Life – Page 63 – Personal Growth Cafe

Do you feel as if you’re living a passionless life?

Do you desire the same passion that you see in other people?

It can be difficult to go through life without a true passion.

There are many things that can cause you to live a life without passion.

It’s possible that an unhappy childhood stifled your dreams, or you’ve never had an opportunity to develop your aspirations.

Maybe indulging in your passion makes you feel guilty.

Or perhaps you don’t have time in your busy schedule to explore and enjoy the very things that could bring you joy.

Today, you must make the commitment to pursue your passion!

Give Yourself the Freedom to Discover Passion

You’re a deserving person! You have the right and the need to feel passionate about the things that are near and dear to you.

You may not even realize what you’re missing if you never had a chance to find and develop your goals.

Discover your passion and embrace it because it can lead you to a life without limits!

You can turn your passion into a career, hobby, or a way to network with people.

Passion can improve every aspect of your life.

It’s your passion that makes your life positive and fulfilling.

When first starting your quest toward your dreams, you may wonder, “What is there to be passionate about?” That’s perfectly normal.

Many people start out with the same question.

Even if you feel that way, it’s never too late for you to find something that fills you with an inner joy and peace.

Your life begins anew when you pursue your dreams, desires, and goals.

You can gain a fresh perspective in your life when you take some time to expand your comfort zone and pursue the things that you’d never considered before.

For example, if you traveled to a foreign place and met new people, you would see and experience things a whole new world that will open your eyes and mind.

When you do this, you may find something that’s been missing from your life!

Passion Affirmations Can Spark Your Passion

You may be able to find your passions through the power of affirmations.

When you give yourself permission to be passionate, you may suddenly find that you’re more enthusiastic about things than you previously dreaded.

Passion affirmations are positive statements that change the way you think about life and the world around you.

Affirmations positively influence your subconscious.

Passion affirmations can bring to light a wonderful new way of living that’s full of joy, abundance, and gratitude.

For example, when you get out of bed each morning, you might say to yourself, “Igniting my passion is another way of revealing how much I love myself.”

Every time you repeat this statement you’re reaffirming that thought in your mind.

At the same time, you’re eliminating negative thoughts that may be holding you back.

Choose affirmations that you feel speak to you and relate to your own feelings.

Repeat them several times each day and soon you’ll discover the joys of living a passionate life!

How can someone’s words affect your day?

What affirmations do you tell yourself when you feel you need a boost?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 11, 2018February 1, 2018

Essential Tips for Making Good Decisions

All decisions are not created equal.

Some decisions impact us on a small scale, like deciding what to eat for dinner.

Some decisions can alter your life so much that you become a new person altogether, like leaving your hometown to live and work in a foreign country.

Sometimes you’ll find yourself at life’s junctions where you’re perplexed with your choices and the decision making is overwhelming.

Whether you’re making a decision about where to go to college, whom to marry, where to move, or changing jobs, there are many elements that can throw your emotions into turmoil.

If you have a big decision looming, here are some things you can do to make your decision a little easier:

1. Get various perspectives.

Seeking advice from the people you trust – like family members, friends, or spiritual directors – can provide unique viewpoints about your situation that may help make your decision easier.

Sometimes someone from the outside can offer clarity that you don’t have sitting in the middle of the decision.

The person can offer a bird’s-eye-view of the situation and bring out things you might not even be aware of.

2. Consider the Pros and Cons.

Another great method for helping with decision making is writing a Pros and Cons list.

Get a piece of paper, and write the positive things about the decision on one side and the negative things on the other.

Include financial impact, emotional considerations, friendships, and short and long-term aspects of your choice.

Time might also be a factor, especially if you’re trying to achieve a goal.

Sometimes a visual timeline is enough to propel you to make the right decision.

Include other people in helping you make the list.

If you still don’t have enough facts to make the decision, hold onto it for later consideration.

Life circumstances may change, and that may alter your decision in the future.

It’s essential to spend time praying, meditating, or simply reflecting on your choices.

Find some time when you won’t be distracted, and spend as long as you need exploring what you feel inside.

This will often lead to a peaceful solution.

3. Become educated about your options.

For example, if you’re considering a move across the country, you’ll want to visit the place first.

Find out about living expenses, the job market, and how you’ll survive.

Knowing the answers to important questions will help you feel secure in the decision you make.

4. Trust yourself.

If all else fails and you still haven’t made your choice, go with your gut.

If you feel strongly about something in your heart, you’ll have the perseverance to withstand any storms that may come with the decision.

Making the choice that you know is right for you will leave you ready to face the challenges.

Making a decision is like being on the Price is Right game show.

The contestants on the show are given big decisions to make.

They can take advice from the audience, use prior knowledge, or make an educated guess based on given information, but they ultimately still have to go with their gut feeling.

Life may be different than a game show, but the decision making process is still the same.

Use all the resources at your disposal, employ the strategies above, pay attention to your inner feelings, and then trust that you can handle whatever comes your way.

Why is it important to think carefully before making a decision?

What was the hardest decision you made this week?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 10, 2018February 1, 2018

Great minds have purposes; others have wishes. – Washington Irving

October 10, 2018February 1, 2018

Delegation Strategies for the Control-Freak

Do you have a team around you who is fully capable of getting things done, but instead of delegating, you try to do everything yourself?

If that sounds like you, there’s a better way.

Delegating tasks can be so difficult for some people.

They act like a micro-manager who ensures that they see, do, and be everything.

It’s hard for them to let others share the load or the glory.

Maybe the control-freak is you.

You may have tried to delegate tasks in the past.

Perhaps the quality of work wasn’t good enough to suit you so you ended up redoing everything.

There’s no sense in delegating tasks in the first place if you know you’ll end up redoing them, right?

Here are three problems you might be using as excuses for not delegating:

You feel you can do the job better yourself.
There’s not enough time to train someone else to do the job.
You feel like you have to redo someone else’s work.

If you’re facing these challenges, perhaps it’s time to look at some strategies you can use to find success in delegating.

Consider using these delegation techniques:

1. Face the truth. If you feel you can do the job better yourself, take time to think things through.

Other people may not do the job the same way you would, but that doesn’t mean they won’t do an adequate job.

The people on your team may be eager to do a great job and need only your encouragement, rather than for you to take over.

2. Train your staff. Perhaps those working with you do need some additional training. This shouldn’t be a reason to do everything yourself.

Look at the need for additional training as a means to be better prepared in the future.

Short-term training now can have a huge pay off later on.

If you take the time to train your staff now, they’ll be better prepared for the next project.

3. Relax. There’s no sense in letting pressure for perfection bring you undue stress.

While perfection would be great, it’s usually not expected.

Give yourself a break. It’s just not possible for you to do everything yourself, nor should you want to.

Other people can do the work even if you don’t think they’ll do as good a job as you.

4. Follow a successful plan.

If you’re the head of the team and certain tasks are critical for the success of the project, you may want to do the major work on those.

However, the more routine tasks could be passed along to other people on the team.

Delegate the task itself, not the way in which it’s completed.

Assign tasks based on strengths.

Perhaps you could let one person do research, assign converting raw data into a spreadsheet to another person, and designate a good writer to write the rough drafts of the reports.

You can still be in control of the final report by pulling all the data together into a solid finished project.

Require progress reports at specified deadlines over the course of the project.

If they’re having problems meeting the deadlines, instead of assuming they’re not going to get the job done, ask them if there’s anything you can do to help them meet the next deadline.

Expect that your team will do a great job and you won’t be disappointed.

People usually rise to our expectations.

Finally, give praise and positive feedback when the project is finished.

Instead of being a control-freak on your next project, decide now to let go of some of the responsibilities.

Look for ways you can use the talents of your co-workers in the future.

You may find that working with a team and delegating tasks makes your job much easier and the atmosphere at work much better for everyone.

Have you tried delegating a task to someone else?

How did you feel about it?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 9, 2018February 1, 2018

When I organize my space, my life has order.

October 8, 2018February 1, 2018

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

October 8, 2018February 1, 2018

Attracting Positive People Into Your Life

According to the law of attraction, we’re always transmitting positive or negative energy.

Others pick up on this and respond likewise.

When you attract like-minded positive people, together you can focus on obtaining your desires.

Positive people will encourage and support you.

On the other hand, negative people will tell you that you can’t achieve your goals, and that they’re too hard or unreachable.

If you’re continually bombarded with negative phrases in your thinking, such as “I just can’t make ends meet,” “There’s never enough,” or “I just can’t seem to get ahead,” then you’re attracting more negativity into your life.

The universe will always respond to your song, so make your song harmonious with your desires, not your frustrations!

If you find yourself focusing on your small paycheck, physical ailments or unfulfilling relationships, it’s time to make a change.

Maybe your parents were role models of criticism instead of encouragement, or maybe you’ve always surrounded yourself with negative friends.

Whatever the reason, it’s time to break this cycle of negativity.

Consider raising your standard of expectation.

Find people to associate with who emit positive energy.

When seeking other positive people, think of people you admire and identify their traits you especially enjoy.

You’ll be generally attracted to people who have a similar sense of humor or who hold the same set of values.

Here are some ways to attract positive people and create more positive energy in your life:

1. Look for positive qualities in other people.

It’s far easier to see someone’s faults before seeing their goodness. Challenge yourself to look only for a person’s good qualities.

2. Be aware of your own finest qualities and project these qualities to the world.

This contributes to your self-awareness and increases your self-esteem.

3. Exercise compassion toward everyone, including yourself.

Negative energy obsesses about unattainable goals.

However, positive energy allows us to realize when we’re doing the best we can.

4. Value others’ opinions.

Positive energy is open-minded.

Listen to all points of view and do your best to understand them, regardless of how different from your own they are.

Trying to change someone’s mind is usually futile, so, even if you’re right, save your energy, understand their opinion, and move on.

1. Refrain from judging.

Give others the benefit of the doubt.

Negative energy is critical in judging others and loves finding fault.

Judging produces negative energy and attracts more of the same back to you.

2. Be honest.

Express your true self in thoughts, words, and actions.

3. Don’t be afraid to admit to having occasional negative thoughts and emotions.

We’re all human, and negative thoughts are a part of human nature.

The key is not to dwell on them.

4. Celebrate the success and happiness of others.

Negative energy is jealous, but positive people are thrilled when others succeed.

Use someone else’s success as a motivator to make you a better person.

5. Balance fulfillment and serving others.

If you spend your life trying to please others, you may find yourself ignoring your own Positive energy is balanced.

6. Persevere in spite of fear or defeat.

We all experience defeat and disappointment!

Rather than bemoaning a setback, use it as a chance to learn something new and prepare for your next challenge.

7. Follow your dreams and desires.

Embrace your joy every step of the way as you achieve your goals.

People with positive energy approach the world with an open heart and a sense of humor.

They refuse to be colored by cynicism and bitterness.

They strive to see the best in the world around them, revel in the success of others, and diligently pursue their own goals.

Becoming a positive person today will help you attract more positive people into your life tomorrow.

The more positive people that surround you, the more you’ll feel joy, contentment, and fulfillment in your own life!

Who do you consider as a positive influence in your life?

What has he/she done that makes you feel positive about your life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 7, 2018February 1, 2018

How to Give Constructive Criticism

Have you ever been on the receiving end of criticism and felt that you just had the wind knocked out of you?

While most criticism is intended as helpful advice, many people have poor communication skills and the message gets lost in the delivery.

If you’re responsible for supervising any group of people, whether small children, a sports team, or employees, it’s inevitable that you’ll need to deliver criticism.

When that time comes, keep in mind that positive criticism gets much better results than negative criticism.

Here are some ways you can constructively criticize behavior to promote positive changes:

1. Sandwich it. One of the best ways to deliver criticism is through a technique called the hamburger method.

Keeping this process in mind will help you stay positive when correcting someone.

Start with something positive (the bun), discuss the problem (the burger), and then finish with another complement (the bun).

When discussing the situation, refrain from attacking the individual. Focus on the behavior or the situation, not the person.

2. Be direct. When you’re approaching someone with a complaint or criticism, deal directly with the problem.

This is no time for subtle hints.

Come right out and say what you need, and then offer a workable solution.

You can avert problems before they start by making sure your directions leave no room for misunderstanding.

When you need to correct someone, ask him or her to explain their perspective of how to handle their task.

A difference in expectations could be causing the problem.

If so, state clearly what you want so they have an opportunity to change the problem.

3. Move on quickly. Once you’ve established what you want, let this issue rest and give the other person time to process and implement changes.

Over time, sometimes continued prompts may be needed, but most people will be able to implement change as long as they don’t feel threatened.

The ideal situation is where the person listens to your feedback, understands the desired outcome, and then finds a way to achieve that outcome.

You can encourage this behavior with explicit expectations.

4. Avoid public humiliation.

Unless you’re addressing an entire group who can all learn the same lessons from your criticism, speak to individual employees privately.

Showing respect by not embarrassing them in front of their co-workers will lessen any adverse reactions and can lead to a more effective conversation about the issues.

If your workplace is made up of cubicles, borrow someone’s office or a conference room to converse privately.

Avoid starting office gossip by having a private conversation in the midst of open cubicles and curious ears.

5. Be specific. Relay exactly what the problem is and determine a solution. Vague criticism can be just as harmful as harsh criticism.

For your best results, when giving details, strive to strike a balance between being overly critical and being indistinct.

Rather than saying, “We need to see improvement from you,” try, “Our sales numbers are down for this quarter.

I need you to schedule more sales meetings for the next month.”

When delivering criticism, always consider the other person’s point of view before making your comments.

Constructive criticism can be helpful and even appreciated if done effectively.

Use these techniques to deliver your criticism and you’ll foster a positive environment where everyone can thrive.

How can you help others become better by providing criticism?

How can this help make you better as well?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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October 6, 2018February 1, 2018

Category: Life

Not the cry, but the flight of the wild duck leads the flock to fly and follow. – Chinese Proverb

Finding Your Passion Through the Power of Words

Essential Tips for Making Good Decisions

Great minds have purposes; others have wishes. – Washington Irving

Delegation Strategies for the Control-Freak

When I organize my space, my life has order.

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Attracting Positive People Into Your Life

How to Give Constructive Criticism

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. – Ellen Parr