The Daily Mind
Daily Steps To Mindful Living
Success is defined in many ways, but in the workplace, there is general idea that being successful is doing a good job and going up the ranks.
Do you sometimes wonder why other people seem to be more successful at work than you are, even though you know you are just as good – or maybe better? [Read more…] about How to Overcome Hurdles to Success
Originally posted on December 2, 2015 @ 8:00 am
Being angry is a normal thing – it happens to all of us. However, we also know that it is a dangerous emotion. Left uncontrolled, anger can ruin you – and the people around you.
Lately, I’ve been having this feeling of anger stirring beneath the surface. I have no idea why, but it feels like it’s just waiting to get out. It’s scary, but I believe it’s nothing that can’t be dealt with properly. Part of what I have been doing is reading, doing yoga (more than usual), and consciously breathing to calm down.
I’ve also written down some quick quotes that serve as reminders to keep me in check.
Here are some of those. I hope they help you, too.
1. Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. – Buddha
2. Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret. – Ambrose Bierce
3. Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. – Mark Twain
4. A man can’t eat anger for breakfast and sleep with it at night and not suffer damage to his soul. – Garrison Keillor
5. Never forget what a man says to you when he is angry. – Henry Ward Beecher
6. There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot. – Plato
7. When anger rises, think of the consequences. – Confucius
What do you do when you feel angry? Do reading and leaving notes/quotes for yourself as reminders help?
Originally posted on November 4, 2015 @ 8:30 am
I don’t spend a lot of time on YouTube watching videos, but now and again, a Facebook post catches my eye. I then find myself watching that video, and sometimes, one thing leads to another and before I know it, I’ve spent more time on YouTube.
While that may derail my plans for a bit, I’ve found some gems that I think will be of use to you. There may be tons of “useless” videos online, but there are also inspiring and motivational videos that will either make you tear up or get your blood pumping.
Either way, these videos will touch you and perhaps nudge you in the right direction, whatever that may be for you at the moment.
Note: You may want to have some tissue ready just in case.
“Being rich is not how much you have, but how much you can give.”
This is the story of a little boy who hated his father because the was a poor man. Unlike his friends’ fathers, his dad worked hard and yet had nothing to show for it. He vowed that he would never be like his dad. But, as many things in life usually go, he finds out that things were not as they seemed – a little too late.
Next to Gift, this video really tugged at my heartstrings. It’s the perfect story to show how one small action can change a life, a story that highlights the concept of paying it forward. It reminds me of my late mother who would never hesitate to help someone – stranger or not – whenever she could.
It seems to me that today, relationships are taken more casually than they ought to be. Couples consider giving up on each other more easily. Divorce is always an option (at least where it’s legal). Growing old together isn’t the norm but instead a novelty. I could be wrong, but if you think the same way, you will be inspired by this old couple whose love shines through even if caught on (candid) camera only for a fleeting moment.
This spoken word video is targeted at people who have become ensnared in the “social world”.
One line: “I have 422 friends. Yet I’m lonely.”
Do you sometimes have that feeling? Watch this video, and look up.
Everyone dreams of being successful in their lives, and while the definition of success is relative, there is one common thread: passion.
This is what the following video is all about. It is a combination of key figures in history sharing tidbits of wisdom and insights to motivate.
One of the best inspiring and motivating videos, Dream is what you ought to watch if you feel like your life is going nowhere in spite of your hard work; if you feel like you’re just getting but not living.
“Greatness is not this wonderful, esoteric, elusive, god-like feature that only the special among us will ever taste. It’s something that truly exists — in all of us.”
Do you want to be that person you have always wanted to be but feel like life has gotten in the way? Watch this.
Originally posted on October 20, 2015 @ 9:04 pm
Sometimes, we don’t see the need to make some changes in our life. We think everything’s okay, and that’s the end of it. However, everyone knows there is always room for improvement. The thing is, we can’t always pinpoint those areas. We can’t determine what habits to form that will create significant changes.
Even more, there are many habits that seem so simple that we don’t realize they can be life-changing, either mid-term or long-term. Here are a few of them, which may point you in the right direction.
Sure, our moms, health experts, and doctors tell us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We should not miss it. It gives us energy to start the day.
Knowing and doing are two different things, though.
However, it really is simple to start eating breakfast every day. For so many years, I only had coffee for breakfast. I believed that I didn’t need breakfast, that my stomach couldn’t handle it.
I don’t remember the exact point when I started eating breakfast, but it certainly helped me start my work day on a better note. For example, together with coffee, a slice of toast or two with jam or butter, I was able to focus more in the morning. As I got used to having a little something in my tummy in the morning aside from coffee, I started eating a little more, which in turn gave me more energy.
Another established health fact is that drinking lots of water throughout the day is good for you. It keeps your body hydrated, and if you drink water rather than soft drinks, for example, you lessen your caloric and sugar intake – among other things.
One of the life-changing habits that you may want to start is to drinking a glass of water on an empty stomach when you wake up.
What’s the reasoning behind this?
One, it purifies your internal system, basically flushing out toxins. This cleans your digestive system, which helps it function better. If you have problems with bowel movement, for example, this will help regulate that.
Try doing this every day and observe the results weekly.
Aside from paying attention to what you ingest, exercise is one of those things that everybody is supposed to engage in. But who has the time? And who wants to exert all that effort in the gym unless you’re a gym rat?
But as you already know, exercise doesn’t have to be limited to the gym. Any form of physical movement can count as exercise, and the trick is to find something that you truly enjoy. Something that you can count as a hobby and look forward to.
Go hiking. Go biking. Take pole dancing lessons.
In my case, I found that I enjoy walking to and around the park once or twice a week (that’s about a total of 1 hour).
I also discovered yoga. It does calm you down and yet the effort that is required provides the exercise I need. And you know what? Since I enjoy it a lot, I actually want to do it every day if possible!
Moving away from physical activity, here’s another life-changing habit: reading.
While taking care of your body is essential, nourishing your mind is just as important. What good does a toned body do you when your brain slowly wastes away?
This may not be easy, especially if you’re not a reader, but start with small goals if you wish. For example, commit to spending 30 minutes of reading before bedtime. Or, bring a book with you all the time so you can read while at the coffee shop rather than playing with your phone.
Even better, commit to finishing a book every month.
Again, what good does a great body do you when your mind is all over the place? If you’re always stressed, anxious, or worried, your body will also suffer in the long run.
There are many ways to deal with this, but the simple habit of allocating “quiet time” every single day will do wonders.
Some people call it meditation, but it doesn’t have to be labeled as such. What’s important is that you have that time you spend with yourself regularly.
It doesn’t have to be long. Five or 10 minutes in the morning before you start your getting ready routine is good. Go to the balcony or the garden – or whatever place that you find comfortable – and just stay there doing nothing.
These habits are truly simple and easy to start, yet they have a strong impact which you will be thankful for down the road, so why don’t you start now?
Originally posted on October 14, 2015 @ 8:30 am
We could all use an uplifting story anytime. Whether we’re in the dumps or we’re doing fine, an inspiring story will add some positivity into our day.
That’s what today’s post brings you: inspiring stories to read.
You don’t have to read them all now, but I am sure that even weeks or months down the road, these inspiring stories will still matter.
This is the story of Sam Berns, a man who was born with progeria, a disease of rapid premature aging that only about 250 children worldwide are known to have. But that doesn’t stop him from appreciating everything that life has to offer. Read the whole story here.
The topic of cancer hits too close to home, so I don’t usually read stories about it. This one, though, is something that will squeeze your heart, make you cry, but also make you believe in the good in people and appreciate your loved ones. Read the whole story here.
Sometimes, a small, seemingly insignificant act can make the biggest impact on another person’s life. This stranger on a plane did an act of kindness to a new mom, and the news spread like wildfire. Read this as a reminder of small acts of kindness.
Another inspiring story about kindness:
The Old Spike Roastery in south-east London is proof that social entrepreneurship can change lives.
The coffee-roasting company based in Peckham Rye provides both housing and a living wage to homeless people. But according to its co-founder Cemal Ezel, the business’s relationship with its staff is truly symbiotic.
Read the whole story here.
Originally posted on October 6, 2015 @ 8:30 am
There is at least one difficult person in everyone’s lives. It may be a colleague, a family member, or a friend. Sometimes, you can simply walk away and obliterate those people from your life. In many cases, however, you have to face the fact that you have to continue dealing with those people.
These people may exhibit behavior ranging from being rude to downright insulting when they are in “that” mood to always being late and not being apologetic about it. Some are stubborn as a mule and won’t budge once they’ve made up their mind about something – even if they’re wrong.
According to Psychology Today, difficult people can be whiners, bullies, the short-fused, the judgemental, and even sociopaths.
If you have these people in your life that you can’t get rid of, what do you do then? How do you deal with them and keep your sanity intact? Here are some things you can do.
At the center of it all is how you react. You cannot control what the other person says or do, but you have control over what you do.
In order to be able to diffuse a potentially explosive situation, stay calm. If you can’t do that at the moment, step away and take some time for your emotions to settle down before you spend time with the other person.
When you’re calm and ready to deal with any particular issue with that difficult person, pay attention to more than your words. We all know that choosing the right words and the right tone is essential to proper communication. However, body language speaks just as loudly as verbal communication.
To be honest, this is one of my biggest weaknesses. I have this what I call my “resting face”, which often doesn’t mean anything negative but is often misconstrued as either being “shut down” or aggressive – and everything in between. As such, I have been working on body language, but boy it has been a long and winding road, and I don’t think I’m even halfway there.
When you have to talk to a difficult person, however, remember to exert more effort in making sure that your body language is not aggressive as that will only exacerbate the situation. Here is a good article on how to improve your body language.
When an issue arises – it’s bound to happen over and over again – then you have the “fight or flight” situation. This is a built-in system in human beings (although studies have also shown that it can be learned) which is triggered when we feel threatened.
So, when faced with a confrontation, do you fight or do you flee?
That’s a decision you have to make quickly depending on the situation. If it’s too heated and you know you are not in the right frame of mind, then better flee. Choose your battles. Not everything has to be drawn out. Sometimes, you have to let things go. Then that difficult person just might realize a thing or two about himself.
Difficult people have struggles of their own. They may be depressed and just don’t want to admit it. They may need psychological help but won’t seek it. Perhaps the way they deal with their struggles is to take it out on everyone around them.
One way to deal with this person is not to focus on him. He will take that as a personal attack, and you can just imagine how things can go downhill.
Instead, focus on the issue or problem at hand. Choose your words so that it’s the issue that’s highlighted as something to be discussed and solved. Phrase your words so that you don’t come across as pointing fingers at the person.
All of the above will help in communicating with difficult people and perhaps make your relationships better. However, in some cases, people won’t change – or they can’t unless they seek professional help.
When you’ve done all you can and you know that you’re not being treated right, stand up for yourself. Just because you’re being kind doesn’t mean you ought to give the other person the freedom to treat you badly.
Don’t let yourself be bullied. That will only make the other person feel that he is right and that he can continue behaving however he wants to.
Say what you have to say as courteously as possible, then walk away. You may not be able to stop seeing that person at work or in social gatherings, but you don’t have to engage them.
It’s not easy. It is, in fact, a gargantuan task, but for your sanity’s sake, FLEE if you have to. There’s no shame in that.
Originally posted on September 29, 2015 @ 8:10 am
