live a more satisfying life.