2024 is nearly half over. If you’re actively crushing your goals, congratulations, you’re in the top 9% of goal achievers on the planet!

But if you’re like most people… chances are when you read that question, it’s probably the first time you’ve thought about your New Year’s goals in a long time.

Remember how motivated and excited you were about the possibilities when you made your New Year’s resolutions?

You were focused and clear about your intentions and the changes you wanted to make.

And chances are you still want to take charge of your life and make those changes, so it’s not a lack of desire.

The Culprit

So what’s the culprit? It’s what gets in the way of most of us when we’re trying to learn anything new or uncomfortable:

RESISTANCE.

Resistance comes in the form of self-doubt, fear, discomfort, worry, procrastination, lack of commitment, comfort, etc.

Reflect on the first few months of 2024. What headwinds of resistance have been keeping you from reaching your goals?

The bad news is that the year is nearly half over. The good news is that you still have six months to make 2024 your best year.

There’s still time.

Setting Goals

Most people need to become more familiar with how to set appropriate goals.

In January every year, people usually write down two to three goals in each of the following categories: personal finance, relationships, jobs/business, spiritual, and personal.

In fact, this year, the top six New Year’s resolutions were to improve fitness, improve finances, improve mental health, lose weight, improve diet, and make more time for loved ones.

But here’s what typically happens: We’re told to prioritize our goals and set a deadline to achieve them. Then, make a list of tasks to accomplish those goals by the allotted date.

Unfortunately, this type of goal-setting only leads to failure.

Consider how many Januarys have come and gone where you’ve written goals; June arrives, and you’ve barely looked at them; December arrives, and you’ve not achieved them. This is because they are overwhelming and out of reach.

Goal-Setting That Works

Setting goals is more than dreaming about the kind of life you want.

Goal setting is about creating a life vision for yourself where you successfully achieve your goals without any specified time limits.

Not setting a time limit for your goals may be a new concept.

However, by setting a time limit for achieving your goals, you are setting yourself up for failure, and here’s why.

If you set a time limit on a goal that is sooner than you could conceivably expect to achieve it, your mind will tell you that it is impossible, you will feel overwhelmed, and your productivity will plummet.

On the other hand, if you set your goals for a time that is considerably out of reach, then your mind will tell you that you have a significant amount of time to achieve this goal and that you can “start tomorrow” and not have to work towards it anytime soon.

The Power of A Life Vision

When you create a life vision in which you see yourself accomplishing your goals or enjoying the fruits of your labor, you are more likely to work towards achieving those goals and avoid failure.

Next, set “process tasks” that take you in the right direction and into the reality of your vision.

It’s almost a cliche, but fall in love with the process not the payoff.

The chasm between where you are and where you want to be is bridged by a process—by a batch of certain habits and tasks—that gets you there.

These tasks will have a timeline and strategies, which you should initiate and track using as many time management productivity tools as you find necessary. Unless you measure your progress regularly, you will never follow through. And this time next year, you will be in the same place you are today.

Accomplishing your goals is a matter of keeping them at the top of your mind and in your current consciousness, where you will continue to make forward movement in your task list daily to sustain momentum, much like standing next to a fire to keep warm.

Setting goals isn’t about identifying tasks but discovering what you truly want in life and the person you want to become and establishing a road map to the final destination that unlocks your best life.

The post Did You Forget This? appeared first on Lifestyle.

We live in an age of overwhelm and overload. It’s easy to be paralyzed by choices and feel lost in confusion. The world has become loud, noisy, and increasingly more intrusive.

Being true to ourselves has never been more challenging.

Who are you? What do you stand for? What do you stand against? What do you believe to be true about yourself and the world?

Here are some steps to reconnect with your authentic self in a world that tells you daily who you should be and what you should believe.

Curiosity 

Self-discovery begins with becoming curious about yourself and your life.

What are you passionate about?

What brings you joy?

What gives you a sense of fulfillment?

Explore all the different parts of your desires, interests, and personality. 

Be Present Without Judging Yourself 

It’s hard to connect with your authentic self when you dwell on the past or live in the future and judge yourself for how you feel, the mistakes you’ve made, or missed opportunities.

Take a few minutes to be alone, breathe, and root yourself in the present moment without judgment or self-criticism.

Observe your thoughts, emotions, and situation without attaching self-defeating or disempowering labels.

Accept yourself; be kind and compassionate.

Be your own best friend in this moment – be supportive of yourself!

Why? This quality of self-reflection deepens self-awareness, connecting you to your authentic self.

Values 

So many people are lured into chasing other people’s values.

Step back from the crowd and turn off your devices to protect yourself from the thousands of marketing messages that interrupt your life every day, telling you what you should buy, wear, believe, and be.

Ask yourself: What do I value—what’s most important to me? Is it honesty, integrity, family and friends, health, material wealth, faith, and connecting with God? 

Remember, your values and beliefs change as you mature and grow wiser. What was important to you five years ago might not be today.

Passions

When was the last time you thought about your passions?

What makes you feel alive? What energizes you? What feeds your soul with a sense of fulfillment?

It could be a cause, a hobby, a creative pursuit, or making a difference in the world through your faith community.

Explore your passions because they give you valuable insights into who you are at your core.

Confront Fear 

You can only unlock your best life once you face your fears and limiting beliefs.

What fears are keeping you from being you?

What beliefs aren’t serving you well?

What compromises are sabotaging your hopes and dreams?

Journal 

A journal is a safe space for you to record your thoughts, feelings, and experiences and see how you’re growing and progressing in life.

It reveals emotional and behavioral patterns, giving you deeper insights into your true self. This private space gives you permission to express yourself without fear of judgment. 

Strengths and Weaknesses 

What are your strengths and weaknesses? As difficult as it might be, this should be an objective process.

When do you feel strong?

When do you feel weak?

What do you embrace?

What do you avoid?

Ask people who love you and want to see you succeed what they see as some of your strengths and weaknesses.

Final Thoughts 

Connecting with your authentic self is an exciting journey. So, get curious, be fully present, spend time in non-judgmental self-reflection, explore your passions, and confront your fears to uncover your true self and finally unlock your best life.

The post Unlocking Your True Self appeared first on Lifestyle.

Our brains are the command center of our lives and are essential for the quality of our physical, emotional, and mental performance. Chronic stress, poor diet, smoking, and excess alcohol take a severe negative toll on our brain’s functionality. 

These habits also contribute to high blood pressure, cognitive decline, and dementia.

But you can always learn new habits and strategies and change your life. Here are 8 tips to prime your brain for success and unlock your best future.

Mediterranean Diet (MeDi)

High-quality foods are essential to your brain health and physical fitness.

The Mediterranean diet focuses on plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, fish, whole grains, and healthy oils like olive and avocado. 

Based on a study of 502,536 participants, people who followed the principles of the MeDi had a 23% lower chance of developing dementia. Research has also found that the MeDi may improve cognitive capabilities, such as memory.

Tame Stress 

Chronic stress harms brain function. Yale Medicine defines chronic stress as “A consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time.” 

There are many causes of chronic stress today because life is busier and more complicated than ever. These include life changes, unfulfilling jobs, economic distress, and family dysfunctions. 

When stressed, the brain increases glucocorticoid production, including the stress hormone cortisol. 

The mind goes into overdrive and starts worrying about the future and everything that might go wrong, causing panic and anxiety. 

Reading the Bible and praying have a calming effect on the mind that keeps us anchored in the present. Practicing Mindfulness helps us stay focused on the present rather than dwelling on the past or situations that cause us to worry. Other key concepts include paying attention to our surroundings, accepting ourselves, and focusing on our breathing.

Physical Activity

The Center for Creative Leadership asked over 1,500 executives how exercise impacts their performance. Approximately 90% said that physical activity “clearly impacts” their performance, 12% reported “some impact,” and no one reported zero impact.

They reported regular exercise improved mental clarity, focus, alertness, and problem-solving.

In addition to improving your brain, exercise has physical benefits such as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, reducing anxiety, improving sleep, decreasing insulin resistance, and strengthening your immune system.

Be Mentally Active

People who don’t “exercise” their brains are at significant risk for early cognitive decline. You can do many activities to give your brain a workout, such as reading, memorizing scripture, learning a new language, playing games, or working on a jigsaw puzzle.

Sleep Well

The importance of sleep and its effect on brain health is huge! When you get good quality, deep sleep, the brain repairs itself and rejuvenates your immune system. In REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the brain compiles details you learned during the prior day.

Inadequate or insufficient sleep can contribute to feeling exhausted, cause concentration, mood, and memory disorders, and suppress the immune system.

You know the drill: create a bedtime routine by going to bed at the same time nightly and waking up at the same time in the morning. Over time, this will help set your internal clock and become a regular sleep pattern. Also:

• Turn off your electronics at least two hours before bedtime. This includes cell phones, computers, and social media.
• Eliminate caffeine after 12:00 p.m. The most common sources of caffeine are coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate.
• Avoid eating before bedtime to prevent gastrointestinal issues that may keep you awake.

Stop Smoking

Although people feel that cigarettes or cigars help to calm them and are pleasurable, they pose severe risks to brain functionality. 

A study by the American Heart Association (AHA) found that smoking is associated with cognitive decline, leading to worsening performance. You deserve better. So do yourself a huge favor and stop smoking.

Be Socially Active

Social connections can help reduce stress and depression and prevent memory loss. Look for ways to interact with others, especially if you live alone. 

Brain atrophy has been linked to a lack of socialization. 

Interpersonal relationships and being socially active enhance physical well-being and strengthen brain health. 

Find Inspiration

How often do we take the little things in life for granted? We often overlook these special moments of inspiration, which can be so good for brain health. 

For example, Psych Central says watching the sunrise gives you a feeling of awe, bolsters your mood, and helps you have a “big picture” mentality where we view situations broadly rather than focusing on limited details. It opens your mind to evaluating scenarios entirely rather than breaking them into detailed parts. 

People may also find inspiration from art, visiting a park, or watching the sunset.

Conclusion

A healthy brain keeps our sensory, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and motor functions working smoothly. Good habits such as eating properly, being physically, mentally, and socially active, and getting sufficient sleep are essential to overall well-being and life satisfaction.

The preceding tips can boost brain health, priming your mind for success and well-being so you can unlock your best life!

The post 8 Ways To Prime Your Brain For Success appeared first on Lifestyle.

What do most of us do when taking a trip to somewhere we’ve never been? We find someone who’s been there and ask them about it because we want to make the most of our trip!

If we put that much thought and effort into a trip, how much more should we be putting thought and effort into the other important areas of our lives?

Just as getting information and advice from friends is a big help when planning a trip, coaches and mentors can be very helpful when designing our lives. 

Steven Spielberg said, “The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” 

A true mentor gives you access to wisdom and experience because they’ve done or become what you want to do or become. They don’t coach from theory; they mentor from experience. 

Let’s say you set a goal of making a million dollars. Would you rather be mentored by an experienced multimillionaire or coached by someone who has no experience, only theory? 

Mentoring is a partnership that goes far beyond teaching and holding you accountable. Your mentor gives you access to experience and wisdom, encouragement, and mutual growth. 

It seems everyone has gone into life coaching since the 2020 pandemic. Coaches are a dime a dozen. But genuine mentors, well, they’re worth their weight in gold. 

The Transfer of Skills and Knowledge

A mentor is someone who is much further in their field than the mentee, which means they can provide insights the mentee still needs to gather through real-world experience. 

The transference of wisdom, skill, and knowledge can shave years off the learning process.

This exchange of knowledge accelerates skill development because not only can a mentor teach the mentee new skills, but the wisdom they impart helps the mentee put everything to work to tackle obstacles and challenges with an informed, strategic approach. 

The Thread of Wisdom

A mentor is a compass, providing guidance as you navigate the industry or life situation. You can leverage their experience to become more skillful and create new opportunities. Not only does this help with things like career advancement, but it amplifies purpose and direction.  

Emotional Support and Growth 

A skillful mentor helps nurture emotional well-being and personal growth. They facilitate a safe space for open and honest communication, which allows you to discuss your fears, dreams, and challenges. That emotional reassurance will help you in every aspect of life.

Networking Connections

Your mentor wants you to succeed. They wouldn’t be investing their precious time and energy into you if they didn’t. As an established person, they can introduce you to influential contacts and expand your network. 

Inspiration

Your mentor should be someone you respect and wish to model. Your partnership isn’t just about gaining wisdom or new skills. They inspire you to build a work ethic and adopt the qualities you see in them that you admire. Your mentor is your role model.

Final Thoughts

Many people succeed without a mentor, but they often learn the hard way, struggling with challenges and stresses they could’ve avoided had they reached out to a wise and experienced mentor. Why make the journey any more difficult than it has to be?

If you aspire to greatness and want to unlock your best life, finding a mentor you respect and admire could be worth its weight in gold, so why wouldn’t you accept help from someone who’s already taken the journey you’re about to embark upon? 

The post Do You Need A Coach or A Mentor? appeared first on Lifestyle.

You can drift through life or sail through life. The difference is that one is aimless and undefined, and the other has a purpose and has direction.

Life is challenging. There will be rough water. Pray for wisdom and batten down the hatches to navigate life’s storms, but never stop believing in yourself; trust the journey. 

Gain confidence from your faith in the One guiding you as you sail into uncertainty on the open sea. 

Let Go So You Can Sail

One of the biggest lessons that sailing through life can teach you is found in the art of letting go. 

You can only sail once you release the anchor. 

What’s keeping you from moving forward? What’s anchoring you? 

What do you need to let go of?

Do you need to let go of some fears, habits, attachments, or dreams that have become too small to start your voyage? 

Give yourself permission to let go of past traumas, release yourself from external expectations, and let go of the need for control. 

Control and comfort are two anchors that hold people back from sailing toward their dreams and a life of love and happiness.  

Start letting go of the weight of trying to control the things you can’t control because that mindset is an anchor that keeps you from growing and hinders your ability to adapt. 

Let go of the need to feed your comforts. There’s nothing wrong with relaxing and being comfortable. But comfort can become a nest that turns into a prison. Nothing great ever happened within the comfy confines of comfort. 

Remember, you’re in charge of the sails. So when life throws an unexpected storm in your path, adjust your sails and navigate accordingly.

And when you’re nearing the doldrums of comfort, catch the wind and sail away by choosing a more adventurous and fulfilling course. 

Use whatever you face along your journey to grow personally and spiritually as you master the seas of your life. 

The Beauty of Life 

Storms are temporary. Bask in the calm waters when the sea is serene. And celebrate life’s joys when things are tranquil. 

Change is inevitable.

Storms will come and go. You will have balmy days and billowy days. 

 Embrace both.

Take the wheel and learn to navigate every storm with resilience. Use the challenge to unlock your inner capabilities. Realize everything you face is an opportunity to grow, strengthening your faith and courage.  

So many stay anchored where they are because they don’t believe they have the skills to sail beyond the harbor.

You have the skills and what it takes to navigate life’s biggest challenges. So embrace the journey and enjoy the moments, especially the calm, sunny ones, so you may live life to the fullest. 

Final Thoughts 

On larger ships, a crew is needed to sail the ship. They work together to get the job done. So remember to appreciate your support network and social connections; if you trust them, they can help you thrive. Being a solitary captain is lonely; navigating the seas alone is perilous. Stay connected. 

As you navigate the seas of life, you will encounter giant waves, but you’ll have a lot more calm water than turbulent water. To make things go as smoothly as possible, let go of toxic attachments, embrace change, trust the process, and steer your life toward growth and fulfillment. 

There is strength in letting go, not weakness. 

Chart your course and trust the journey as you sail through the natural ebbs and flows of life – – your adventure will be remarkable, but only if you let go, trust, and enjoy the journey. 

The post Sailing Through Life: Letting Go And Trusting The Journey appeared first on Lifestyle.

Someone said, “Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.”

When the end comes, some people look back over their lives, and all they see is a graveyard of regrets, largely due to procrastination and putting things off until tomorrow.

Don’t let that be you.

Here are seven ways to get busy living your life and stop burying your dreams. 

Try one each day for the next seven days. And whenever you procrastinate, revisit this list and use one of these hacks to get unstuck, and watch your productivity soar. 

Go Small 

They say, “Go big or go home.” But that approach can be overwhelming, one reason we put things off, which is a very unproductive and self-sabotaging coping mechanism. So, pick something small you can do right now that moves you in the right direction. Don’t have time to write the entire article? Write a paragraph. Don’t have the energy to clean the whole house? Wipe down a counter. Don’t feel like going to the gym? Lace up your shoes. These small actions create momentum and get you into action. 

Start Your Timer

This hack works like a charm to get you into action. Don’t feel like doing something? Set a time for 7 minutes, or 13 or 19, whatever it takes to talk you into doing it. Then, work on the task until the timer goes off. This tip works great for stuff like decluttering, cleaning, starting to learn a new language, or even going for a walk to get some exercise or paperwork you dread doing. Start small if you have to – even five minutes. The goal is to get started. 

Bribe Yourself 

What’s wrong with bribing yourself to motivate you to do something? Nothing, that’s what. Work on something you’ve been putting off for an hour or two, then watch a favorite movie or show. Or if it’s a big project like redecorating a room, promise yourself a new gadget as your reward, or a new shirt or pair of shoes for losing ten pounds. And if tempted to procrastinate, remind yourself what’s waiting for you. 

Get An Accountability Partner 

Finding someone you trust who supports you and asking them to check in regularly to see how much you’re getting done can be a great motivator. You might even tell them in advance how much you plan to do this week and have them check in with you during the middle and end of the week; if you’re really serious (and you are, aren’t you?), ask them to check in with you daily. Knowing you have to report to someone else makes you take action.

Measure Your Progress 

What gets measured gets improved. Say you want to lose twenty pounds. Weighing yourself daily and tracking your progress weekly keeps you in the game. Otherwise, it’s easy to forget and keep putting things off until “tomorrow.” Stay motivated by measuring how much progress you’re making. You can use your phone, make a chart or spreadsheet, or tape a piece of paper to the bathroom wall that you make notes on every morning. 

Remind Yourself Of Your Why 

When you lose your “why,” you lose your motivation. Why did you want to do this thing in the first place? You had a great reason for doing the very thing you keep putting off. Remember your why and remind yourself of it often. Did you want to make more money so you could go on a special vacation, start a side hustle to leave your job eventually, or be strong and healthy to keep up with your grandkids? Get clear on your why, write it down, and look at it every morning and every night before you go to bed.

Just Get Started

This is the most powerful hack of all: Just get started. What’s the old saying? An object in motion tends to stay in motion. So, get yourself into motion! Do something – anything! Even if it’s something really small or even something that turns out to be a mistake! 

Get busy living your life! Don’t wait until you’re ready or feel like it or else you’ll never start!

And don’t wait until you’ve satisfied all your uncertainties because all that does is bury one opportunity after another, creating one huge graveyard of regret that will become your life. 

Use one or all seven of these hacks to end procrastination and get yourself into motion so you can finally unlock your best life! 

The post Stop Letting Procrastination Bury Your Dreams appeared first on Lifestyle.

According to Psychology Today, people procrastinate – delaying what they know should be done – for many reasons. It cites three in particular: 1) Because we don’t think we’ll enjoy doing them, 2) We don’t think we’ll do them well, or 3) The task at hand is too complex; it’s estimated that 20 percent of the population falls into the category of “procrastinators” who put off doing things because they don’t feel like doing it right now. 

We can procrastinate by ignoring what needs to be done right now, but we can’t ignore the consequences of not doing it.

Start With A Goal – Even If It’s Blurry

A blurry goal is better than no goal because it gives you a general idea of where to begin, helping you overcome the inertia of getting started. When you don’t have a goal and don’t know what you want, you have no idea where to even begin. 

What do you want to accomplish for yourself and others?

What do you want from your life?

Don’t wait for perfect clarity; get an idea and go! Getting started makes things less blurry and brings them into focus – and keeps you moving in the right direction.

Write It Down

We know that procrastinators don’t take action. Taking some action, no matter how small, is better than taking no action.

Writing your goals down is taking action.

It gets you moving; it activates your ambition. 

Write down what you want and give it a deadline for completing it. If it’s a big goal, write down a few things you’ll need to do to achieve your goal and then give those action steps deadlines. 

Most people in the United States know what’s coming in a few weeks: April 15th -Tax Day, which most of us dread because of the paperwork and millions of little details we must collect and submit. So break it down. You have a clear deadline, April 15th, and you might have an idea of the forms you’ll need. If you don’t, your accountant will. And each form will require certain data. So, to make it easier on yourself, organize your taxes into little tasks: 1) Get forms, 2) Collect income documents, and 3) Complete forms. This may be a bad example because there isn’t anything inspiring about taxes! But you get the idea. 

What’s one thing you must get done? Turn it into a goal by writing it down and giving it a deadline, and then keep it close by so you can look at it daily so you don’t forget. 

START!

The secret to progress is to START!

Stop thinking about it, talking about it, analyzing it, and resisting it!

Stop thinking about it and just do it. 

If your goal is to get stronger and leaner, and you’ve decided to go to the gym three days a week but don’t feel like going when the time comes, stop thinking about it, put on your sneakers, and get yourself to the gym!

You must create momentum. Life doesn’t hand you momentum on a silver platter. It’s up to you to get started.

So go do it!

Today Matters, Make It Count

Life isn’t waiting for you. You only have so much time before it’s over. Today matters—this very moment matters! 

So, stop talking yourself out of living your dreams! Write down two or three major goals and dreams that will unlock your best life, and get started! It will be messy and frustrating at first, but keep going. Don’t put off living your life another day. 

The post Three Ways To End Procrastination appeared first on Lifestyle.

It’s not too late to turn things around and salvage this year. Maybe you’ve lost motivation or have procrastinated on starting your life-changing goals. If so, so what? It’s no big deal. Get up and get going because life does not wait! 

Many of us put things off. And if that sounds like you, don’t beat yourself up for getting a slow start. The last thing you should do is identify yourself with something that disempowers you. So you’re not a procrastinator; you’re someone who never gives up!

If you’re ready to make this a great year and to make the most of the remaining months (we still have three seasons ahead of us, by the way – there’s a LOT of time left in 2024), then you’re in the right place. 

People punish themselves for procrastinating and putting things off. That ends today. How? By forgiving yourself.

It might seem like a strange place to start, but forgiving yourself must be the first step because you’re the only one who can give yourself a clean slate and a fresh start. 

The Way It Is…

You can’t do anything about the past except learn from it. Beating yourself up for not following through on your goals and plans or calling yourself ugly names for not even getting off the starting blocks is pointless. 

You’re in a war with yourself that you will IF you don’t give up.

Stop Stressing…

Stressing about what you could’ve done by now had you started or followed through or engaging in negative, disempowering, self-limiting self-talk is the worst thing you can do. Why? Because ALL of that negativity reinforces your habit of putting things off until tomorrow. 

Acknowledge Procrastination…

Get friendly with procrastination the next time it happens. Take a few minutes to evaluate why you might be procrastinating because maybe delayed action is protecting you from making a mistake. Get curious about it. Thank procrastination for stopping by, and then tell it “goodbye” because you have work to do and dreams to make happen.

Procrastination isn’t the end of the world. You’re learning a learned skill – the habit of taking prompt action and following through. Take action, no matter how small, because it gives you momentum and weakens the power of procrastination. Expect this to happen a few times. Just repeat the process because this is how you become a person of strength and action; keep going.

You might be frustrated by your slow progress. But so what? You’re making progress! Someone said, “Forward is progress.” And sooner or later, you will reach the finish line! All of this is normal because you’re learning to “walk.”

Let Frustration Motivate You!

You will reach the point where you’ll be so frustrated that you’ll have had enough! Make frustration serve you. Let it stoke the inner fire of motivation. Step up and say commit to doing better next time. Examine your setbacks, failures, and mistakes to learn what caused you to procrastinate this time. Learn, adjust, improve, and perform better next time. 

For example, maybe you have a big goal to achieve with many smaller tasks. You threw yourself into it, started crossing tasks off, and made great progress, but then you missed a day. That’s okay. It’s not ideal, but it’s not the end of the world. Honor how well you did. And then learn where things went off the rails and fix it. Or, maybe you discovered your pace was too intense or unreasonable and that occasionally missing a day or taking a day off is good!

Set Yourself Up For Success

As long as there’s breath in your lungs, you’re in a life-long learning process; there’s always something new to learn or discover; it’s what makes life exciting and fulfilling! And if you slip back into a bad habit, maybe it’s an opportunity to see what’s not working or that it’s time to try a new and better approach to ensure greater success. Perhaps it’s as simple as adopting a healthier pace with fewer to-dos on your daily list. Or maybe you’re not pushing yourself hard enough, or you get bored quickly and need a lot of items to check off because it gives you such an incredible feeling of accomplishment. 

Be Kind To Yourself…

Life is tough enough without you coming down hard on yourself and beating yourself up for not getting things done. The world can be harsh; why pile on more misery? So, remind yourself that today is a new day… a fresh start… a new beginning.

Forgive yourself for procrastinating, take a deep breath, collect your thoughts, and get back to work, unlocking your best life. Life doesn’t wait. And neither should you.

The post Forgive Yourself For Procrastinating appeared first on Lifestyle.

Life is messy and unpredictable sometimes. We don’t make the best decisions, or things spiral out of our control, or we suffer the unfortunate consequences of other people’s choices. 

How we react to certain triggers and situations and show up in life either fills our life with more or less hope, joy, or misery. To have more hope, joy, and happiness is an intentional choice. 

As the famous quote goes, “It’s not what happens to you, it’s how you react to it that matters.“-Epictetus.

Here are some strategies for your consideration for living a joyful life: 

Find and prioritize your purpose.

There’s joy in finding your purpose and living it. You have a calling, an assignment, something to do to serve and improve the world. Finding a purpose is vital to living a joyful and fulfilled life. Some people may find purpose in their work and jobs, but you can also find it by volunteering your time and resources for the good of the community or society. 

Take a moment to think about some things you’re passionate about that contribute positively to the world; maybe your gift or passion is something you do well and allows you to make an income. There’s a good chance this is your calling. When you find and prioritize your purpose, you have something to look forward to and wake up to every morning. Fulfilling your purpose fills your life with joy and meaning, leading to a happy and satisfied life. 

Nurture relationships.

When we look at the centenarians from the Blue Zones, we see that they highly prioritize and nurture their social relationships with friends and family. They live a simple life, and one of their main focuses is building and nurturing supportive relationships. 

Even at 90, these people are seen to be fit, healthy, happy, and free of chronic diseases due to their lifestyle and familial support. We learn from these people of the Blue Zones the wisdom of nurturing healthy relationships; it’s a pillar of living a happy life. We all need support, a shoulder to cry on, and like-minded friends to share the joys of life with. 

Release things that no longer serve us. 

Life has different stages, each requiring a different and more evolved version of you. To live a joyful life, learn to let go of things, people, situations, and memories that no longer serve you or support your faith and values. Be brave and clear on who and what deserves to move forward into the next season of your life. 

Embracing the process of letting go leads to a happier life. To live more joyfully, learn to let certain attitudes go, too, like perfectionism and how you think life ‘should be’ or what ‘could have been.’ Embrace the present moment and declutter your life, heart, soul, and mind of habits, negative mindsets, toxic relationships, and feelings of regret, guilt, or shame from the past. Learn to let go of any emotional baggage that may deter you from living a joyful life. 

Be kind and compassionate to yourself.

Nurturing your relationship with yourself is essential to living a happier life. This can mean being kind and compassionate to yourself by not talking negatively to or about yourself. It can mean showing yourself compassion and forgiveness and treating yourself well, like taking time out of work to rest and wind down instead of overworking yourself, improving your mental and emotional well-being, taking care of your body, and whatever else enriches your life and soul. 

To be happier and emotionally healthy, you must ditch the negative self-talk, rewire and reframe your mindset to be more positive and supportive of yourself. And observe how your life shifts from misery to joy. 

Joy can look different to every person. What you perceive as joy may not be the same for someone else. Some may find joy in nurturing relationships, while others may prefer some ‘me time’ in solitude. 

Lastly, remember to fill your cup first so you have something to give and pour it into others. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so find your purpose, do activities that enrich your life, release whatever isn’t serving you anymore, lean on others, and laugh more to live a joyful life. Find your version of joy to unlock your best life!

The post The Science Of Happiness: Strategies For A Joyful Life appeared first on Lifestyle.

Imagine achieving your dreams and goals and living a flourishing life. When you activate your potential, that kind of life can be yours. Many people fall short of their potential because they don’t want it bad enough and they lack mental and emotional toughness.  

Unlocking your best life requires time and effort, dealing with obstacles, and taking risks to achieve the desired result. However, the benefits are powerful. 

Here are seven steps you can take to begin unleashing your full potential.

Define Your Goals

What do you want and why?

When you know what you want and why, you have a map for pursuing your goals and dreams. 

What do you want to accomplish in your life? Why do you want it – what do you think you’ll gain by achieving it?

Make a list of goals that motivate you; you will have some short and long-term ones. 

Evaluate them to determine the steps you’ll need to take to achieve them. 

Landing on the moon by the end of the 1960s was a dream, but NASA needed to take a million little steps to achieve it. You must do the same with your goals, especially your big ones.

Set a mission accomplished date to make your goal more than a dream. Then, track and measure your progress daily, weekly, or monthly – whatever it takes because what gets measured gets done.

Embrace a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is optimistic and solution-focused; it sees challenges as stepping stones to success.

A person with a growth mindset knows their weaknesses, and they receive constructive criticism. They keep the end result in mind but focus on the process because it bridges the gap from where they are to where they intend to go. 

They’re not jealous of the success of others; it motivates them instead. 

They remember why they want what they want to keep going when they want to quit. 

And they’re constantly learning, applying, experimenting, and adapting. 

Journal Your Thoughts and Ideas

Journaling is a great way to get to know yourself, see patterns, and remember what works and doesn’t work and why. 

Journaling boosts creativity, improves mental health, and inspires you to stay the course when things get hard. 

Pay close attention to your feelings and record them in your journal. Evaluate them to see what thoughts, people, or situations triggered them. Examine your life to learn about yourself and to discover what you can do better moving forward.

Don’t Waste Your Mistakes

A mistake is an opportunity for growth. You’ll make mistakes, so you might as well explore and learn from what went wrong. Sticking your head in the sand accomplishes nothing. There’s truth to the old adage “fail forward.”

Opportunities and Risk

Risk comes with opportunity. The bigger the goal, the bigger the risk. Regardless, there’s always some risk. 

For example, assume you have a limited budget to achieve your goal. You might run out of money before you reach it. 

Some people worry themselves to death in that scenario. However, excessive worry depletes energy and decreases productivity, and it can make you feel like giving up.

There are four things you can do with risk: accept it, avoid it, reduce it, or transfer it. 

Minimize worry by identifying the types of risks that could occur and listing what you can do to reduce risk. If the potential benefit outweighs the risk, accept it after doing all you can to reduce it. But be honest with yourself because some opportunities and experiences are not worth the risk.   

Take Care of Yourself

Nurturing your well-being increases motivation because you feel mentally strong and emotionally healthy. You’ll have less stress and be happier, too. So, eat healthy, exercise, and get your sleep.

Manage Your Time & Priorities

Make the most of time management by focusing on your priorities. Don’t use time as an excuse for not following through on your dreams and living your life. 

At the very least, plan ahead the evening before by making your to-do list and prioritizing each task. Eliminate any tasks that are not essential; delay low-priority tasks to another day.

Remember: first things come first. Your life changes when you change what you do during your day.

Discourage interruptions by finding a quiet place to focus and temporarily turning off social media, phone calls, texts, and emails. 

Share your boundaries with those you know so they are aware and can support you. You’ll accomplish more in less time without unnecessary interruptions.

Start with a few minutes if you have to, but follow this plan to make consistent progress. Ten or fifteen minutes here and there add up over the course of a week. 

Conclusion

You must know your goals and why you want them to unlock your best life; be persistent and consistent. Ask yourself today, what vision do I have for my life? Where would I like to be this time next year? And what do I need to start doing or stop doing to get there? Answering these questions puts you on the road to success and unlocking your best life.  

The post Seven Steps to Unlock Your Best Life in 2024! appeared first on Lifestyle.