Habits Articles

Many public speakers, from corporate executives to candidates running for president, suffer from ADD—Authenticity Deficit Disorder. This truly is unfortunate (for speakers and audiences alike) because more than just about anything else, audiences today crave a high degree of authenticity from ...

The hip hop genre has not exactly been known for having a squeaky clean, morally upright, unassailably wholesome image. We hear of rappers getting arrested for weapons charges or assault every now and then. A good number of hip hop lyrics tell of (and even glorify) guns, drugs, violence, misogynist behavior, and a hodge podge of anti-authority sentiments. And of course, the killings of high profile rap artists such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur have become landmark

One thing I always marveled at was that older people always had all the money, nicer homes and drove newer cars while younger people with families were broke. It just didn’t seem right. I mean, shouldn’t young people with families have lots of money while they are still young enough to enjoy it? EXPERIENCE CAN BE A CRUEL TASKMASTER – Many of the older people prospered from experience. Nothing beats experience. But there is a heavy toll to pay for it called ‘YEARS’.

A major barrier to listening to another person, without interruption, is the notion that silence may condone agreement. If someone is talking and we nod or indicate that we’re listening by saying “uh-huh,” a common fear is that the speaker may confuse our failure to object with our agreement. The speaker may even suddenly switch topics under the delusion that you share his view, which lays the setting for a future irresolvable argument.

Drip …. drip …. drip …. drip …. my eyes slam open! It takes a moment to decide if I’m dreaming or awake. Damn, I’m awake. I glance at the bedside clock … 2:26 a.m. I make a conscious decision to roll over and go back to sleep. Drip …. drip …. drip …. drip …. so much for that.

Time Management Tips to Win Time management is critical to boost good organization of one’s personal utilization of schedule. Managing the early morning routine, for example, could be one way of effective time management if things are executed in a smooth and convenient manner. The problem ...

It’s holiday time and for many of us, holidays that should be filled with opportunities for true happiness—a sense of togethe ess, a chance to give, and a chance to be grateful—are turned into occasions for fights, disappointments, overspending and fatigue. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Holidays don’t have to be expensive, meaningless or filled with stress.

“I can’t handle this,” Susan cried, contemplating her daughter’s dwindling college fund. I know how she feels. When I think of the changes I’ve had to deal with in my life—having to lie flat in bed for a year due to back pain, going through a devastating breakup, dealing with the financial meltdown of my company, not to mention all the ups and downs of the life of an entrepreneur--there have been many times when I honestly doubted my ability to live through another second. And yet here I am, and so are you.

As you know, habits are difficult to break. This is because habits are formed by a complex combination of emotions, actions, biology, and relationships. Here are 6 simple steps to breaking your bad habits and creating healthy eating habits.nnStep #1: Identify the Problem BehaviorsnWe think we are aware of our eating patterns, but we’re not. Research studies show that 30% of normal weight people significantly under-report what they eat and 60% of over-weight people under- re

Have you heard the latest buzz word? Grit. It seems to be on the lips of every hiring manager and recruiter in the country. And, as words go, "grit" is a great word for a number of reasons. I guess it had fallen out of everyday usage, so it seems fresh again. It's a short word, and it sounds like what it conveys. Grit. It's tough, no nonsense, unambiguous. Say it out loud: She has grit. Do you have grit? I have grit! I believe this is a new spin, an effective and fun spin,

There is a story from the Talmud that goes like this: When Akiba was on his deathbed, he bemoaned to his rabbi that he felt he was a failure. His rabbi moved closer and asked why, and Akiba confessed that he had not lived a life like Moses. The poor man began to cry, admitting that he feared God’s judgment. At this, his rabbi leaned into his ear and whispered gently, `God will not judge Akiba for not being Moses.

“I can’t believe this is happening to me,” said the CEO on the other end of my phone line. “They just offered me a contract extension and three months later they’re telling me I’m out. I’m in shock.” Whether you have just received the news you no longer have a job or are dealing with any other change you didn’t ask for, chances are you’re dealing with a set of difficult feelings.

Happiness is almost impossible to define and means different things to different people. Psychologists do generally agree however that 50% of our happiness is determined by our genes, 40% by our daily activities and 10% by our life circumstances. Three Benefits Of Happiness - Happier People Live LongerrnOlder people were 35% less likely to die during a 5-year study if they reported feeling happy. - Happiness Can Combat StressrnA 3-year study showed that happier people had 23%

You want to make a change. Break a habit. You’ve tried before. You haven’t been successful. Your story? “I don’t have enough will-power, I’m not strong enough or courageous enough.” Then, you beat yourself up because you’ve ‘failed’. And then, feeling bad and inadequate, you probably do more of what you are trying not to do! Can you identify?nnIn his book Change or Die: The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life, Alan Deutschman explains there are 3 things

People often ask me, “Are you living for the now?” Answer: Heck NO! Wish I could. Bet you do too, that is why you are reading this…the good news is it appears we are BOTH working on it. Imagine all the time wasted worrying of the past, imagine the moments lost – fearful of the future. Funny thing is, it’s been estimated that we spend 90 percent of our lives - worrying about 10 percent that will actually happen. How many times have we had Imaginary one way conversations wit

How timely are you? For many people it seems like being punctual is an unobtainable skill, and it’s no surprise that regular tardiness can cause a lot of unnecessary stress. Whether it be work, school, or personal obligations, continuously being late will damage your reputation and can cost you countless social and professional opportunities. You probably don’t want to be known as that person who’s strangely incapable of any kind of punctuality. Arriving late shows that you d

A lot of perks come with the omnipresence of the Web. It is possible to check your e-mail while on a plane, discover more about fascinating subjects, and have a fresh wardrobe with a few clicks of a mouse. But, with this efficiency comes a drawback. In an era where it is possible to never leave your home with the help out of the World Wide Web, safety is an issue. Scam artists have mastered their craft and can easily access all of your private information. You would imagine w

As someone once said to me “when in the room – be in the room” In other words pay attention be where you are- if at work don’t spend your time thinking about home and if at home don’t spend your time thinking about work. All you have is now – you cannot live for the morrow or re-live yesterday so you might as well make the most of what you have today. It is said that yesterday is gone forever and tomorrow is a promissory note so all you have is today – that is now.

I once read the story in an article by Denis Waitley about the history of the Brooklyn Bridge that was build many years ago close to the Niagara Falls, the biggest and most powerful waterfall in America. The developers of the bridge couldn’t cross the river by boat because it is too close to the falls. The Aeroplane hadn’t been invented at that time, and the traditional method of shooting with a bow-and-arrow couldn’t work because it was too far. rnThe designer engineer

Before you start to read these secretive, invaluable tips, please don’t ask silly questions such as; “What is the definition of a secret” or “What could this author possibly know that all of mankind has managed to overlook until now?” It’s questions like those that are designed to do nothing but confuse the issue with facts! So if you’re ready to learn the secrets then grab a drink or something good to eat, get comfortable and read on.

Receiving a gift is always delightful that is why when I received a gift from Southwest Airlines I was in good spirits. When I received the gift, I immediately noticed that it was a fairly large sized package. Because I saw it was from Southwest Airlines, I immediately thought that this must be a cool gift. Why did I think that? Southwest Airlines have been placing TV advertisements that are really catching attention. Their TV advertisements have shown people throw penalty fl

If there is a through line in my life, both personally and as a writer, it is to identify and develop those qualities that help us grow individually and collectively in wisdom and love. That’s ultimately why I’m so interested in self trust. “Wisdom,” Buddhist monk Khandro Rinpoche says, “is innate in us; it is not something that can be bought, heard or received from the outside.” In other words, we must look within to find it. It can’t come from anyone but us. Without self trust, we can never become wise because we will continue to look outside ourselves for the answer.

Mildred: "What're you rebelling against, Johnny?" Johnny: "Whaddya got?"nn- The Wild One (1954)nn**** Ah, the impetuousness of youth. You can take on the whole world and everyone thinks you’re perfectly normal. You're just going through a 'wild phase.' Not so for us adults. We’re ...

What’s happening right now is not because you’re bad or wrong or incompetent. It’s because the world is transforming at breakneck speed and each and every one of us must adapt to those changes as quickly and efficiently as possible. No one’s exempt.Age doesn’t get you off the hook. Nor does how hard you’ve worked until now, or what your expectations of your life have been. Or what you’ve sacrificed for or invested in.

Life should be enjoyable and happy; however, when your life begins to feel unhappy and out of control, you can turn things around with a few simple hints that will help you to take control again and reduce stress and anxiety. - CHANGING YOUR DIET If your diet has too much red meat in it, too many caloric foods or maybe your portions are too much, there are some simple and easy things you can do that will not only make you feel better but will also bring better health to you

One of the greatest inspirational writers of the 19th century was a man named Henry Drummond who wrote a best-selling little book called The Greatest Thing In the World. In it, he said, “The world is not a playground; it is a schoolroom. Life is not a holiday but an education. And the one ete al question for us all is how better can we love.” Learning and teaching in that schoolroom is what inspires me in my personal life and my work. For me, and I’ve learned for many of us, learning to love better begins with the self. Loving ourselves is no small thing.

Do you know how to write a great thank-you note? You will when you follow these ten tips. It's easy. Here's your incentive: The better you write, the more great gifts you'll get. It's the Law of Attraction in action. Be sure to use my my Secret Knock-It-Out-Of-the-Park Tip to make the giver feel great. 1. Be speedy.rnIf the gift of flowers has turned to mulch, you're writing too late. My friend Beverly was at the other extreme: On Christmas afternoon her mother sat her down a

You’re busy, right? If you're reading these words, then your answer is yes and we have something in common - not enough time. And perhaps the sense that large things can’t be created or conquered because we don’t have the big time they require. I offer a simple solution: make intentional ten minute efforts every day. This idea was borne out of necessity in my life. During a recent summer, I was still in the labor- intensive phase of raising my young son. I longed to put in

Visualize Your Goals daily Visualization – said to be a very important ingredient in reaching your goals in life. As Napoleon Hill said in his famous book “Think and Grow Rich” whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe he can achieve Once you know what I is you want to achieve you just need to close your eyes and visualize it – make it real – add colour – add sound – be the Director of your own movie. Research suggests that those who practice the art of visualization achieve better and greater results over those who do not.

It was just a Yellow, Legal sized Notepad, but it made this millionaire CEO's sales forcenmore productive, less stressed and happier, at work and at home. nnHow could a simple yellow notepad have such power?nnHere is the story:nnThe millionaire CEO gave each of his employees a yellow, legal sized notepad and a pen. He also gave them these instructions:nn1. Carry the notepad and pen with you at all times during your workday. Keep it handy, and within reach. nn2. In the morning

The first step to create a life of meaning is to truly see your life as the precious, limited time opportunity it actually is. You can make it a beautiful mansion. Here’s how Philip Adams puts it, “Most people can do extraordinary things if they have the confidence or take the risks. Yet most people don’t. They sit in front of the telly and treat life as if it goes on forever.” I have a client in his early forties who dealt with a serious illness last year that incapacitated him for months.

“The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.” --Voltaire Lana Calloway is president of Exhibit Resources, a company that does design, construction, and installation of trade show exhibits. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Lana and many of her clients were forced to cut staff. She notied that coordinating details for trade shows was overwhelming for many clients who had slashed their marketing budgets. So Lana’s company began offering turn-key trade show project management services and her business has since boomed.

If insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results, what is thinking the same thing over and over despite evidence to the contrary? I refer to my chronic illusion that some day I Will Get Everything Under Control. In my mind, it’s soon, just not now: after my daughter’s basketball season ends, after the guests go home, after I write this piece.

Archimedes figured out how to determine how much gold there was in a crown while lying in the bath tub. While dozing by the fire, Friedrich August Kekule had a dream of snakes that allowed him to understand the structure of benzene. For both of these scientists, the answer came when they stopped “thinking” about the question and did something else. They put their problem on the back burner and suddenly the answer popped into their minds. Has something like this ever happen to you? You aren’t sure about something.

Everybody has a habit or personality trait that they wished they could be rid of. Smoking, nail biting and hair twirling are all good examples of these kinds of habits, which can seem difficult if not impossible to overcome. I personally believe that all behavior can be changed, however, and the key is in understand the correct process for assessing a poor habit and systemically applying yourself to unlearning it. If you adhere to this procedure, you will have a much greater

Your day is packed with the things we are required to do, don’t you want to get the most out of the little time you do get to spend on your hobby? Scrapbooking can be a really great hobby. With so many supplies required you can be very easily overwhelmed by the task of keeping it all straight. Your papers, stencils, stickers and other supplies being organized in home filing systems will help you get the most stress free pleasant time for your pastime! Creating home filing sy

Research shows that a three second distraction doubles errors and a four-and-a-half second interruption triples errors. Are numerous daily distractions wreaking havoc on your productivity and efficiency? When was the last time you placed a “do not disturb” sign on your door? If the answer is never, today is a good day to start. Research by both Michigan State University and the Navy has determined that errors are made immediately after interruptions even if the interruption

Hundreds of success coaches offer very good advice and valuable insights about how to become more productive, prosperous, and successful. But the standard approach to personal change simply doesn’t work for many people. They leap from one coach to another, one method to another, one book to ...

Seven Deadly Sins of (Not) Listening Listening well is a crucial soft skill and can help a manager get more ROI from his staff. Don't make these critical mistakes. rnIf you recognize your own actions in any of those below, it may be time to give your own listening skills some attention. 1. Interrupting the speaker to tell your own story or give advice. 2. Not making eye contact. 3. Finishing the speaker's thoughts or asking too many questions about details. 4. Rushing the spe

. Identify Your Rationale. In order for your goal to achieved it must be backed up with motivation, you need to take to heart its significance to you. Identify the reason and purpose of your goal. List out all the benefits you expect as a result of getting there. 2. Plan Your Goals. One of the main reasons why goals fail is that there is no detailed plan to accomplish the goal.r

What are you convinced of? What do you hold as true for you right now? Are you convinced that work is hard? Are you convinced that you'll never be able to work from home? Are you convinced that, on some level, it's wrong to be prosperous? Or are you convinced that you are always at choice and the past has no precedence...you can start right where you are. How unalterably convinced are you? This is your faith. Think about this. When you think about one of your convictions, do

"What most fundamentally characterizes the well-adjusted, or highly sane person is not chiefly the particular habits or attitudes that he holds, but rather the deftness with which he modifies them in response to changing circumstances." - Wendell Johnso What a great quote, huh? Really makes you think about all those times when you've hoped, wished and dreamed that thing in your life would change for the better and yet prevented the very same from happening by failing to cha

The majority of highly scented candles employ perfume oils, which means the intention would be to perfume the environment of a room or space. Still, you can have also highly scented candles that use essential oils. This sort of candles possess numerous curing functions as aromatherapy candles. In case you lookup the numerous aromatherapy fragrances, you can discover one that will include the therapeutic components you need, regardless if you simply need to release, cure an il

The other day I got a fan letter about AdaptAbility from Daniel Hawthorne, a guy who described himself as having “high functioning autism” which makes dealing with any change, especially unexpected, difficult. In addition to telling me that he found my book very helpful, he shared a technique of how to cope that he read in Stephen Covey’s first book. When a change hits, draw two circles, one inside the other. In the smaller one, write down what you have control over in the situation. In the larger one, write down the things you can influence.

This book review is part of a series that covers the topic of Habits. Habits are recurrent, often unconscious patterns of behavior that are acquired through frequent repetition. The section is dedicated to resources on both positive and negative habits and how to live with your habits. Dan Robey is the Official Guide to Habits .nn Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward , by James O. Prochaska, Joh

Technological advances have brought electronics into the home, and gave us no option but to become technologically literate. As parents, we have to teach our kids good habits, and that includes when using the electronics we have in the home. Take printing for instance. Almost everyone has a computer and a printer in their home for the family to use. Teaching kids good printing habits is important if you want them to act responsibly, creatively, and use the printer to the best

I am larger and better tha I thought. I did not know I held so much goodness. --Walt Whitman The other day, I was driving down a country road in upstate New York when a giant billboard for a car dealership caught my eye. It had a picture of a smiling infant and the words “YOU WERE BORN…PREAPPROVED.” Tears sprang to my eyes. How would the world be different if I, if you, could claim this basic trust as our birthright? How much pain would we have avoided, how much feeling odd and different, how much loneliness and fear? How less overwhelmed and more joyful would we be?

Habits of Mind refer to a series of thinking dispositions normally displayed by intelligent individuals. Such dispositions lead people to great success when used on daily basis. It was Professor Art Costa who came up with 16 Habits of Mind which have been proven to be very effective for everyone who really wants to make the most out of the mind power. The Habits of Mind are not thinking tools. They are rather dispositions that can help you to adopt efficient thinking strategi

My mother has been telling me she’s too old to change since she was 45; she’s now 85. In a way, she had the privilege of that position because she hasn’t had to support herself. Those of us out there making a living know how much the world is changing and how we must change to keep up, no matter what our age. I just read somewhere that the average American will have nine jobs by the time they’re 32. How many therefore by the time they’re 62? In his book Innovation and Entrepreneurship, management consultant Peter F.

This book review is part of a series that covers the topic of Habits. Habits are recurrent, often unconscious patterns of behavior that are acquired through frequent repetition. The section is dedicated to resources on both positive and negative habits and how to live with your habits. Dan Robey is the Official Guide to Habits .nn Living the 7 Habits: The Courage to Change , by Stephen R. Covey, is a valuable resource for people interested in Habits , and it is available thro