Personal Growth Cafe

August 3, 2019March 26, 2018

How to Grow a Backbone

Do you feel as if everyone is taking advantage of your good nature?

Do you think they would still do it if you were more assertive?

Becoming more assertive is a goal that many of us want to achieve.

We feel disrespected and we want to be able to stand our ground without guilt or fear.

Developing a backbone is not an easy task, but it can be accomplished if you’re committed to it.

Here are some simple tips that will enable you to strengthen your assertiveness as quickly as possible:

1. Stop apologizing. Many of us use the term “I’m sorry” far too frequently and often at inappropriate times.

Think about when you use those two simple words. Is it in a situation that you truly should be sorry for?

Once you’re able to stop apologizing for every little thing, you’ll become more assertive.

Learn to differentiate between when there’s a need to apologize and when there isn’t.

Hitting someone’s cart in a grocery store because you weren’t looking warrants an apology.

Drinking the last cup of orange juice before your spouse is not a situation that warrants an “I’m sorry.”

If you’re watching television and your child prefers to sit in the chair you’re sitting in, “I’m sorry” isn’t appropriate.

2. Speak up. Tell those around you what you need.

Assertiveness requires good communication skills.

Be clear and firm with what you desire.

Practice standing up for yourself by conveying your wants and desires to others.

There’s no need to be aggressive or nasty.

Simply communicate that you have thoughts, opinions and needs, too.

Once you begin to express these better, the people around you will learn how to appreciate and respect you more, too.

If you want to develop a backbone, this isn’t the time to be a mouse and stand in the corner.

Voice your opinion and be proud of what you have to say; people will take notice and listen.

3. Be committed and patient. It’s wonderful that you’ve decided to make positive changes in your life.

It’s something that you should be proud of!

Unfortunately though, a complete transformation won’t occur overnight.

You’ve entered into a journey, and you must be willing to stick it out!

You’ll experience good and bad days, but you mustn’t give up.

As long as you remain committed and patient, you’ll succeed in what you’re trying to accomplish.

Focus on the big picture down the road and imagine how much your life will improve once you’re able to stand up for yourself.

4. Work on your body language. Body language is extremely important in any situation.

When trying to become more assertive, your body language must reflect this as well.

Stand straight, speak up, make sure your hands aren’t crossed over your chest, and maintain eye contact with whomever you’re speaking with.

5. If you look assertive, people will perceive you as such.

If you keep your eyes on the floor, have your hands across your chest, or mumble incoherently, you’ll have trouble to get your point across.

Assertiveness can help you in your personal life, career, family, and many other areas.

Though it may take a bit of time, as long as you make positive steps to grow your new backbone, it will be there before you know it!

How can you be more proactive?

How can you face a stressful challenge that you have been backing away from?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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August 3, 2019March 26, 2018

Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way. – General George Patton

August 2, 2019March 26, 2018

Never walk away from failure. On the contrary, study it carefully and imaginatively for its hidden assets. – Michael Korda

August 2, 2019March 26, 2018

How to Live the Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction has intrigue more people than ever.

So what is the Law of Attraction and how can it benefit you?

It’s actually a quite simple concept.

If you focus on the positive, you’ll attract the positive.

If you focus on the negative, you’ll attract the negative.

Because of its simplicity, some people think this is utterly ridiculous, yet the Law of Attraction has been proven by countless people around the world throughout the ages.

If you have an open mind and are willing to give it a try, you can live the life of your dreams.

Here are some simple tips and suggestions you can use to live the Law of Attraction:

1. Rid yourself of negative thoughts and feelings.

Negativity will ultimately drive away the positive things you deserve, so you must learn how to erase your mind of anything negative.

Quite honestly, this will require some practice, but it’s worth it!

For example, if you find yourself standing in a long line and complaining about it, stop complaining and be thankful that you’re well enough to stand in that line.

If you’re five dollars short to purchase something and wishing you weren’t so poor, turn that around to be thankful you have any money at all.

After you consciously do this enough times, it will become second nature.

The more you focus on positive things, the more positive things you’ll receive and vice versa.

2. Surround yourself with those who think the same.

Plain and simple, this means to hang out with positive people.

If you spend enough time surrounded by negative people, you’ll begin to complain, whine, and sulk over meaningless things, too.

Is there someone in your life that you admire because of his or her optimistic outlook?

Then that person is someone you’ll want to spend quality time with.

Engulf yourself in their happiness and positive karma, and you’ll soon be upbeat and positive, too!

3. Visualize what the future holds for you.

We all hold hopes and dreams for our future.

Whether we want a better job, a bigger house, a new car, or more money, we all wish and daydream for something.

Next time you daydream about that new house, actually visualize yourself in the house.

Imagine exactly what the house looks like, your family watching television in the living room, and you making their favorite dish in the kitchen.

Visualization sends a positive signal out to the universe.

If you practice it consistently, you’ll be rewarded with what you desire.

4. Learn to give thanks. Whether or not you realize it, you have much to be thankful for.

It’s extremely important that you take some quiet time to give thanks for all that has been given to you.

Truly search your soul and list everything you’re grateful for.

Don’t do this haphazardly!

Practice this each and every day, usually upon rising in the morning.

As you keep doing this, you’ll discover that you’re receiving more and more to be thankful for.

The principles surrounding the Law of Attraction are quite straightforward.

To live the Law of Attraction, you just need an open mind, a willing spirit and a bit of diligence.

With these, you’ll soon be praising the success of the Law of Attraction principles yourself.

What activities are you doing to attract happiness in your life?

How much time are you spending on having fun?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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August 1, 2019March 26, 2018

You don’t get to choose how you’re going to die or when. But you can decide how you’re going to live now. – Joan Baez

August 1, 2019March 26, 2018

How to Make Your Dreams a Reality

Ever since we were children, we’ve had dreams.

The sad thing is, over the years we convinced ourselves that our dreams could never come true.

Because we assumed that they were mere fantasies, we didn’t even try to make them come true.

Believe it or not, your dreams can be reality!

However, you won’t get anywhere by simply making a wish.

You have to take specific actions to increase your chances of living that life you always dreamed of.

These are some simple techniques that can help you get started:

1. You must possess passion and desire.

These two elements are crucial for living your dream. Interestingly enough, you really can’t have one without the other.

You must yearn to have something in your life so much (desire) and for the right reasons (passion).

A good example to illustrate the difference would be if you always wanted to be a professional singer.

You know that you have the talent and all you want in life is to sing on a professional stage some day (desire).

Your focus isn’t the money, fame, or prestige; you just have a true love for singing.

It’s all you think about all-day, every day (passion).

2. Patience. Patience isn’t easy, but in most case, our dreams don’t come true overnight.

You need to work hard to achieve your full potential.

Though it may take longer than you hoped, once you’re living your dream, you’ll realize that practicing patience was worth the rewards.

Just remember to remain positive, focus on your dreams, and keep taking action to make those dreams a reality.

After all, patience is a virtue!

3. Sacrifice. Achieving your dreams will require self-sacrifice.

This is usually where most people can gauge how serious they are about turning their dreams into reality.

Whether it is giving up your TV time to work toward your goals, or spending extra hours at work to further your career, you have to be willing to sacrifice something.

If you’re truly passionate about your dreams, this shouldn’t be too difficult.

If you do find sacrifice extremely difficult, it may be that you don’t possess enough desire, passion, willpower, or self-discipline to see your dreams through.

4. Confidence. If you truly want to make your dreams real, you have to believe they can happen.

You must possess an intense confidence in yourself and your talents; otherwise, your dreams will remain dreams forever.

Sometimes your confidence may waiver, but as long as you can focus on your ultimate goal – and you can actually see yourself achieving this goal – you’re heading in the right direction.

Final Thoughts on Achieving Your Dreams

No one can steal your dreams away from you except you.

Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy, biggest obstacle, and harshest critic.

But that’s not what you need!

You need to remember that, by taking action and implementing these simple tips and suggestions, your dreams can come true.

Keep your focus on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; it will happen if you only believe it can!

What dreams do you have for yourself?

What are you doing to reach those dreams?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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July 31, 2019March 26, 2018

Natural Weight Loss Strategies

How many fads and crazy diets have you tried?

Even though deep in your heart you know this isn’t the proper way to get rid of any extra weight, do you still hope that this one is the miracle you’ve been hoping for?

It’s time to get out of the infomercial-driven market and realize that the real miracle diet is in natural methods of weight loss using nature’s own miracle foods.

By incorporating natural foods and strategies, you’ll be able to lose the weight you’ve been hanging onto for good.

Here are some natural foods to provide you with an upper hand in your weight loss battle:

1. Choose brown rice over white rice. Why brown rice?

The answer is simple, fiber.

Brown rice is loaded with fiber.

Due to the simple fact that the rice’s hull is kept intact during its processing, it retains its fiber content.

The natural fiber in brown rice allows our systems to run smoother and keeps us full for much longer than low fiber white rice.

Brown rice can be found in any grocery store, usually next to the white rice.

Throw some extra vegetables or herbs into the rice for some extra flavor and variety.

2. Choose sweet potatoes over white potatoes.

They aren’t just for Thanksgiving anymore!

Sweet potatoes are high in anti-oxidants and vitamins and are absolutely delicious as well.

Providing many more nutrients than a typical white potato, they’re low in calories and a great weight loss food choice.

Peel and cut sweet potatoes into chips or shoestring fries and roast in the oven for a tasty and colorful treat.

3. Water. Water is at the top of the list for a natural weight loss strategy.

It sounds pretty obvious, but the truth is, we don’t tend to drink enough water every day.

Not only does water flush out toxins and impurities, but it also helps in raising the metabolism, regulating body temperature and keeping our heart and brain healthy.

Be aware that the popular flavored waters often add some kind of sugar, artificial sweetener, or even salt to the formula, making them less healthy than plain water.

Stick to the natural stuff!

4. Legumes and beans. The benefits that beans and legumes provide are absolutely outstanding!

They’re low in fat and high in fiber, making them a great choice for weight loss.

They’re also extremely heart-healthy.

You can find a multitude of recipes online that incorporate legumes and beans.

Take some time to do a recipe search and your heart with thank you.

5. Fruit. Fruit is a wonderful addition to any natural weight loss regime.

It provides natural energy to make exercising easier and it’s loaded with fiber to keep us full and curb cravings.

Fruit should be eaten raw to receive its full benefit, especially the fiber.

Fruit juice doesn’t provide the same nutritional value as eating an actual piece of fruit.

Fruit smoothies are an excellent way to start your day.

Even if you’re not a breakfast person, smoothies are easy to make and take on the go.

Plus if you use fresh fruits, you’ll retain the vitamin content.

6. Vegetables. Vegetables are one of the building blocks of good nutrition, and essential to weight loss success.

High in vitamins and nutrients, veggies also provide us with energy to sustain us throughout the day.

Plus, they have very little sodium, so they reduce bloating and water weight gain.

Try to incorporate veggies into your lunches and dinners every day, specifically aim for dark orange and dark green vegetables like squash, spinach, pumpkin, and romaine lettuce.

A simple side salad or lettuce and tomato on a sandwich are easy ways to get started.

7. Eat organic and raw. It’s always best when trying to lose weight naturally to utilize organic products as much as possible.

Organic produce is free of pesticides and preservatives and raw foods retain all of their natural vitamins and minerals.

By ridding your body of these dangerous chemicals, weight loss can occur that much easier.

Visit your local farmer’s market and support your local farmer.

They might also have a larger variety of organic produce than the grocery stores.

Following through with your decision to lose weight can sometimes seem overwhelming.

But if you approach it with a few natural tips and tricks under your belt, you’ll be that much closer to weight loss success!

How important is good health to you?

How do you keep yourself healthy despite a busy schedule?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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July 31, 2019March 26, 2018

I persist until I succeed.

July 30, 2019March 26, 2018

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.

July 30, 2019March 26, 2018

Stop Settling and Start Sizzling

So, it looks like you’re stuck in a rut.

Are you bored with your life and the same routine day after day?

Of course you can’t be happy like this!

There’s an exciting world out there with a lot to offer.

Deep down you know you want to get out and take a big bite of it.

Sure, it may be a bit overwhelming, and even scary at times, but you can’t let your life just pass you by.

It’s time to live those dreams, take a leap of faith, and get out of your comfort zone!

But how do you get started?

Read on for some valuable tips and suggestions to help you be all you can be, now and always:

1. Decide what you want to do. Put your fears aside and step outside of your comfort zone.

If you could do anything without fear, money, or time being an issue, what would you choose?

2. Make a list of everything you would like to accomplish someday.

It doesn’t matter how crazy or outrageous you may think it is, just write it down.

It also doesn’t matter if your list has three or thirty-three things listed.

Just search your heart and your mind and write down what you would really like to do.

3. Faith. It’s important to have faith to see your journey until the end, yet this may be one of the hardest qualities to develop.

Remember how it feels to be stuck where you are with no excitement and no real purpose.

You know things can be better than they are now, but how?

4. All you need to do is believe in yourself.

You know that countless people before you have lived their dreams, so why not you?

What makes them so different?

There really is no difference between you and others, except for the belief in the possibility for great success.

You can be just like they are; you just have to believe you can do it!

5. Don’t keep it a secret. If you’re ashamed of how you’re feeling, you shouldn’t be.

Many people find themselves in the same predicament.

The only thing that should embarrass you is if you intentionally decide to stay in that rut!

Do yourself a big favor and open up to someone you trust.

Whether that’s a parent, spouse, or best friend, tell them that you’re ready to make a change in your life and they’ll be able support you throughout your journey.

They’ll encourage you on the good days and cry with you on the bad days.

6. Most importantly, they’ll be there to support you throughout it all.

It’s just what you need to achieve great success!

7. Take the first step. It’s time to take that first leap of faith.

As much as you want to step outside the box and get out of this rut, nothing will happen without taking that first big step.

No matter how frightening you may be, you need to focus on the big picture and the pot of gold at the end of that rainbow.

Muster up all the encouragement and support you can find and just do it.

Once the first step is accomplished, it gets easier!

You deserve to be the best that you can possibly be, and deep down inside you know this.

You’ll be so glad you took action – and you’ll be so proud of yourself when you celebrate at the finish line!

8. No one enjoys being in a rut and just going through the motions of life.

Don’t let your fears hold you back.

After all, this is a wonderful world that you deserve to enjoy to the fullest!

Go out and experience everything life has to offer.

Take that first leap of faith and you’ll never look back again!

How successful do you see yourself?

How do you feel about yourself and what you have accomplished so far?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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