Personal Growth Cafe

August 17, 2019March 26, 2018

How to Demand the Respect of Others

Do you ever get the feeling that your first name should be Doormat?

Do you feel as if people take advantage of you on a daily basis?

Are you allowing this to happen?

If you responded yes to one or all of these important questions, it’s obvious that you don’t have the respect of others, but that’s why you’re here to learn!

Respect is something you earn.

However, no one deserves to be taken advantage of.

Fortunately, it’s possible to change how others treat you!

Implement these simple tips and tricks and you’ll receive the respect you deserve in no time:

1. Live by the Golden Rule. Most of us are familiar with the Golden Rule.

“Do unto others as you would want done to you” is a wonderful philosophy when attempting to garner respect.

Always treat others as you expect to be treated.

People will tend to reciprocate and treat you the same way.

If they don’t, then you can ease your way out of the relationships over time, if possible.

2. Put yourself first.

An example of this would be telling your friend that you cannot babysit her 4-year old so she can get her nails done because you’re busy with your own personal appointments and schedule.

You have to make yourself a priority.

If people see that you respect yourself, then you’ll ultimately be respected, too.

3. Use strong body language. When speaking face to face with others, portray the fact that you’re strong and important.

Stand straight, look people in the eye, and speak forcefully but not overwhelmingly so.

If your body language shouts, “I am important and I respect myself,” you’ll surely gain the respect of others.

Those people who stare at the floor when speaking, avoid eye contact, and whisper their words are telling others that they don’t believe they deserve respect and attention.

Always remember to stand tall and proud; you’re important and you deserve to be recognized!

4. Speak positively.

In addition to having strong body language, the words you use to express yourself are also extremely important when trying to earn the respect of others.

Learn to speak in positively and authoritatively.

Don’t be boastful, but don’t demean or belittle yourself either.

Leave the impression that you’re intelligent, well spoken and confident.

If you portray yourself in this manner others will treat you the same way.

5. Surround yourself with the right people.

Let’s face it: there are people in this world who are disrespectful to everyone and everything.

No matter what you do to command respect, nothing may work!

You may need to take some time and rethink those you’re spending time with.

They may not be the kind of people who have your best interests at heart.

6. Stand up for yourself. If people are disrespectful to you, how do you respond?

Do you say something to the offending person or do you just go on with life?

People treat us in the way we allow ourselves to be treated.

If you confront the person and voice your opinion and unhappiness, chances are good that person won’t treat you that same way in the future.

It’s not about being confrontational, but a simple “I don’t appreciate how you’re speaking to me” can go a long way.

We all have a desire and need to be respected.

By making some small changes, you’ll be able to open yourself to receiving the respect of others, while learning how to also express your respect.

Use these techniques in all interactions every day to gain the respect you deserve.

How important is respect for you?

How do you gain the respect of others?

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 17, 2019March 26, 2018

An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. – Mahatma Gandhi

August 16, 2019March 26, 2018

How to Develop Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking is often characterized as a scientific, analytical way of thinking.

It helps us form more knowledgeable opinions and make better decisions.

That certainly seems like a beneficial skill to have, but how do you develop the ability to think critically?

Critical thinking doesn’t equal higher intelligence.

In layman’s terms, it’s just a more logical way to think about solutions from all angles.

Some of us may have stronger critical thinking skills than others, but we can all learn how to improve and develop our mind.

Here are some suggestions that can help you strengthen your critical thinking skills:

1. Clarify. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the problem you’re trying to solve.

You won’t be able to reasonably analyze a situation and locate a solution if you’re not completely clear on what you’re trying to accomplish!

It’s also important that you place your own feelings about the situation aside.

You cannot get a clear understanding of the issue if you have prejudiced opinions and biases about it.

2. Attempt to find a solution. Take some time with a pen and paper to define all possibilities.

At this time you’ll also want to map out how you’ll be able to reach each of these solutions.

Include the benefits and challenges of each solution.

To learn how to improve and develop your critical thinking skills, you must be open to new ideas, so try and incorporate as much as you can into your list.

3. Information. Next, gather as much information as possible to support all the solutions you’re considering, as well as information you need to refute them.

Considering your solutions from all angles will keep you from making a haphazard decision, which would not be classified in the realm of critical thinking.

4. Learn how to analyze. Now you have a problem, a list of solutions, and all the information you need to support or refute each of those decisions.

So what do you do with it all?

You’ll need time to analyze everything. Take everything into consideration and don’t assume anything.

Make sure you have irrefutable evidence to back everything up.

The more you practice this, the better you’ll ultimately get at it, so keep plugging away.

5. Conclude. Make an intelligent conclusion to your original problem.

Make sure you have the documentation to back up and prove your decision.

Always make sure this is a reasonable conclusion that is relatively simple to put into action.

If you’ve put the time and effort into analyzing the problem and gathering the information, your conclusion should be able to support itself.

Final Thoughts on Critical Thinking

By following the steps explained here, you have just used your critical thinking skills!

Though it may seem unnatural at first, as with everything, as you continue to practice these strategies, your critical thinking skills will continue to improve and develop.

Thinking critically can help you with many aspects in your life.

Keep practicing these skills on a regular basis and soon you’ll enjoy the benefits of better decisions and superior choices!

How often do you waste time and energy thinking about things that you cannot control?

How can you keep your mind active and alert at all times?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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August 16, 2019March 26, 2018

Be not simply good; be good for something. – Henry David Thoreau

August 15, 2019March 26, 2018

Four Ways to Build Your Willpower

Usually when we hear the word “willpower,” we relate it to losing weight or quitting smoking.

Willpower is extremely helpful when trying to break those bad habits, but it can also be beneficial in other areas of your life as well.

It’s important to realize that we’re not born with willpower; it’s something we must nurture and build in ourselves.

Once we strengthen our willpower, it’ll provide us an upper hand in achieving our goals.

Why?

Because we’ll develop an unshakeable focus and intensity in purpose!

So how do you go about building your willpower?

Here are four strategies to get you headed in the right direction:

1. Commitment. You must be committed to reaching your goals.

If you’re not completely committed to what you want to accomplish, there’s no way you’ll be able to develop any willpower.

To be successful in achieving your goals, you mustn’t harbor any second thoughts, excuses, or doubts.

Be honest with yourself and know that this is something you truly want to see through until the end.

Remember, just having the desire will not guarantee accomplishment.

You can desire something without firm commitment, so be sure to distinguish between the two and take the appropriate actions.

2. Call on your inner strength. Building your willpower takes perseverance.

This is a time to call on your inner strength – that extra push you need to get through the difficult times.

You’ve made a commitment to take a journey to strengthen your willpower and accomplish your most challenging goals – this is great!

The truth is, you’ll have many days of success, but there will also be days that aren’t as triumphant.

It’s on those not-so-good days that you can call on your inner strength to get you back on track.

Everyone has an inner strength and most of us have used it on more than one occasion.

Trust in it and it will get you through the rough spots!

3. Ask for support. Building your willpower to achieve a goal is a large undertaking.

Sometimes it can be overwhelming.

This is why it’s so imperative that we have support during this time.

Entrust a friend, spouse, or parent with what you’re trying to accomplish.

That way, when you hit a stumbling block, you have someone you trust to get you back on the right track.

Your support system will help you through the hard times and celebrate your successes with you.

4. Be consistent. If you have the willpower to stop smoking for one week, that’s wonderful and should be celebrated.

But the only way you’re going to build your willpower is to do whatever it takes to avoid cigarettes today, tomorrow, and forever.

Then soon enough you’ll be celebrating two weeks, two months, two years, and then forever!

This strategy applies to any goal that you’re seriously trying to accomplish.

You must be willing to keep up the positive behavior all day, every day, no exceptions, and no excuses.

Things can only improve as you continue to build your willpower. Keep pushing yourself forward!

Willpower is a tricky concept.

We all want to develop it to break a bad habit or reach a particular goal, yet in order to do so, we must be willing to go the extra mile and fully commit ourselves to our success.

If you are committed, you should be commended!

Be sure to use these tips to help you build your willpower and celebrate your successes each and every day.

How important is inner motivation in pushing yourself forward?

How can you develop an attitude of always looking forward to the challenges you face?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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August 15, 2019March 26, 2018

Pick battles big enough to matter and small enough to win. – Jonathan Kozol

August 14, 2019March 26, 2018

Five Unique Ways to Find Work

Unfortunately, with the current state of the economy, many people are out there job hunting.

They’re applying for every open position they can find, increasing the competition for available jobs.

It’s important that you stand above the crowd.

You have to prove to your prospective employer that hiring you would be adding an asset to their company.

These suggestions may make finding that job just a bit easier:

1. Social Networking. Internet social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are all the rage.

Many people use these sites to chat with long lost friends or find old loves, but they’re also great networking places to find employment as well!

The idea behind social networks is to build a relationship.

That means that you’ll want to show-off your value before asking desperately for a job.

It may not work overnight, but these sites have incredible word of mouth possibilities, so be diligent and keep networking and broadcasting that you’re available for work!

2. Offer services for free. Okay, I know what you’re thinking: why should you offer services for free when you don’t even have a job?

Aren’t you supposed to be making money with your skills and talents?

Yes, but offering your services for free for can actually work in your favor and set you apart from your competition.

For example, are you a talented childcare professional looking to get your foot in the door of a new day care center?

Are you an awesome cook who would love to work in a new restaurant in town?

Offer to work for them for a week for free.

If they’re pleased with your work, you may be hired on the spot, or at least when they have their first available opening.

The most important thing to remember is you have to be a top notch volunteer for that week.

You want them to discover what an asset you could be as a paid employee.

3. Write to prospective employers. Compose a letter to businesses that you’re seriously interested in.

In the letter, highlight how you’ll boost business for the company and discuss what you’d bring to the table.

If you can convince them that they’re better off with you than without you, then you’ve won the battle.

Make sure the letter is professional, grammatically correct, and confident.

Your goal is to make others understand why they need you as an employee, not to beg them for a job.

There’s a big difference, but it’s very easy to cross that line, so use good judgment.

4. Do it the old fashioned way. In this generation of faxes and emails, your resume can easily get lost in the shuffle.

Something to consider is to dress professionally and hit the pavement.

Introduce yourself, shake hands, and hand them a well-prepared resume package.

Building a relationship with someone is an important part in standing above the crowd.

It also allows a manager to put a face to a resume rather than just pick a resume up off the fax machine or out of their email inbox.

Though it may take a bit of footwork and perseverance, this may be your perfect way to make an impression when applying for a coveted job.

5. Place an ad in the newspaper or online.

When looking for a job, the first place we all tend to go is the help wanted section in the newspaper or on a classifieds website.

There we gaze over hundreds of ads and apply to as many as we possibly can.

6. Maybe you can turn the tables! This is where you can think outside the box.

What about placing your own ad telling prospective employers that you’re free to work for them?

Highlight your strengths and what position you’ll excel at.

Remember, you’re in control.

You want prospective employers to pick up the phone and call you – not to skim your ad thinking, “There’s another desperate individual begging for work.”

Looking for a job today can be challenging, but thinking a bit differently than other job hunters may be all you need to get that position you’ve been hoping for.

Stand out from your competition with these great tips, and be the one who lands the job!

What skills do you have that you can further develop?

How are you discovering more skills that can help you find more work?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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August 14, 2019March 26, 2018

Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

August 13, 2019March 26, 2018

Doing nothing is the most tiresome job in the world because you cannot quit and rest. – Unknown

August 13, 2019March 26, 2018

Five Ways to Break a Bad Habit

Let’s face it: we all have a bad habit or two that we would like to get rid of!

Whether it be smoking, biting our nails, overeating, or a host of other afflictions, it may be easier to eliminate it than you imagine.

With a little perseverance, willpower, and determination, you can be free from that nasty little habit!

Here are five strategies that can help:

1. Commitment. Make sure this is something you truly want to accomplish.

It’s wonderful to “talk the talk,” but you’ll need to back that up by “walking the walk” as well.

Be honest with yourself.

Do you truly believe that this is the right time to kick your bad habit? Remember, it has to be done for the right reasons.

Don’t let yourself be pressured by others.

Search your soul and be certain you’re doing this for only one person – you!

It’s your time and energy you’ll be using to make your goal a reality, so make your decision carefully.

2. Start a journal. Jot down every time you practice your bad habit.

This isn’t to be used as a punishment, but to give you more of an idea when your undesired behavior is occurring, so that you can better devise ways to break it.

Include your thoughts and feelings that precede or accompany the behavior.

This can give you an idea if you’re doing this when you’re under stress, bored, tired, and so on.

Though it may seem time consuming at first, recording these thoughts and actions can be a wonderful tool to speed up your success in breaking the habit.

3. Choose an alternative behavior.

This behavior can either remind you of your desire to quit or be a permanent replacement of your bad behavior with a desirable one instead.

For example, a friend of mine once put a rubber band on her wrist when she was quitting smoking.

Each time she had the urge to light up a cigarette, she would snap the rubber band on her wrist instead.

Naturally, this was only temporary to remind her not to smoke.

Some more ideas are to take a walk, read a book, sing a song, or cook.

Any activity can be used as an alternative behavior.

Of course, you don’t want to replace one bad habit with another one, but anything that can redirect your focus works well.

4. Start a replacement schedule right away.

Start immediately replacing your bad habit with your alternative, but a gradual shift may work better for you than a complete change.

You may want to start with once a week, then maybe twice week, then three times, until you’re consistently practicing your alternative behavior instead of the bad habit.

Remember, this won’t happen overnight, so please practice patience.

People learn different behaviors at a different pace.

Don’t be discouraged if your best friend stopped smoking in three weeks and you’re on your fifth week and still craving a cigarette.

5. Don’t keep this a secret. If you’ve made the decision to break a habit, tell others.

This is the time when you need the support of your family and friends to help you be successful.

Whether you succeed or not, you’ve taken a major leap in a positive direction.

That’s why it’s so important to share what you hope to accomplish with family and friends.

Those who love you will be there to encourage you, offer support, and help you wherever they can.

Breaking a bad habit can be difficult, but it isn’t impossible.

Use these techniques to make your journey easier, then celebrate your accomplishment when you’ve succeeded – you deserve it!

How can you enlarge your vision today?

What are your plans for making your vision a reality?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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