Personal Growth Cafe

March 30, 2019March 12, 2018

Top Five Ways to Be Assertive and Confident

Self-help books fly off the shelves of bookstores.

They’re the most common books on request at libraries.

From business people to housewives, people are looking for ways to improve their lives, and the most sought after self-help books are those on how to be assertive and confident.

During job interviews, potential employers look for essential qualities in prospective employees.

Assertiveness and confidence are high on the list.

People we admire in the business world are often seen as confident and assertive.

To achieve goals in life, these are two valuable character traits.

While some people seem to be born assertive and confident, the rest of us can learn these coveted characteristics.

Here are the top 5 ways to become assertive and confident:

1. Overcome shyness. Shyness can range from healthy to overwhelming and debilitating.

Shyness is not the same as having low self-esteem.

Many shy people have a very positive image of themselves, but they lack assertiveness and confidence.

If you’re shy, you can practice these techniques to overcome your shyness:

2. Visualization. Positively visualize situations and circumstances before experiencing them.

This will give you a better “what if” scenario, and help you be better prepared for any variation.

3. Practice speaking. People who are shy often dislike the sound of their own voices.

Practicing speeches in front of a mirror or with trusted friends will help you gain the confidence you need.

4. Reinforce the positive. This is a way of thinking yourself out of being shy.

By using affirmations to assert your positive characteristics, you can convince yourself that you are brilliant and worthy of great things.

After all, sometimes the hardest person to convince is you!

5. Learn the difference between being aggressive and assertive.

People respond better to an assertive person rather than an aggressive person.

Aggressive people are seen as bullies who approach a problem with harsh criticism.

They would say someone is doing a project “all wrong,” for example.

An assertive person, on the other hand, approaches the same situation with concerns and ideas to improve the project.

Your goal should be to approach people with positive attitudes and solutions to problems.

If you respect others and treat them as you want to be treated, you’ll have the same courtesy returned to you.

Become informed. One of the best methods of being assertive and confident is to know your subject matter.

No matter what the situation is, the more you know, the more confident you’ll be.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a job interview or a presentation to your peers, knowing what you’re speaking about will give you that aura of confidence you desire.

Be prepared for potential questions on your subject matter.

A good idea is to have a trusted coworker help you identify common questions and answers.

You will gain confidence in front of others when you first brainstorm and practice with someone you are comfortable with.

Speak up. Speak with confidence even if you don’t feel confident.

Practice speaking this way. The more you practice the more it will become second nature.

Model your behavior after people you admire.

Chances are the people you admire have the assertiveness and confidence you’re looking for in your own life.

Observe how they do things.
Pay attention to what they say and how they say it.
Watch their body language.

Studying people who have the traits you crave is one of the best ways to create those very same traits in yourself.

Learning to be confident and assertive can enable you to achieve your goals with ease, whatever they may be.

Practicing these and other methods will put you on the right track to success.

First and foremost, you must believe in yourself and your abilities.

Keep in mind that some of our greatest leaders didn’t start out assertive and confident.

George Washington was too shy to talk to people growing up. He changed his ways, and so can you!

How can confidence help you achieve more in life?

In what situations do you need to show your confidence?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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March 30, 2019March 12, 2018

Goals are dreams with deadlines. – Diana Scharf Hunt

March 29, 2019March 12, 2018

Top Seven Healthiest Orange Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are an important staple in any diet.

While a diet containing a variety of fruits and vegetables is best, orange is one of the healthiest colors you can look for.

Orange vegetables contain beta-carotene, a form of Vitamin A, which is great for eyesight and eliminating free radicals.

The beta-carotene gives the vegetable its orange color.

Some of the healthiest orange fruits and vegetables are sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, carrots, mangos, oranges and papaya.

These fruits and vegetables are great sources of nutrients and usually have a sweet flavor, making them ideal for satisfying those cravings for sweets.

Let’s look at why these top 7 orange fruits and vegetables are so incredibly healthy:

1. Sweet Potatoes are one of the best orange foods.

Part of the root family, they have huge amounts of beta-carotene, manganese, copper, fiber, B6, potassium, iron and just about anything else you think you could possibly pack into a small potato-like case.

Here are some interesting facts you might not know about sweet potatoes:

Sweet potatoes are known to help stomach ulcers and inflamed conditions of the colon.

Sweet potatoes appear to play a part in preventing cancer in certain organs and glands due to its high Vitamin A content.

Due to the high content of Vitamins A and C, sweet potatoes help remove free radicals which damage cells.

Sweet potatoes are great for people with diabetes because they help stabilize blood sugar levels.

2. and 3. Squash & Pumpkin.

These two foods are closely related, and actually come from the same family of vegetables, known as squash.

They’re loaded with fiber as well as beta-carotene.

The squash family of vegetables is great at fighting off cancer, especially lung cancer, reducing the risk of heart disease and aiding in fighting against type-2 diabetes.

Pumpkins specifically are great for urinary tract support and aid in the function of the kidneys.

Years ago, pumpkin seed oil was even used to treat burns and wounds.

4. Carrots, a great food for eyesight, are the richest vegetable source for beta-carotene.

Carrots reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, help prevent macular degeneration, and help control insulin levels to those with diabetes.

While cooking foods typically removes some of their nutrients, this isn’t so with carrots.

Lightly cooking them actually helps to release the carotenes, which are otherwise trapped.

Some of your favorite fruits are also some of the healthiest out there:

5. Mangos are high in iron and help fight against anemia and reduce kidney problems, fever, and respiratory problems.

They can even relieve clogged pores of the skin.

6. Oranges, the typical orange fruit, is not so typical when you take a closer look.

Because of the vitamins and antioxidants in an orange, they’ve been proven to help with asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, prevention of kidney stones, high blood pressure, arthritis and diabetes.

Oranges eaten in larger amounts can even decrease a runny nose.

7. Papaya contains digestive enzymes, which help break down some of the more difficult foods in our stomach, such as beans, dairy, and even meat.

Due to the high fiber content, papaya also helps with constipation and even upset stomach.

The one thing papaya has been known for around the world is its ability to prevent nausea, including morning and motion sickness if taken in the juice form.

Orange fruits and vegetables are a great way to battle off illness and disease.

Combine them with a few servings of dark green vegetables and you have yourself a winning combination.

What are your favorite fruits and vegetables?

How often do you eat orange fruits and vegetables?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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March 29, 2019March 12, 2018

My determination sets me apart from the rest.

March 28, 2019March 12, 2018

Almost every wise saying has an opposite one, no less wise, to balance it. – George Santayana

March 27, 2019March 12, 2018

What is Depression?

If you ask a group of people who’ve suffered from clinical depression to define the illness, you’ll hear a variety of answers.

Depression is a very personal experience that millions of people all over the world experience.

Different people manifest different symptoms, but one thing is certain: depression is a difficult illness that can destroy your life if left unresolved.

Many people with depression describe it as a sense of despair that engulfs everything they do and everything they feel.

If you think being depressed is akin to feeling sad because your favorite team just lost the championship game, you really have no idea what suffering from a true depression is like.

Depression is much deeper and more invasive than sadness or frustration.

Depression takes everything away from you; it saps your energy, focus, concentration, and especially your joy.

You just don’t care about anything; nothing matters and even the people you love become unimportant.

If you’re depressed for a long period of time, you become accustomed to the feeling and any other emotion becomes unfamiliar and even frightening.

Physical Concerns of Depression

Depression doesn’t only take its toll on your emotions and mental state; it can cause serious physical problems as well.

Depression may cause you to either lose your appetite or eat incessantly. It also zaps your energy and motivation.

When you’re depressed, you tend to become inactive.

This alone can cause a number of problems, but when added to some of the other physical side effects of depression, it’s easy to see why depression is such a serious illness.

In addition, depression can lead to:

Lack of sleep. Depression can cause insomnia, which strips the body of the necessary sleep to function properly.

Poor nutrition. When depressed, many people fail to take in proper nutrients. It takes too much effort to plan and prepare a meal.

This can cause several health problems.

Aches and pains. If anyone tells you that your mental state has no effect on your physical state, they’re wrong.

When you’re depressed, the chemicals in the brain that signal pain are as affected as the chemicals in your brain that help you feel happy.

Physical aches and pains are increased, which in turn, kicks in the sad feelings and the cycle begins again.

Hygiene issues. Someone suffering from depression doesn’t have the energy or the motivation to be concerned with self-care.

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

These are some specific things those with depression experience:

Constant and severe sadness about everything
Hopelessness
Insomnia or trouble sleeping
Irritability
Trouble concentrating
Loss of interest in things that once interested them
Feeling worthless, useless and strangely guilty for no reason at all
Serious change in weight, one way or the other
Lack of energy and fatigue

One thing about depression is certain: it’s a serious condition and should be taken seriously.

As depression progresses, it feeds on itself like a snowball rolling downhill.

The longer someone is depressed, the worse the depression gets until they see no way out of it at all.

They become resigned to being miserable all the time.

Depression can be caused by a certain event, the change of seasons, a loss of someone close, or even a chemical imbalance in the brain.

The treatment for depression usually involves counseling or medication that helps alter brain chemistry.

If you know someone who is depressed, the best thing you can do is be his or her friend.

Talk to them and help them through this period. Help them seek medical care to treat their illness.

If you think you may be depressed, talk to a health care provider.

Depression doesn’t have to ruin your life!

With help and support, you can conquer your depression, move past it, and go on to live a joyful life.

Was there a time when you felt depressed?

How did you get over this event in your life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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March 26, 2019March 12, 2018

One’s first step in wisdom is to question everything, and one’s last is to come to terms with everything. – Georg C. Lichtenburg

March 26, 2019March 12, 2018

What is Hypnosis and How Can It Help?

When you hear the word hypnosis, what immediately comes to mind?

Is it a dark figure with a goatee swinging a pocket watch back and forth in an attempt to take control over your mind and have you do his evil bidding for him?

If so, then it’s time to turn off the cartoons and pay attention.

Have you ever been watching a movie and felt like you were actually there?

Or perhaps pulled into a good book by the words of the author?

Maybe you were driving down the road, singing at the top of your lungs to a new tune and were almost completely unaware of what was going on around you.

If so, congratulations! You have been hypnotized!

Hypnosis is commonly defined as a relaxed and focused state of concentration.

When you were watching the movie, reading the book and exercising your vocal chords, you were relaxed in your environment and completely focused and concentrating on only one thing.

Here are some common misconceptions about hypnosis:

1. Hypnosis will not make you tell secrets.

When in a hypnotic state, you’re merely open to suggestions.

You still have a choice and won’t divulge anything you wouldn’t ordinarily divulge.

You might bring forward some inner truths, which is what hypnosis is generally used for.

These might shed light on some self-sabotage or some other situations you’re currently placing yourself in.

2. Hypnosis cannot make you do something against your will.

Those people you see on stage have a desire to do something outrageous, which is why certain suggestions work on them.

If you don’t have that same desire, those suggestions would not have the same effect on you.

3. You can’t be stuck in a permanent hypnotic state.

Hypnosis is merely a relaxed and focused state so it’s impossible to be “stuck” there.

For instance, if the specialist left the room, one of two things would happen. Either you would fall asleep and wake up naturally or your mind would realize nothing is happening and bring you out of your focused state.

Benefits of Hypnosis

Hypnosis can be helpful in many ways, from remembering people’s names to completely changing your life.

Many people use hypnosis to change habits, such as quitting smoking, and form new habits, like exercising daily.

Research even suggests that hypnosis may be able to make your body look younger by reprogramming new cells and instructing them to find the healthiest blueprint to develop.

How You Can Use Hypnosis

There are a couple of different ways to induce hypnosis, including self-hypnosis and seeing a specialist.

Here are some of the benefits of each:

Self-Hypnosis. Using CDs and MP3 downloads, you can practice self-hypnosis in the comfort of your own home.

This allows you to get into a comfortable and relaxed stage more quickly and stay there for extended amounts of time.

The relaxation is a key part of being hypnotized, and there are many programs that take you through the relaxing process all the way to helping you accomplish the changes you wish to make.

Another added benefit is the cost.

While seeing a specialist can be a huge benefit, cost is a giant hurdle for many people.

Specialists. Seeing a specialist is a great way to start your hypnosis regimen. Having a professional to guide you is a great tool.

Specialists can also help with uncovering some of the innermost issues you might have and fix your problem on a deeper level.

If you have any questions, most specialists will allow a free consultation so you can get the feel of them and their space.

The biggest thing to remember is you must feel comfortable and be open to their practices if you want to make a change.

Hypnosis depends totally on you.

If you don’t want to be hypnotized or feel you can’t be hypnotized, then your mind will stop you.

Without your comfort and willingness, hypnosis will not work, no matter what route you try.

If you want to make a change for the better, do your research and understand what hypnosis really is, so you can make an informed decision.

After all, hypnosis can’t make you do something against your will!

How can hypnosis change your life?

How can you help others benefit from hypnosis as well?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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March 25, 2019March 13, 2018

When I was young, I observed that nine out of ten things I did were failures. So I did ten times more work. – George Bernard Shaw

March 25, 2019March 13, 2018

I am excited by the presence of a new day.

Each new day is a gift that I choose to cherish.

I begin my day by waking up in a warm, soft bed and stretching my body to prepare myself for the day ahead.

I breathe in deeply, smell the fresh morning air, and enjoy the crisp breeze as I emerge from the covers.

I am awakened with the joy for the day ahead of me.

This is a brand new day, a day that is untouched by yesterday and reaches toward tomorrow.

This day is the blank canvas that will receive the masterpiece of my day.

I may be going off to work, spending my day working around the house, or even running errands; whatever my day entails I will enjoy it and I am blessed to have it.

Yesterday is gone forever and tomorrow may never come; therefore, this day is the most important day of my life.

I cherish this day and enjoy each moment that passes.

Today is perfect and I will take the time to appreciate the air I breathe, the light that touches my face, and the sounds of my unique environment that make up the music of my day.

I will enjoy my day and be present in each moment.

What is your first experience of the day?

How have you remained present in each moment?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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