Hao123 Pro: English

Hiển thị các bài đăng có nhãn English. Hiển thị tất cả bài đăng

Follow Your Ideal: 3 Steps to Creating Your Dream Life

Follow Your Ideal: 3 Steps to Creating Your Dream Life

Photo by Ángelo González Your belief determines your action and your action determines your results, but first you have to believe. — Mark...

Đọc thêm »

07:20

How to Gain Clarity in Your Life

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="gain clarity" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6061" height="240" src="http://www.thechangeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/gain-clarity.jpg" title="gain clarity" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ro2b3yface/5918080004/">Robby Mueller</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ro2b3yface/5918080004/"></a></div> <a href="http://effortlessabundance.com/" target="_blank"></a> Henry David Thoreau famously wrote that most people (‘the mass of men’) live lives of quiet desperation.  Most of us probably wouldn’t describe our daily experience as ‘desperation,’ but there may be an uncomfortable feeling that we are drifting along, not having a clear aim, not having achieved what we dreamed about in the past and yet not knowing quite why. Usually, this feeling is not painful enough to drive us into making any real changes, so the danger is that we can drift along like this indefinitely. Many people who have made significant advances in life have had periods of intense discomfort which have forced them to go inside, reflect and become more aware. For most of us, there are things we can do to become clearer about where we are, what we want and how to get there. These practices may be less radical that sudden upheavals and painful experiences, but they can be uncomfortable – learning new things usually is – and a gentle persistence will be an important attitude to adopt if you attempt them seriously. <h3>Meditation</h3><div style="text-align: center;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzt3am0gwHXA-YWj9hujG7LQ8HCh8x-dpsMWNPKMgK9fUh76bUknzcj2DAqnjM3qFZbrkJr3X1xSeGa3TlFwpDYkaxpbLk7fogRDSFomcQ8hgrweaGKRxz4At_-sqP5yRHytmJTIh5GQ/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzt3am0gwHXA-YWj9hujG7LQ8HCh8x-dpsMWNPKMgK9fUh76bUknzcj2DAqnjM3qFZbrkJr3X1xSeGa3TlFwpDYkaxpbLk7fogRDSFomcQ8hgrweaGKRxz4At_-sqP5yRHytmJTIh5GQ/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How to Gain Clarity in Your Life</td></tr></tbody></table></div> The kind of meditation the Buddha is said to have taught is most closely reflected in Vippassana or ‘insight’  meditation. The technique is extremely simple: no special apparatus or prior knowledge is needed, just a quiet place and a period of time. All you have to do it sit comfortably with a straight back and observe your breath. Nothing more. In time, the practice is intended to bring about clarity and insight into the nature of the self, and that of reality. Some years ago, I attended one of S. N. Goenka’s famous ten day Vippassana retreats. The <a href="http://www.dhamma.org/">Goenka organization</a> is a worldwide group dedicated to teaching the practice of insight meditation.  The retreats are tough – many hours of meditation, only two small meals per day, basic communal facilities such as dorms, and a strict code of silence. Attendees are not allowed phones, books, journals or any other form of intellectual stimulation. The Goenka courses are excellent in the sense that they force you to meditate – there are quite literally no distractions, and one is forced to face up to the many obvious – and subtle – ways in which we try to avoid a practice which is so alien to our restless mind and which forces us to face some uncomfortable realities. But for those not quite ready to take the plunge, there are plenty of online courses available, such as those offered by <a href="http://www.wildmind.org/meditation">Wildmind</a>. It is also usually possible to find a local meditation centre offering guided evening sessions. <h3>Mindfulness</h3>Meditation is a way of focusing on the present moment in a very intense kind of way; the practice of mindfulness is a way of being present throughout the day. It just means watching yourself, being a silent witness to your own feelings, thoughts and reactions, in order to gain clarity about everything you do, feel or think. We usually move through life in a fairly unconscious state, responding to circumstances in a conditioned way, unconscious repetition of learned behaviors. Becoming more mindful is not easy –  it requires a great deal of practice but will, in time, lead to a great deal of clarity and insight into what drives us. With this knowledge, we can make better choices and exert more control over how we respond to situations and hence what we experience. Two books I particularly recommended are Awareness by Anthony de Mello and Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana. De Mello’s book is full of anecdotes and stories which underline the importance and the (sometimes surprising) consequences of being more ‘awake .’ <h3>Our connection with the natural world</h3>Although we might sometimes be tempted to see ‘nature’ as ‘something out there,’ separate from our experience, we are, of course, very much a part of the environment, and we naturally feel more centered and clear when we are close to our natural environment. We haven’t been living in houses and apartments for very long, and city living is a particularly new innovation which can be very stressful. It is helpful to find time regularly to spend time in a more natural environment. This doesn’t have to mean trekking through the jungle – even walking through a park or a garden can bring great benefits. In Hong Kong, where I have lived for many years, it can be extremely difficult to find the time and the opportunity to get out into nature, but it is possible, and making a conscious effort to do so enables me to maintain more balance and perspective. If I can do it here in Hong Kong, I think almost anyone can! <h3>Making friends with our mortality</h3>Death is something we often try to avoid thinking about, and yet it is one of the very few things we all have to face up to sooner or later. Only when it is forced into our attention – such as when a friend or loved one dies – do we really think about it. Some months ago, a very good friend of mine died after a long illness, and I was forced – as he was, although in a less intense way – to come to terms with the fragility and the brevity of life. I can personally attest to the clarity such a process brings. It  has been said that all our fears stem from  an underlying fear of death, and so coming to terms with this most basic and primordial event may hold the key to living more fearlessly and achieving more. The rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) attributes his success partially to having had to face death – quite literally. He was shot nine times just as he was on the verge of signing a lucrative record deal. He almost died and spent quite some time in hospital, alone with his thoughts. I once attended a series of talks given by a Buddhist monk. He said the reason monks are so happy is because they think so often about death. They truly understand the shortness and the sweetness of life. They don’t waste time. <h3>Facing the truth</h3>Clarity, in a sense, is the key to everything – a deep understanding of how the world works and, most importantly, what drives and motivates us, allows us to act with skill and to be more successful and content. There is no end to the stories we tell ourselves and the mental gymnastics we perform to hide ourselves from the truth. But a radical and comprehensive honesty is a prerequisite for gaining clarity. Fifteen hundred years ago, a wise man wrote, ‘Know the other, know yourself, and the victory will not be at risk; know the ground, know the natural conditions, and the victory will be total’ (Sun Tzu, The Art of War). <div style="text-align: right;">By Mark Harrison </div>

How to Gain Clarity in Your Life

Photo by Robby Mueller Henry David Thoreau famously wrote that most people (‘the mass of men’) live lives of quiet desperation. Most of u...

Đọc thêm »

07:11

How I Lost & Found Myself in a 216 Mile Relay Race

How I Lost & Found Myself in a 216 Mile Relay Race

Photo by Procsilas Moscas What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. – Ralph Waldo Emerso...

Đọc thêm »

07:02

5 Mistakes You Must Avoid When Following Your Passion

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thechangeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/following-your-passion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="following your passion" border="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11991" height="271" src="http://www.thechangeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/following-your-passion.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cadencrawford/8382082494/">Caden Crawford</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <a href="http://www.thechangeblog.com/author/henri-junttila/" rel="author" title="Posts by Henri Junttila"></a>In 2006, I had a vague feeling of unease. I felt like something was missing, but I didn’t know what. I was playing poker professionally and making a good living, but I yearned for more. More fulfillment. More excitement. More purpose. More joy. It’s been over half a decade since, and today I’m making a living doing what I love. I’m absolutely in love with the work I do and my life. But the journey there was filled with stumbling into pitfalls and getting shoved back by walls. That’s why this article is all about the mistakes I made during my path. By writing this, I hope you can avoid them, although sometimes you can’t, because you need to make mistakes in order to move forward. Let’s dive in. <h3>1. The Perfection Trap</h3>One of the first problems I ran into was trying to find the perfect passion. I got so caught up in this that I made no progress at all. I wanted to make a living online, but I lacked focus. I never focused on one thing for long enough to allow it to work. Trying to find perfection paralyzed me. But in 2009 something happened. I realized that if I wanted to make this work, I had to start where I was with what I had. That’s when I decided to focus on building a small niche site online. I got in touch with someone who was already doing what I wanted to do, and I implemented what I learned. As I took whatever steps I could take, my path began unfolding before my eyes. I realized that it is by taking one step at a time that I’ll get to the top of the mountain. It is by starting where I am with what I can do that I’ll allow myself to move forward. If I try to climb the mountain in one leap, I’ll never even get started, because it’s too overwhelming. I had to be willing to start where I was and let it lead me. So when you’re pursuing your dreams, avoid making grandiose plans. You don’t have to find that one perfect passion. You just have to follow the passion clues in front of you. Look at what you can do today, and then pick what excites or interests you. When you’re done with that, look around and take the next step that interests you. <h3>2. Forcing Progress</h3>When I realized I could get paid to do something I was interested in, I got lost in chasing money. I wanted to make more money, and I wanted to make it fast. In other words, I began forcing progress. I ended up feeling frustrated, lost, and overwhelmed. Whenever I force progress, it means I’m trying to do something I can’t do. I used to work 12-hour days to try and make things happen. Today I work 2-3 hours per day and make more progress because I listen to my inspiration. I take action when I feel good. I’ve become aware of the fact that things happen in their own time. I can enjoy the ride and let life unfold naturally. Trying to be somewhere or accomplish something comes from me believing that if I could just get somewhere, I would be happier. But the truth of the matter is that I can be happy now, and I can move from that place of happiness. I can take inspired action instead of needy action (trying to get something or do something to become happier). And when I do, the action I take is many times more powerful. So look at the options you have available to you right now, and then notice which one is the most interesting to you. Then do that. Don’t try to force things. If you feel overwhelmed. Go lie down, relax, and when you feel better, ideas will pop up. <h3>3. Thinking Ahead</h3>I’m a master worrier. I can conjure up horror movie-like scenarios in my head. In the past, I used to ponder what could go wrong, but as the years have passed, I’ve began leaning more towards pondering what can go right. Why? Because worrying doesn’t help. If anything, worrying makes what you worry about happen. Imagine that you’re driving to the next town. You’re moving forward and everything is going well, but uh oh, suddenly you have a thought: What if I don’t make it? What if the people in that town don’t like me? What if I put in all this time for nothing? So you stop the car and start thinking about your potentially grim fate. You stop moving, and eventually you decide that you’ll never get there, so you turn around and head home. While this may sound ridiculous, this is what many do (myself included), then we wonder why nothing good ever happens. The solution for me has not been to try and eliminate bad thoughts. I simply let them be, but I focus on what could go right. I ask more productive questions and I guide my thoughts to places that feel good. And when I do, I get inspired, and good things happen. <h3>4. Making Fear Your Enemy</h3>On my journey to doing what I love, fear has kept popping up time and time again. But fear isn’t my enemy. I’ve noticed that when I follow my passion, it highlights what no longer belongs. It shows me beliefs and fears that need to be let go of. Most people believe they’re doing something wrong when irrational fears, anxieties and worries pop up, but the opposite is true. When you follow your heart and go after your dreams, you will have to let go of your baggage so you can soar higher. The way I deal with fear is to feel it fully. When I have a particularly bad day, I’ll lie down, and feel whatever is going on in my body. It is only through feeling what you feel that you can let it go. So don’t let fear scare you. Take it as a sign that you’re on the right path. Feel your fear fully. Notice what you’re thinking about as you feel the fear. It’s often something you don’t want. Flip it to something you do want and notice what happens. <h3>5. Creating Rules</h3>Last, but not least, when I was starting out, I would be so worried about failing that I’d take the advice of successful people and make them into rules. I wanted to follow a formula that would guarantee my success. The more I did that, the worse my results were. The key for me was to take what I learned, such as how to build a popular blog, and make it my own. I experimented with the advice and saw what worked and what didn’t. I noticed what felt right, and I did what I could. I didn’t try to apply everything I learned. And that’s really the key, you have to do what feels best for you, and you have to uncover your own answers. Doing that has helped me build a 10,000+ subscriber blog and a passion business that supports me and my family. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVLC-FtCBSsdsEuqlr-1W50cvtfaX0HCyLEP3Ms4t3WiD4XcXwmvp8k6UH7_4oaR1xwPF1aKfBFOnI_4xA-VYTVeJ0vD5uCx2uh0eyKxkJ-hjPVXKqt_uu_WESfVZX4q4wJmDchSqOgU/s1600/44.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVLC-FtCBSsdsEuqlr-1W50cvtfaX0HCyLEP3Ms4t3WiD4XcXwmvp8k6UH7_4oaR1xwPF1aKfBFOnI_4xA-VYTVeJ0vD5uCx2uh0eyKxkJ-hjPVXKqt_uu_WESfVZX4q4wJmDchSqOgU/s400/44.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3> Creating Rules</h3></td></tr></tbody></table>The Bottom Line   When following your passion, you have to be willing to stop looking for permission. You have to start looking inside for the answers. The more I’ve started doing this, the more I’ve noticed that I have everything I need to move forward. I have the inspiration and inner nudges that take me places. You can always make excuses for why you can’t take action, but the truth is that you can always take the next step. And the next step is all that’s needed. You don’t have to figure out your life right now. You don’t have to find the perfect passion. You just have to take the next step. You have to do what you can with what you have. That’s it. And if you have trouble finding your passion, or living a fulfilling life, you can check out my book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DIHO7NS" title="Find Your Passion: 25 Questions You Must Ask Yourself">Find Your Passion: 25 Questions You Must Ask Yourself</a>. I hope you enjoyed this article. If you have any questions, I’ll be in the comments below. <div style="text-align: right;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="61" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://mp3.zing.vn/embed/song/ZW6O7FF7?autostart=true" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed width="300" height="61" src="http://mp3.zing.vn/embed/song/ZW6O7FF7?autostart=true" quality="high" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: right;">By Henri Junttila</div>

5 Mistakes You Must Avoid When Following Your Passion

Photo by Caden Crawford In 2006, I had a vague feeling of unease. I felt like something was missing, but I didn’t know what. I was playing p...

Đọc thêm »

04:59

NHỮNG CÂU NÓI CON GÁI KHÔNG THỂ KHÔNG MUỐN NGHE

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfT9-GfJWWbz5y-sfFph5N-Gspvte8fu0363nCYhV_pR8HYV85bvuCnAWyMrU045oVyrnEe8FKwWiz009qqZ0osof6hcCJ10lJ2gcQBY4POkDEjjxayeCvxVttXnK0Q13sIgf-IfVtoA/s1600/36.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfT9-GfJWWbz5y-sfFph5N-Gspvte8fu0363nCYhV_pR8HYV85bvuCnAWyMrU045oVyrnEe8FKwWiz009qqZ0osof6hcCJ10lJ2gcQBY4POkDEjjxayeCvxVttXnK0Q13sIgf-IfVtoA/s400/36.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NHỮNG CÂU NÓI CON GÁI KHÔNG THỂ KHÔNG MUỐN NGHE</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>1. I cannot stop thinking about you. (Anh không thể ngừng nghĩ về em) 2. I never knew what I did good to deserve you. (Anh không biết mình đã làm gì để xứng đáng có em) 3. Meeting you is the best thing that ever happened to me. (Gặp được em là điều tốt đẹp nhất từng xảy đến với anh) 4. I’m not a sweet talker but if I could say something romantic, you’d be the only one I’d say it to. (Anh không phải kẻ hay nói những câu đường mật nhưng nếu anh có thể cói những lời lãng mạn, anh sẽ chỉ nói những lời ấy với em) 5. They say a picture tells 1,000 words but when I see yours all I see is 3: I…love…you. (Người ta nói một bức ảnh có thể nói lên ngàn lời, nhưng khi nhìn vào ảnh em, anh chỉ thấy có 3 chữ: Anh…Yêu…Em) 6. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. (Chưa từng ai mang lại cho anh cảm giác này) 7. You’re the love of my life. (Em là tình yêu của đời anh) 8. You’re my one and only. (Em là người con gái duy nhất của anh.) 9. You’re my everything. (Em là tất cả của anh.) 10. I can’t believe that someone as amazing as you could ever be with me. (Anh không thể tin mình có thể có được một người con gái tuyệt vời như em) 11. Do you even realize how much I love you? (Em có biết anh yêu em nhiều như thế nào không) 12. I wish I could be with you forever, but that still wouldn’t be enough time to love you. (Anh ước có thể bên em mãi mãi, nhưng kể cả từng đó thời gian cũng không đủ để anh yêu em) 13. I could hold you forever. (Anh sẽ ôm em mãi) 14. I wanna be the one you hold all the time. (Anh muốn em ôm anh mãi thế này) I wanna be the one holding your heart. (Anh muốn là người duy nhất nắm giữ trái tim em) 15. I wanna be the one who can make you happy. (Anh muốn là người làm em hạnh phúc) 16. I wanna be the one who completes your life, because you are the only one who can make me feel this way. (Anh muốn là người khiến cuộc đời em trọn vẹn, vì chính em làm anh cảm thấy như vậy) <div style="text-align: right;">By Good luck</div>

NHỮNG CÂU NÓI CON GÁI KHÔNG THỂ KHÔNG MUỐN NGHE

NHỮNG CÂU NÓI CON GÁI KHÔNG THỂ KHÔNG MUỐN NGHE 1. I cannot stop thinking about you. (Anh không thể ngừng nghĩ về em) 2. I never knew what...

Đọc thêm »

18:48

On Attitude

<h4 style="text-align: center;">On Attitude </h4>At ten minutes to seven on a dark, cool evening in Mexico City in 1968, John Stephen Arkari of Tanzania painfully hobbled into the Olympic Stadium - the last to finish in the marathon. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpo5R6p7QDz7x0PkGaXXN-DC-hOCJS3fsdQ1Ecxq18GjkqVfW6wexBz3b5P8epB4QB120zwrNkyjIjH7FeBKZCwwQGiUt_wqlqembI8x7zmaZQLA0LpAdLHwGmtyifTvo_FqILfvBZjk/s1600/30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpo5R6p7QDz7x0PkGaXXN-DC-hOCJS3fsdQ1Ecxq18GjkqVfW6wexBz3b5P8epB4QB120zwrNkyjIjH7FeBKZCwwQGiUt_wqlqembI8x7zmaZQLA0LpAdLHwGmtyifTvo_FqILfvBZjk/s400/30.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuộc Sống Là Một Hành Trình, Không Phải Là Điểm Đến </td></tr></tbody></table>The winner had already been crowned and the victory ceremony was long finished. So the stadium was almost empty as Arkwari, alone, his leg bloody and bandaged, struggled to circle the track to the finish line. The respected documentary, Bud Greenspan, watched from a distance. Then, intrigued, Bud walked over to Arkwari and asked why he continued the grueling struggle to the finish line.  The young man from Tanzania answered softly, "My country did not send me nine thousand miles to start the race. They sent me nine thousand miles to finish the race." Walter Anderson <h1 class="entry-title" style="text-align: center;">Đường đua của niềm tin</h1> Thủ đô Mexico một buổi tối mùa đông năm 1968. Đồng hồ chỉ bảy giờ kém mười phút. Vận động viên John Stephen Arkwari người Tanazania tập tễnh kết thúc những mét cuối của đường đua Thế vận hội Olympic với một chân bị băng bó. Anh là người cuối cùng về đích trong cuộc thi marathon năm ấy.  Những người chiến thắng cuộc thi đã nhận huy chương và lễ trao giải cũng đã kết thúc. Vì thế sân vận động hầu như vắng ngắt khi Arkwari, với vết thương ở chân đang rướm máu, cố gắng chạy vòng cuối cùng để về đích. Chỉ có Bud Greenspan, nhà làm phim tài liệu nổi tiếng là còn tại đó, đang ngạc nhiên nhìnanh từ xa chạy tới. Sau đó, không giấu được sự tò mò, Bud bước tới chỗ Arkwari đang thở dốc và hỏi tại sao anh lại cố vất vả chạy về đích như thế khi cuộc đua đã kết thúc từ lâu và chẳng còn khán giả nào trên sân nữa. John Stephen trả lời bằng giọng nói hụt hơi: "Tôi rất hạnh phúc vì đã hoàn thành chặng đua với cố gắng hết mình. Tôi được đất nước gửi đi chín ngàn dặm đến đây không phải chỉ để bắt đầu cuộc đua - mà là để hoàn thành cuộc đua". Walter Anderson <div style="text-align: right;"> </div><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><object height="480" width="640"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/M_NgYcuk6mk?version=3&hl=vi_VN&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/M_NgYcuk6mk?version=3&hl=vi_VN&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>  <div style="text-align: right;">By Good luck </div>

On Attitude

On Attitude At ten minutes to seven on a dark, cool evening in Mexico City in 1968, John Stephen Arkari of Tanzania painfully hobbled into...

Đọc thêm »

20:41

30 Lessons Learned From 30 Years of Change

<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="61" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://mp3.zing.vn/embed/song/ZWZAIWI7?autostart=true" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed width="300" height="61" src="http://mp3.zing.vn/embed/song/ZWZAIWI7?autostart=true" quality="high" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="post-head-area"><h2 class="post-title heading-font"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thechangeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/30-lessons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="30 lessons" border="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11945 aligncenter" height="237" src="http://www.thechangeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/30-lessons.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/marinacaprara/9525868663/">Marina Caprara</a></td></tr></tbody></table></h2></div>As I write this post, I was brought into this world 30 years ago today. Even though 30 is apparently the new 20, and some days I feel like my real life is just starting to get interesting, I find myself reflecting on the experiences of the last 30 years, and all of the lessons I’ve managed to learn along the way. So here they are, (well 30 of them at least) categorized to help readability, but in no particular order of importance. <h3>Money Lessons</h3> <h4>1. Pay Yourself First</h4>Every time you get paid, whether its a weekly paycheck, a side job, a gift, an inheritance, or anything of the like, put some of it away the first thing you do. Don’t even consider that part of your income. It goes into savings for a large purchase goal. Otherwise, it’s human nature to want to spend it. Even better – automate the transaction straight from your account. This way you won’t have to go through the emotional transaction, and will put your saving on autopilot. This will help you save some nice large chunks of money over time that you can spend on possessions and experiences that significantly enhance your life, not petty materialistic things that often become a burden. <h4>2. You Can Always Earn More</h4>Almost every financial “expert” out there will tell you the best way to save money is to cut back on your “unnecessary daily spending.” These are things like eating out, your morning coffee, and other things you like to do. But here’s the thing. Not only do you have to make the emotional decision to cut out those things every single day of your life, but you can only cut out so much from your life until it just starts to really suck. At that point, you’re not just living on ramen and tuna fish, stealing your neighbor’s WiFi, and drinking nothing but water, but you’re also putting yourself in a very poor financial mindset. If all you do is cut back on your spending, you’ll never be <a href="http://www.dongluccuocsong.vn/search/label/Change%20Your%20Life#.Uj-ixNI5mzk" title="driven to succeed">driven to succeed</a>. You can always earn more though. Your income potential is limited only by your drive to earn. So rather than sacrificing your entire life, figure out how to enhance your lifestyle through large financial wins, and earning more. <h4>3. Pay Off High Interest Debt</h4>Before I paid off my students loans from graduate school, I hated looking at the interest I was going to have to pay. It was going to cost me thousands of extra dollars over just a few years. Fortunately I was able to pay it off pretty quickly. That said, mine wasn’t that bad relative to what some people pay. Being stuck with 15-20% interest rates can be crippling. That can equal tens of thousands of dollars in interest for only a few thousand dollars of debt. But if that’s where you are, then you’d better get control of your spending habits and get cracking on paying it off. Otherwise you’re going to be kicking and screaming just to keep your financial head above water. Take a financial snapshot, isolate the highest interest debt chunk you have, streamline your finances, and start pumping money towards that puppy – preferably in an automated fashion. It may take some time, but trust me, you’ll feel much better when you do and it’ll be A LOT easier to get approved for loans when you need them. <h4>4. A Little Money Can Become A Lot of Money</h4>I’m fortunate to have a financially motivated mind, so I was interested in personal finance at an early age. I’ve been investing since I was 18, just a little bit per month, and sometimes in large chunks as finances allowed. Do your future self a favor, and open a Roth IRA. Even if you’ve only got the capacity to save $25 a month, it’s better than nothing at all. That money will add up over time, and will begin to grow and compound nicely in a few years. It might not seem like a smart move early on when you need money in your 20s, but trust me, as you get into your 30s you’ll be glad you started early. Also, target employers with aggressive 401k plans who offer to match your contributions, and possibly even profit share. These plans are amazingly lucrative and can easily turn you into a millionaire over time. The lingering question to ask yourself here is… Do you want to spend everything you have now and work another 20 years when you’re 50, or have a little less spending money and retire while you still have some life left? <h4>5. Keep Your Finances Hands Off</h4>Some people might like to babysit their investments all day long, but not me. It’s actually proven that the vast majority of actively managed portfolios fail to outperform the market. Unless you’re a financial savant, why bother? I can think of better things to do. Check out a type of hands off investment called ‘lifecycle funds.’ You can buy into these once, usually for very cheap, and then auto-invest each month. They’ll even adjust their risk patterns as you age – higher risk when you are young and have time to make it back, and lower risk when you are older and need to protect your money. They’re also usually very stable because they tend to mirror top indexes. This keeps you from having to babysit them in case of daily market fluctuations that can sometimes freak out neophyte investors. <h4>6. Subscriptions Silently Suck</h4>Monthly subscriptions, especially those that are auto-billed and auto-renewed were one of the best things ever conceived. It allows large transactions to become small ones, and emotional pain of paying to completely go away. Because of this, A LOT of people have several subscriptions they don’t even use, and sometimes don’t even know about. Take some time to sit down and review your monthly subscriptions (check for any annual ones as well). This is one of those low-hanging fruit personal finance optimization items you can take care of one time a year, and potentially save yourself hundreds of dollars to put towards other more important things in your life. <h4>7. Money Is Great, But Experiences Are Priceless</h4><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoJXwpl-R7c8ltFdRXlw_nXa045oukYeLT5tTbHUDXiWzbWqVvsZQd4_O18Exo3qJH_aBzQWUMcXMHeAzpRbKf9MeIQWjqpy8fh33aWWt_Msw6p-ZKYOuspqDq9Ey0eLwOkwIZGCd3oM/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoJXwpl-R7c8ltFdRXlw_nXa045oukYeLT5tTbHUDXiWzbWqVvsZQd4_O18Exo3qJH_aBzQWUMcXMHeAzpRbKf9MeIQWjqpy8fh33aWWt_Msw6p-ZKYOuspqDq9Ey0eLwOkwIZGCd3oM/s400/26.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiền bạc rất quan trọng nhưng kinh nghiệm là vô giá. Ảnh: Flickr</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>Being from a frugal background (I grew up in a small town without a lot of money), I have a tendency to get caught up in accumulating wealth. That sometimes results in a lack of life experiences. But at the end of the day, a giant chunk of money in the bank isn’t anything you can remember or reflect upon. It’s the trips I’ve taken, the sights I’ve seen, and the experiences I’ve had with close friends that I have come to value the most. You can always earn more money, but you can never get back your time. Make sure to take time to enjoy what you have worked for. <h4>8. Learn to Negotiate</h4>Negotiation is awkward, but it can save you thousands if not tens of thousands over the course of your life. Read a couple of books on the subject and put those ideas into practice. This is a great skill to possess for those large financial wins in life. <h3>Mindset Lessons</h3> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thechangeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/mindset-lessons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="mindset lessons" border="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11949 aligncenter" height="216" src="http://www.thechangeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/mindset-lessons.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathankosread/8244072348/">Jonathan Kos-Read</a></td></tr></tbody></table> 9. Think and Act For Yourself   Most people follow the herd. They don’t even really know why they do the things they do. They just live their life according to how society says it should be lived. Nonsense. I say do what you want. If you’re going to act a certain way, do it because it makes sense in your mind, not just because “that’s the way it’s always been”, or “that’s just what you’re supposed to do.”  That’s a recipe for <a href="http://www.dongluccuocsong.vn/2013/09/10-secrets-for-instant-self-confidence.html" target="_blank" title="mediocrity">mediocrity</a>. Following the herd is only going to get your as far as where the herd stops, and for most people, that’s nowhere near the top. Pave your own way. <h4>10. Don’t Take Life Too Seriously</h4>Business dealings are serious. Dental exams are serious. Raiders fans are serious. But most things in life should be enjoyed. Laugh, smile, joke, and have fun with your life. No one likes a Grumpy Gus, so learn to be free of negativity and live a life of <a href="http://www.dongluccuocsong.vn/2013/09/10-secrets-for-instant-self-confidence.html#.Uj-lctI5mzk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="happiness">happiness</a> with those around you. <h4>11. You Are What You Believe</h4>If you truly believe you will succeed, you will find a way to do so, but if you convince yourself you will fail, you most certainly will do so as well. You are the image you hold of yourself in your mind. If you want to be successful, it is your job in life to build that image up to be successful, healthy, compassionate, humble, and any other trait you would like it to possess. <h4>12. Your Environment Shapes Who You Are</h4>In five years, you will be the average of your five closest friends, your life experiences, and the environment you surround yourself with along the way. What you choose to let into your mind on a daily basis shapes the way you live, act, and think. That is why it is imperative that you create a positive and supportive environment for yourself. Live in a world of negativity, and you will be a negative person. But live in a world of positivity and support, and your subconscious mind will follow suit. Seek inspiration, motivation, mentors, and new experiences. They’ll certainly help to contribute to that average. <h4>13. You Have Control</h4>Bad things happen from time to time, even to good people. I have a friend who, about 18 months ago as I write this, was just about to open a CrossFit gym. Then his house got hit by a horrific tornado. He could have easily cried “why me?”, thrown in the towel, and put his business off for another year, but he didn’t. He realized he had control of how he reacted. He got together what he needed and opened his business anyway, and now it’s a thriving success. My point is, your life is not defined by the circumstances which you face. Your life is defined by how you react to those circumstances. You have control over everything in your life one way or another. The choice to act is always yours. <h4>14. Think Bigger</h4>You won’t get rich by raising chickens and selling organic eggs for $3 a dozen. If you always think in terms of making a ‘few extra dollars’ you will only make a few extra dollars. We tend to reach the goals we set for ourselves, and not too much more. Don’t set a goal to sell 1,000 copies of your book. Set a goal to sell 100,000. If you think bigger and truly believe in yourself, your mind will figure out ways to make your visualization happen. <h3>Productivity Lessons</h3> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thechangeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/productivity-lessons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="productivity lessons" border="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11950 aligncenter" height="265" src="http://www.thechangeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/productivity-lessons.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34316967@N04/4465899039/">J L</a></td></tr></tbody></table> 15. Motivation Contains Inertia   When you become motivated, act on it. It’s much easier to maintain a high level of motivation while you’re moving than it is while you’re sitting on your butt. Just like Newton’s law of inertia, we have a tendency to stay motivated if we are already motivated. <h4>16. Find Something to Focus On</h4>I’m what they call a serial learner – or someone with a very high theoretical quotient – so I have a tendency to want to learn and do a lot of different things. This has its ups in terms of gaining a wide variety of skill sets, but it has hurt me in terms of specialization. I’ve created a lot of things (two six figure businesses, two books, several training courses, countless websites, etc), but haven’t yet stuck to something long enough to build something totally amazing, although I’m getting there with Academy Success. Find something that really matters to you, that brings you joy to do, and helps others. Always keep the image in your mind of what it will eventually be, not what it is right now. That will help you focus on doing what needs to be done to build it. <h4>17. Keep Your Priorities Straight</h4>If you want to finish the large projects you start, you have to keep those projects at the top of your priority list. As time goes on, new projects have a tendency to become the ‘flavor of the week.’ You can get distracted by the newness of them and lose focus on what really matters to you. If you start something and find yourself getting distracted, remind yourself of the benefit of why you started it in the first place. This will help you focus on it until it’s finished. <h4>18. Your Time is Precious and Finite</h4>I used to think that it was lazy to pay people to do things for me, but as I began to realize how much I wanted to do in this world, I found myself needing to streamline my life because I only had so much time in each day. But I didn’t want to lose productivity either. Eventually I realized that I could drastically optimize my time by outsourcing, automating, and eliminating to make sure I focused on the things that only I could do, and what was really important to me to accomplish. Realize and understand that you’ll never get the time back you spend each day. Spend it wisely, because once it’s gone, it’s gone. <h4>19. Be Comfortable, But Not Too Comfortable</h4>There’s this saying that goes, “step outside of your comfort zone,” that I’ve always thought was a little silly. I mean who wants to be uncomfortable all the time? Not me. Be comfortable most of the time, but every now and again, if you really want to improve, challenge yourself to do something that you’ve never done before – something that you really want to do. When I developed Output Overdrive, it was pretty uncomfortable. Speaking on camera and putting myself out there to the world was admittedly foreign to me. But I did it because I wanted to do something positive for my readers, and continue to build my online business. After a while, it because much easier, and started to even feel comfortable. If you just creep out on the edge of your comfort zone every now and then, you can expand it plenty to be successful. If you’re out of it all the time, you’re literally going to work yourself to death. <h4>20. Do Active Things Often</h4>Look at any highly successful person. They’re probably in pretty decent shape. Maybe they’re not throwing down tomahawk dunks, but I bet you they have a regular activity routine. Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Airlines and about a billion other companies, says working out is the ultimate productivity hack. It heightens every chemical in our body that controls productivity. Blood flow increases, cognition increases, awareness increases – and over time your body gets used to operating at a high level all the time. This is how highly successful people sustain such high energy and motivation. Whether it’s touch football with your friends, CrossFit on your lunch hour, or a run before or after your day, just do something active on a regular basis. You’ll skyrocket your productivity. <h4>21. Always Be Improving</h4>Learning does not end when you’re finished with school. To continue to grow and succeed, you must continue to sharpen your mind and skills throughout your entire life. The acquisition and execution of valuable skills is largely what separates success from failure. Learning is easy when you’re young. You’ve got all the time in the world. But as you move into your 20s, 30s and beyond, the art of time management is more and more important, as you must maximize the use of your time to continue to improve while you also live your life. One of the best investments in yourself you can make is learning how to spend your time the most effectively. <h4>22. Find a Better Way</h4>You’ll see this all over my website and all throughout my Output Overdrive course as well. There is almost always a better way. Challenge paradigms. Just because something is done a certain way doesn’t make it correct, and on the flip side of that – just because something has never been done before, doesn’t make it wrong. <ul><li>If Steve Jobs had never challenged the convention of dozens of buttons on music players, we wouldn’t have iPhones as we know them today.</li><li>If Airbnb hadn’t challenged the convention of lodging, thousands of people all over the world wouldn’t be renting their spare space for extra income.</li><li>If I hadn’t challenged the way gifts are given in my family, I wouldn’t have gone on two super sweet free vacations last year.</li></ul>My point is – the best ideas are usually completely unconventional, because if they weren’t they would have already been thought of. If you think you have a good idea, don’t be afraid to be act on it, because there is almost always a better way. <h3>Miscellaneous Lessons</h3> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Relationship Lessons" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11952 aligncenter" height="272" src="http://www.thechangeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Relationship-Lessons.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41103773@N03/4431896656/">Yasin Hassan</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41103773@N03/4431896656/"></a></div> <h4>23. Relationships Are King</h4>I’m not insanely socially awkward or anything, but I’m also not a full extrovert networking type of dude. For those of you who know me, you know I like time to myself and value peace and quiet. This has hurt me in developing relationships because I’m not a naturally outgoing type of person. I have to work at it. But what I have realized is that in terms of success, it’s good to know people, especially other successful people. Not only can you learn from and be motivated by their success and experience, but you can also open yourself up to their networks as well. I don’t want to sound too self-serving here by any means. This is just how the world works. Make sure to contribute to helping those you meet out as well. Relationships are a two way street. Otherwise they’re not relationships. <h4>24. Listen to Your Parents</h4>Even though there are 20-30 years that separate you and your parents, and you sometimes feel like they’re living in a different dimension, they’ve got a lot of life experience on you, and can often offer some great words of wisdom, especially in your times of need. Keep your relationships alive with them, especially as you get older. The time you spend with them becomes more and more precious. <h4>25. Stop to Appreciate the World</h4>I admit I don’t do this enough, but invariably when I remember to stop and appreciate all of the good things that I have going in my life, I get a feeling of accomplishment and serenity. Even if things are a bit rough at the moment, positive thinking helps to keep things in perspective, and it keeps your mental focus away from the temporary negatives you may be facing. <h4>26. Learn to Understand and Forgive</h4>Stuff happens. If someone does you wrong, or makes a mistake, try to understand that maybe they weren’t thinking clearly, or maybe the circumstances were out of their control. Even if you don’t agree with their judgment, try to understand and forgive what they are going through. It’ll really help bring peace to your life. And just as you must learn to forgive others, you must also learn to forgive yourself. People have a tendency to dwell on failures and shortcomings, but this will only hinder your output. Take a few moments to forgive yourself and breathe easily. It’ll help you get past what you may have screwed up. Just be careful not to forgive the same thing more than a few times. At that point it may be time for a change. <h4>27. You Only Have So Much Discipline</h4>People tend to think “if I just try harder than everyone else, then I will be the best.” Sorry, that’s just not the case. If everyone could simply ‘try harder’ then we would all be smashing successes. It’s not trying harder that gets certain people ahead. See, we all have this discipline ceiling that we hit eventually. At that time, we have to shut down. We have no more will power to keep on keeping on. Successful individuals have figured out how to never hit this ceiling. They make things easier on themselves by setting up their routines efficiently. They outsource what they don’t like to do or aren’t good at. They automate and eliminate anything they can. And they take ‘cheat days’ and downtime when they need it. This makes it so they can live stress free, get a lot done, and never really have to “try” all that hard. <h4>28. Shut Down Now and Again</h4>Coming from a productivity blogger, this might sound a little strange, but you should take some time to turn yourself off now and again. Being in an ‘always on’ frame of mind will eventually take its toll on your body and mind. To stay sharp for the long-term, take at least half a day each week to just veg out and do nothing. Whether you’re relaxing outside, or just crushing a Netflix marathon, just make sure you stay away from your normal daily activities. This will help you reset and come back fresh. <h4>29. Learn to Let Go</h4>From time to time, you will outgrow certain people and environments in your life. If you want to keep striving forward, you must sometimes let these things go from your life to make room for the greater things you desire. <h4>30. Grammar Ain’t That Important</h4>My 5th grade teacher would slap me with a ruler for how I just introduced this point :) But the thing is, unless you’re a conservative journalist, proper grammar just isn’t that big of a deal. I probably made a dozen or more grammar mistakes in this post alone, but you’re still reading it aren’t you? And it’s still helping the world. If you’re a writer, don’t fret about proper grammar all the time. Just be you and express yourself so the world can see who you really are. If you disagree with that, you probably shouldn’t be reading my shit anyway. :) <h4>31. Give Without Expectations</h4>A lot of people like to keep score when they do something for someone. I get it. It’s human nature to keep a tally. It helps us gauge the value in what we do. But it can be harmful too. Too much keeping score can result in a cold self-centered outlook. Sometimes you should just give because it’s the right thing to do. Sometimes you should just help out because people need you. It’ll also make you a better person. — <h3>Now It’s Your Turn</h3>Okay so that was 31. Sorry, I got on a roll. ;) Now – If you read this far, hopefully a few of those hit home with you and you’re now a wiser person. If so, I would like to ask three things of you to prove it. <ul><li>One, tell me happy birthday, because well.. I’m old now and I need your love to keep my youth alive. :)</li><li>Second, tell me which lesson(s) you liked the best, or let me know what I forgot. I promise to read every single comment.</li><li>And third, share this on your networks to help get the word out.</li></ul> September 22, 2013  By Cody Wheeler <div style="text-align: right;"> </div><div class="post-head-area"> 				</div>

30 Lessons Learned From 30 Years of Change

Photo by Marina Caprara As I write this post, I was brought into this world 30 years ago today. Even though 30 is apparently the new 20, and...

Đọc thêm »

18:50