Some food for thought.

There was this robbery in Guangzhou, the robber shouted to everyone: “All don’t move, money belongs to the state, life belongs to you.” Everyone in the bank laid down quietly.

This is called “Mind Changing Concept –> Changing the conventional way of thinking.”

Someone passed me this, I thought it was good.

When the robbers got back, the younger robber (MBA trained) told the older robber (who is only primary school educated), “Big bro, let’s count how much we got”, the older robber rebutted and said, “You very stupid, so much money, how to count, tonight TV will tell us how much we robbed from the bank!”

This is called “Experience –> nowadays experience is more important than paper qualifications!”

After the robbers left, the bank manager told the bank supervisor to call the police quickly. The supervisor says “Wait, wait wait, let’s put the 5 million RMB we embezzled into the amount the robbers robbed”.

This is called “Swim with the tide –> converting an unfavorable situation to your advantage!”

The supervisor says “It will be good if there is a robbery every month”.

This is called “Killing Boredom –> Happiness is most important.”

The next day, TV news reported that 100 million RMB was taken from the bank. The robbers counted and counted and counted, but they could only count 20 million RMB. The robbers were very angry and complained “We risked our lives and only took 20 million RMB, the bank manager took 80 million RMB with a snap of his fingers. It looks like it is better to be educated to be a thief!”

This is called “Knowledge is worth as much as gold !”

The bank manager was smiling and happy because his loss in the CINOPEC shares are now covered by this robbery.

This is called “Seizing the opportunity –> daring to take risks!”

“Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank and he can rob the world.”

7 Things to Remember When You Think You’re Not Good Enough

By Madison Sonnier

“We can’t hate ourselves into a version of ourselves we can love.” ~Lori Deschene

Sometimes I am really terrible to myself and relentlessly compare myself to other people, no matter how many times I read or hear about how good enough or lovable I am.

On an almost daily basis, I meticulously look for evidence that I am a nobody, that I don’t deserve to be loved, or that I’m not living up to my full potential.

There is generally a lot of pressure to “stack up” in our culture. We feel as if there is something wrong with us if, for example, we’re still single by a certain age, don’t make a certain amount of income, don’t have a large social circle, or don’t look and act a certain way in the presence of others. The list could truly go on forever.

Sometimes in the midst of all the pressure, I seem to totally forget all the wonderful, unique things about myself.

I get stuck in my head and allow my inner critic to completely tear apart my self-esteem until I hate myself too much to do anything except eat ice cream, watch daytime television, and sleep.

The other day, while I was beating myself up over something I can’t even recall at the moment, I read a comment from one of my blog readers telling me that one of my posts literally got them through the night. Literally. And if that one simple word was used in the intended context, this person was basically telling me that one of my posts saved their life.

I get comments like these on a pretty regular basis, and they always open my eyes to just how much I matter, regardless of my inner critic’s vehement objections.

Such comments also open my eyes to all the things we beat ourselves up over that don’t matter—like whether or not we look like a Victoria’s Secret model in our bathing suit, or whether or not we should stop smiling if we’re not whitening our teeth, or whether or not the hole in our lucky shirt is worth bursting into tears over.

Lately I’ve been trying harder to catch myself when I feel a non-serving, self-depreciating thought coming on. And I may let these thoughts slip at times, but that’s okay because I’m only human.

While my self-love journey is on-going, here are a few things I try to remember when I’m tempted to be mean to myself:

1. The people you compare yourself to compare themselves to other people too.

We all compare ourselves to other people, and I can assure you that the people who seem to have it all do not.

When you look at other people through a lens of compassion and understanding rather than judgment and jealousy, you are better able to see them for what they are—human beings. They are beautifully imperfect human beings going through the same universal challenges that we all go through.

2. Your mind can be a very convincing liar.

I saw a quote once that said, “Don’t believe everything you think.” That quote completely altered the way I react when a cruel or discouraging thought goes through my mind. Thoughts are just thoughts, and it’s unhealthy and exhausting to give so much power to the negative ones.

3. There is more right with you than wrong with you.

This powerful reminder is inspired by one of my favorite quotes from Jon Kabat-Zinn: “Until you stop breathing, there’s more right with you than wrong with you.”

As someone who sometimes tends to zoom in on all my perceived flaws, it helps to remember that there are lots of things I like about myself too—like the fact that I’m alive and breathing and able to pave new paths whenever I choose.

4. You need love the most when you feel you deserve it the least.

This was a recent epiphany of mine, although I’m sure it’s been said many times before.

I find that it is most difficult to accept love and understanding from others when I’m in a state of anger, shame, anxiety, or depression. But adopting the above truth really shifted my perspective and made me realize that love is actually the greatest gift I can receive during such times.

5. You have to fully accept and make peace with the “now” before you can reach and feel satisfied with the “later.”

One thing I’ve learned about making changes and reaching for the next rung on the ladder is that you cannot fully feel satisfied with where you’re going until you can accept, acknowledge, and appreciate where you are.

Embrace and make peace with where you are, and your journey toward something new will feel much more peaceful, rewarding, and satisfying.

6. Focus on progress rather than perfection and on how far you’ve come rather than on how far you have left to go.

One of the biggest causes of self-loathing is the hell-bent need to “get it right.” We strive for perfection and success, and when we fall short, we feel less than and worthless. What we don’t seem to realize is that striving for success and being willing to put ourselves out there is an accomplishment within itself, regardless of how many times we fail.

Instead of berating yourself for messing up and stumbling backward, give yourself a pat on the back for trying, making progress, and coming as far as you have.

7. You can’t hate your way into loving yourself.

Telling yourself what a failure you are won’t make you any more successful. Telling yourself you’re not living up to your full potential won’t help you reach a higher potential. Telling yourself you’re worthless and unlovable won’t make you feel any more worthy or lovable.

I know it sounds almost annoyingly simple, but the only way to achieve self-love is to love yourself—regardless of who you are and where you stand and even if you know you want to change.

You are enough just as you are. And self-love will be a little bit easier every time you remind yourself of that.

 

Original Post: 

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/7-things-to-remember-when-you-think-youre-not-good-enough/

 

 

About Madison Sonnier

Madison is a freelance writer and lover of animals, music, nature and creativity. You can follow her blog at http://journeyofasoulsearcher.blogspot.com/ and buy her first eBook through Amazon and other retailers. She loves making new friends, so be sure to say hi if you like what you see!

Seven Most Life-Affirming Movies

Published July 24, 2014 on Luminosity.com

Movies not only entertain, but great stories also give us valuable lessons and serve as a source for inspiration and motivation. Such films make people believe in themselves as well as discover new facets of their lives. Luminosity has compiled a list of seven classic life-affirming films.

1. Amelie, 2001 – She will change your life.

This film, made by a talented director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, has become a cult classic about kindness, sympathy and of course, love. Amelie Poulain’s sincerity and ability to enjoy any daily little things led her into extraordinary adventures and launched an incredible chain of events.  Do not be confused by the strangeness and fabulousness of this kind and naive story. It is a tale for those who believe in miracles (or want to) – at least a little bit.

2. Rain Man, 1988 – A journey through understanding and fellowship.
The story of two brothers, egoistic Charlie Babbitt and Raymond Babbitt, who has autism. They have to share each other’s company, which is a serious challenge for both. This is a story of friendship and love through selfishness and indifference, which proves once again that kindness can change everything. The film raises many challenging issues, revealing the complexity of human relationships and of self-understanding.

3. Pay It Forward, 2000 –  Is it possible for one idea to change the world?
Imagine that you perform a considerable service for someone and ask this person not thank you, but instead to help three other people, who, in turn, would return the favor to three more people, and so on, spreading kindness and warmth on a global scale. How effective could be idea like that? Seventh-grade pupil Trevor McKinney decided to check it, starting a chain of good deeds.

4. Dead Poets Society, 1989 –  He was their inspiration. He made their lives extraordinary.
The film is set in a conservative English college, where a new teacher John Keating appears. His eccentric behavior, disregard of curriculum and ease of communication singles him out from other pompous teachers. He initiates his students into the mysterious Dead Poets Society. From then, each students trie to find his own voice in a faceless c 1йhorus and look at the world from a new perspective. This is a wonderful story, showing familiar things from a different angle, encouraging us to stand apart from the crowd and be free from social stereotypes.

5. Billie Elliott, 2000 – Inside every one of us is a special talent waiting to come out. The trick is finding it.
This film tells a story about human vocation, talent and dedication and reveals all thedifficulties that arise from going against the flow. This story gives good reasons to think that we need to be ourselves against all odds, believe in ourselves, never give up and realize our dreams.

6. Inside I’m dancing, 2006 – Live life like you mean it.
This is a completely non-standard drama with elements of humor, created by filmmakers from the UK, France and Ireland. The wheelchair-bound Mike has almost lost faith in both is current life as well as his future. However, he meets Rory, who is also disabled, but reveals an indefatigable thirst for adventure and has no self-pity at all. Thanks to this acquaintance, Mike rediscovers all the colors of life, finally realizing that every situation is an opportunity when you change your attitude towards it.

7. Yes Man, 2008. – One word can change everything.
A positive, kind, inspiring and uplifting movie with Jim Carrey in the title role. What happens if you always say “Yes”? Nothing but trouble? Great fortune? The main character decides to test this insane theory in practice. It is remarkable that comedy is based on the biographical book by Danny Wallace, a British writer and journalist, who spent 6 months answering “Yes”.

Do you agree with our list? What films would you add?

Original Link Post:  http://luminosity.com/article/16274

Warren Buffett’s 10 Ways to Get Rich, have success

Though this is all over the internet, I felt I should post it up on here. Many times too often do we ignore some basic concepts. I would challenge all the readers to write down on a paper 1-10 and write down on each number how it can apply to you in your life, or what can you do in your life to make that concept work. – GC. 

Original Link: http://www.warrenbuffett.com/warren-buffett-10-ways-to-get-rich/

With an estimated fortune of $62 billion, Warren Buffett is the richest man in the entire world. In 1962, when he began buying stock in Berkshire Hathaway, a share cost $7.50. Today, Warren Buffett, 78, is Berkshire’s chairman and CEO, and one share of the company’s class A stock worth close to $119,000. He credits his astonishing success to several key strategies, which he has shared with writer Alice Schroeder. She spend hundreds of hours interviewing the Sage of Omaha for the new authorized biography The Snowball. Here are some of Warren Buffett’s money-making secrets — and how they could work for you.

1. Reinvest Your Profits: When you first make money in the stock market, you may be tempted to spend it. Don’t. Instead, reinvest the profits. Warren Buffett learned this early on. In high school, he and a pal bought a pinball machine to put in a barbershop. With the money they earned, they bought more machines until they had eight in different shops. When the friends sold the venture, Warren Buffett used the proceeds to buy stocks and to start another small business. By age 26, he’d amassed $174,000 — or $1.4 million in today’s money. Even a small sum can turn into great wealth.

2. Be Willing To Be Different: Don’t base your decisions upon what everyone is saying or doing. When Warren Buffett began managing money in 1956 with $100,000 cobbled together from a handful of investors, he was dubbed an oddball. He worked in Omaha, not Wall Street, and he refused to tell his parents where he was putting their money. People predicted that he’d fail, but when he closed his partnership 14 years later, it was worth more than $100 million. Instead of following the crowd, he looked for undervalued investments and ended up vastly beating the market average every single year. To Warren Buffett, the average is just that — what everybody else is doing. to be above average, you need to measure yourself by what he calls the Inner Scorecard, judging yourself by your own standards and not the world’s.

3. Never Suck Your Thumb: Gather in advance any information you need to make a decision, and ask a friend or relative to make sure that you stick to a deadline. Warren Buffett prides himself on swiftly making up his mind and acting on it. He calls any unnecessary sitting and thinking “thumb sucking.” When people offer him a business or an investment, he says, “I won’t talk unless they bring me a price.” He gives them an answer on the spot.

4. Spell Out The Deal Before You Start: Your bargaining leverage is always greatest before you begin a job — that’s when you have something to offer that the other party wants. Warren Buffett learned this lesson the hard way as a kid, when his grandfather Ernest hired him and a friend to dig out the family grocery store after a blizzard. The boys spent five hours shoveling until they could barely straighten their frozen hands. Afterward, his grandfather gave the pair less than 90 cents to split. Warren Buffett was horrified that he performed such backbreaking work only to earn pennies an hour. Always nail down the specifics of a deal in advance — even with your friends and relatives.

5. Watch Small Expenses: Warren Buffett invests in businesses run by managers who obsess over the tiniest costs. He one acquired a company whose owner counted the sheets in rolls of 500-sheet toilet paper to see if he was being cheated (he was). He also admired a friend who painted only on the side of his office building that faced the road. Exercising vigilance over every expense can make your profits — and your paycheck — go much further.

6. Limit What You Borrow: Living on credit cards and loans won’t make you rich. Warren Buffett has never borrowed a significant amount — not to invest, not for a mortgage. He has gotten many heart-rendering letters from people who thought their borrowing was manageable but became overwhelmed by debt. His advice: Negotiate with creditors to pay what you can. Then, when you’re debt-free, work on saving some money that you can use to invest.

7. Be Persistent: With tenacity and ingenuity, you can win against a more established competitor. Warren Buffett acquired the Nebraska Furniture Mart in 1983 because he liked the way its founder, Rose Blumkin, did business. A Russian immigrant, she built the mart from a pawnshop into the largest furniture store in North America. Her strategy was to undersell the big shots, and she was a merciless negotiator. To Warren Buffett, Rose embodied the unwavering courage that makes a winner out of an underdog.

8. Know When To Quit: Once, when Warren Buffett was a teen, he went to the racetrack. He bet on a race and lost. To recoup his funds, he bet on another race. He lost again, leaving him with close to nothing. He felt sick — he had squandered nearly a week’s earnings. Warren Buffett never repeated that mistake. Know when to walk away from a loss, and don’t let anxiety fool you into trying again.

9. Assess The Risk: In 1995, the employer of Warren Buffett’s son, Howie, was accused by the FBI of price-fixing. Warren Buffett advised Howie to imagine the worst-and-bast-case scenarios if he stayed with the company. His son quickly realized that the risks of staying far outweighed any potential gains, and he quit the next day. Asking yourself “and then what?” can help you see all of the possible consequences when you’re struggling to make a decision — and can guide you to the smartest choice.

10. Know What Success Really Means: Despite his wealth, Warren Buffett does not measure success by dollars. In 2006, he pledged to give away almost his entire fortune to charities, primarily the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He’s adamant about not funding monuments to himself — no Warren Buffett buildings or halls. “I know people who have a lot of money,” he says, “and they get testimonial dinners and hospital wings named after them. But the truth is that nobody in the world loves them. When you get to my age, you’ll measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you, actually do love you. That’s the ultimate test of how you’ve lived your life.”

Unsung Hero

Original Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/uaWA2GbcnJU

After watching this video, who can you be an “Unsung Hero” too?

13 Simple Ways You Can Have More Meaningful Conversations

By John Hall

August 18, 2013

Too often, a conversation results in wasted time — and nothing productive to show for it. Whether you’ve run into someone at a conference or you have a scheduled call, you can use specific tactics to have a more meaningful conversation. Here are 13 ways to add meaning to your conversations.

1. Don’t get too excited about your next thought.

People can tell when you aren’t truly listening because you just can’t wait to spit your next thought out. Before they’ve finished, you’re already eager to tell them about an amazing experience you had. Make it a point to listen before you speak. If your story’s really interesting, it will still be interesting in five minutes.

2. Ask good questions that show you’re engaged.

One of the best ways to show engagement is by expressing a natural curiosity for what the other person is telling you. Make it a point to ask at least one question before moving on to the next topic. Gathering details makes it more likely that you’ll be able to establish a connection with the other person or find a way you can lend a hand.

3. Do your homework without being creepy.

There’s a thin line between properly preparing yourself for a conversation and being creepy. Before you have a planned conversation, take a look at the person’s LinkedIn or Twitter account to get an idea of his tone, interests, etc. You’re always at an advantage when you know more about a person. It will be easier to relate to him — and you might avoid an awkward conversation or two.

4. Try to genuinely relate.

Some of the most important conversations we have are with those people who have “fan clubs” trying to form relationships with them. They can spot a fake bonding opportunity from a mile away. Don’t force the conversation. Try to hit on something the other person is passionate about that you’re also interested in. That way, the rapport is genuine and the person is more open to talking in-depth about the subject.

5. Don’t waste people’s time.

Most people appreciate it when you value their time. Sometimes, you can have a more meaningful conversation in 15 minutes than you can in an hour. What’s important to cover is how you can help each other out. Be genuine about delivering value and cut to the chase early.

6. Let people sell themselves.

Always get the other person to talk about himself first. Then, you’ll be able to sell yourself more naturally. If he’s interested in what you have to offer, you can naturally transition into a pitch that interests him — and doesn’t feel forced. A lot of times, a person will self-identify a need right after you talk about what you do.

7. Ask how you can add value.

It’s important to always ask people how you can add value for them. You may think you know what will help them, but they know better than anyone what they value. You’ll be surprised how many opportunities come up to connect people when you know what they actually prioritize.

8. Do what you can to help.

Simply offering a helping hand will differentiate you. Anybody can have a conversation offering to help someone out, but a small percentage actually delivers on their promises. People will value your relationship more when you actually provide what you’ve suggested: a contact, a tool, or even a sounding board.

9. Reach out in meaningful ways.

I recently had my first child, and a variety of people reached out to have a quick conversation expressing their excitement. It meant a lot that they truly cared about a meaningful moment in my life. You stand out when you make it a point to recognize milestones in people’s lives.

10. Decrease personal barriers.

There’s an assumption that you need to be super professional when first talking to someone. In my experience, most people like real conversations that don’t force them to act like people they aren’t. If you see an opportunity to joke around or personalize a conversation, take it — even if it’s early. It will decrease barriers from the start, and the shift will enable you to have a better conversation.

11. Listen and remember key points.

What does she do for fun? What is she passionate about? These things are important to remember. The next time you touch base, ask for an update. If you know she loves to travel, ask her when her next trip is. If it seems like she left an imprint during your last conversation, she’ll take you more seriously.

12. Hold back on sharing how awesome you are.

As a young entrepreneur, I couldn’t stop myself from talking about my accomplishments. However, as I get older, I realize that the most awesome people don’t have to pitch everyone on how awesome they are. People will naturally think you’re awesome as the conversation develops.

13. Recognize other people.

If you’re having a conversation with multiple people, or if someone’s spouse is standing nearby, make a point to include “the outsiders” in the conversation. Too often, people are so focused on speaking to one person that they forget to include someone who could turn into a cheerleader for them after they leave.

Run through this list the next time you go to a conference or event where you’ll encounter a lot of people. The fresher these tips are in your mind, the higher the likelihood that you’ll actually implement them. As a result, you’ll experience far less wasted time — and an increase in opportunities from everyday conversations.

John Hall is the CEO of Influence & Co., a company that assists individuals and brands in growing their influence through products and services ranging from creating and publishing bylined articles to facilitating in residence programs for brands and much more. Influence & Co., one of the leading providers of high quality expert content to the world’s top publications, is the creator of Contributor Weekly. Connect with John on Twitter or Google+.

This was original posted at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhall/2013/08/18/13-simple-ways-you-can-have-more-meaningful-conversations/

6 WAYS TO BLOW A JOB INTERVIEW

By AZCentral.com

August 7, 2014

The employment market has  improved, with nearly 1.5 million net payroll jobs added nationally over the past six months. This means more people will be called in for interviews, but many will shoot themselves in the foot. Express Employment Professionals recently surveyed 115 of its franchise owners, asking them the main ways job applicants blow it. Here are the biggest blunders:
6. BADMOUTHING A BOSS OR CO-WORKER

On the list of top no-nos, this one was cited as the sixth worst blunder. Some 40 percent of respondents cited it as a bad tactic (participants were allowed to give five examples of bad behavior by job applicants). Criticizing colleagues can portray you as a complainer, someone who tries to shift blame, a poor team member and more. However, this didn’t crop up as much lately as in the 2013 survey, when 51 percent cited it as a common problem.

5. ACTING ARROGANT

In the Express Employment survey, 40 percent of respondents cited arrogance as a major problem with job applicants, virtually unchanged from the prior year’s poll. If an applicant expresses arrogance in an interview, how hard would it be to manage that person once he or she lands the job?

4. DRINKING ALCOHOL

We assume that a lot of interviews are done over lunch or dinner, or perhaps some applicants ‘fess up’ that they have drinking problems. Otherwise, how would an interviewer know about an applicant’s propensity to chug beer or drain gin and tonics? At any rate, drinking was cited as a top problem by 46 percent of employment professionals. That’s a big jump from 12 percent in the prior year’s survey.

3. ANSWERING A PHONE CALL

We have entered an age of distraction, where cell phones ring during meetings, theater performances, bathroom breaks and more. But taking a call can be a major mistake during a job interview, revealing that an applicant not only is easily distracted but rude. In the survey, taking a phone call was cited as a problem by 58 percent of respondents (another 31 percent cited checking phone messages, a separate category). If in doubt, leave the phone at home.

2. ARRIVING LATE

Speaking of being rude, arriving tardy to a job interview also is a big blunder. In fact, it’s the second-worst thing an applicant can do, cited by 60 percent of employment professionals. Arriving late can be a sign of rudeness, if not arrogance. It also can portray a job applicant as being disorganized and unprepared. Applicants who arrive late to an interview also can be expected to be tardy on the job.

1. LYING ABOUT JOB EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

This was the top no-no in the survey, cited by 62 percent of employment professionals this year (and 65 percent in 2013). We assume the focus was on previous job experiences, but faking your educational background or other personal traits also constitutes a serious problem. A lie is a lie. If you’re fabricating qualifications on a resumé, will you stop once you get the job?

OTHER COMMON PROBLEMS

This isn’t the full list of interview blunders. Some applicants also use poor language, smoke, text, bring friends or relatives to an interview, dress inappropriately or chew gum. Others fail to make eye contact, have bad posture, act nervously or fail to shake hands properly. Still others don’t do their homework on the employer, can’t cite their own personal strengths or don’t ask questions. “It takes a great deal of effort to secure an interview for most jobs, so it baffles me that anyone would throw away that opportunity with silly mistakes,” said Bob Funk, CEO of Express Employment. “You won’t get a mulligan in an interview, so do your best to get it right the first time.”

 

Original Link: 

http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/2014/08/07/6-ways-to-blow-a-job-interview/13722069/

The 27 Rules of Conquering the Gym

Originally published January 5, 2012. The link this article is posted is on the bottom of the article. I edited the year in the 2nd paragraph and made it blank. I only see it fitting that one should follow these rules every year, or anytime of the year, for those starting off. I hope Mr. Jason Gay does not mind.-GC

 

By Jason Gay

This is the time of year when even people who hate the gym think about going to the gym. Many of us are still digesting whole floors of gingerbread houses, and jeans that fit comfortably in October are now a denim humiliation.

Sweating is a good way to begin [___]. Exercise, like dark chocolate and office meetings that suddenly get canceled, is a proven pathway to nirvana. But if you’re going to join a gym—or returning to the gym after a long hibernation—consider the following:

1. A gym is not designed to make you feel instantly better about yourself. If a gym wanted to make you feel instantly better about yourself, it would be a bar.
2. Give yourself a goal. Maybe you want to lose 10 pounds. Maybe you want to quarterback the New York Jets into the playoffs. But be warned: Losing 10 pounds is hard.
3. Develop a gym routine. Try to go at least three times a week. Do a mix of strength training and cardiovascular conditioning. After the third week, stop carrying around that satchel of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.
4. No one in the history of gyms has ever lost a pound while reading “The New Yorker” and slowly pedaling a recumbent bicycle. No one.
5. Bring your iPod. Don’t borrow the disgusting gym headphones, or use the sad plastic radio attachment on the treadmill, which always sounds like it’s playing Kenny Loggins from a sewer.
6. Don’t fall for gimmicks. The only tried-and-true method to lose 10 pounds in 48 hours is food poisoning.
7. Yes, every gym has an overenthusiastic spinning instructor who hasn’t bought a record since “Walking on Sunshine.”
8. There’s also the Strange Guy Who is Always at the Gym. Just when you think he isn’t here today…there he is, lurking by the barbells.
9. “Great job!” is trainer-speak for “It’s not polite for me to laugh at you.”
10. Beware a hip gym with a Wilco step class.
11. Gyms have two types of members: Members who wipe down the machines after using them, and the worst people in the universe.
12. Nope, that’s not a “recovery energy bar with antioxidant dark chocolate.” That’s a chocolate bar.
13. Avoid Unsolicited Advice Guy, who, for the small fee of boring you to death, will explain the proper method for any exercise in 45 minutes or longer.
14. You can take 10 Minute Abs, 20 Minute Abs, and 30 Minute Abs. There is also Stop Eating Pizza and Eating Sheet Cake Abs—but that’s super tough!
15. If you’re motivated to buy an expensive home exercise machine, consider a “wooden coat rack.” It costs $40, uses no electricity and does the exact same thing.
16. There’s the yoga instructor everyone loves, and the yoga instructor everyone hates. Memorize who they are.
17. If you see an indoor rock climbing wall, you’re either in a really cool gym or a romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson.
18. Be cautious about any class with the words “sunrise,” “hell,” or “Moby.”
19. If a gym class is going to be effective, it’s hard. If you’re relaxed and enjoying yourself, you’re at brunch.
20. If you need to bring your children, just let them loose in the silent meditation class. Nobody minds, and kids love candles.
21. Don’t buy $150 sneakers, $100 yoga pants, and $4 water. Muscle shirts are for people with muscles, and rhythm guitarists.
22. Fancy gyms can be seductive, but once you get past the modern couches and fresh flowers and the water with lemon slices, you’re basically paying for a boutique hotel with B.O.
23. Everyone sees you secretly racing the old people in the pool.
24. If you’re at the point where you’ve bought biking shoes for the spinning class, you may as well go ahead and buy an actual bike. It’s way more fun and it doesn’t make you listen to C+C Music Factory.
25. Fact: Thinking about going to the gym burns between 0 and 0 calories.
26. A successful gym membership is like a marriage: If it’s good, you show up committed and ready for hard work. If it’s not good, you show up in sweatpants and watch a lot of bad TV.
27. There is no secret. Exercise and lay off the fries. The end.

Where’s my infomercial and best seller?

Jason Gay has written for publications including GQ, Rolling Stone, Outside, The New York Observer and Vogue. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he plays adequate tennis, dreadful basketball, hideous golf, and races a bicycle very, very slowly. Write to Jason at jason.gay@wsj.com and follow him on Twitter at JasonWSJ.

Original post:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203471004577140900388728374.html

Other Articles by Jason Gay (Highly Recommended): http://topics.wsj.com/person/G/jason-gay/6268

13 Ways to be Happier

There was so many grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that I had to fix them. Apologies to the original author but it seemed as if you were rushed for time to post this. I posted the original link at the bottom. Feel free to share this with someone who you think may need it. Thank you! 

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13 Ways to be Happier

APRIL 25, 2012
Without realizing it, many of our thought habits get in the way of our happiness and cause us to get stuck into negative patterns of thinking. Below we will look at 13 ways we can rewire our thoughts and minds into allowing ourselves to feel the happiness that we deserve, freeing us to live, love and be happy. We will look at how we can liberate ourselves from those thoughts and mental habits that hold us back and hold us down, we will look forward to a better, happier and more positive new us. Follow this advice and not only will you feel better but those around you will too, after all, only a lit candle can light other candles.

1. Let go of your complaining
Throughout the day we could potentially find countless things to complain about, the weather, the traffic, the service we got at a restaurant but how does this constant whining make things any better for us? Does it make things better for us? Does is make us happier? Or does it just put a downer on our mood and make us feel unhappy, low and depressed? Our mood is in our hands, we can choose to react to any situation however we want, we can allow ourselves to sucked into a negative state of mind or we can rise above that and be happy despite the traffic!

“Tell the negativity committee that meets inside your head to sit down and shut up.” Martin Seligman

2. Let go of having to always be right. 
Many of us struggle with the even the thought of being wrong and will go as far as falling out with dear friends or loved ones solely for the sake of being right. Letting go of this habit will lead to better relationships for all. A sense of serenity in knowing that even though you may have been right, you’ve saved yourself and those around you a great deal of stress, worry and tension in not having to be right or have the last word. Wayne Dyer wrote “Would I rather be right or would I rather be kind?” Think about that next time you find yourself fighting this habit!

3. Let go of any self-defeating ideas
Most of the hurdles we face in life are actually ones that we have concocted up in our minds, they are imaginary, unreal and they are what prevent us from moving forward, not our actual circumstances. These imaginary hurdles warp our ideas about what we can and cannot do, what is and what is not possible. We need to learn to see through these hurdles. Then we will be ready to spread our wings and fly!

An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly, the negativity of the world can’t put you down unless you allow it to get inside you – Goi Nasu

4. Let go of your fears
What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail? Our fears are unfortunately hindrances that we create for ourselves. Imagine all those hindrances had vanished, how would you feel? Close your eyes and imagine that for just a moment. Feel good? Now try living that way.

Being kind to yourself in thoughts, words and actions is as important as being kind to others.

5. Let go of attachment
Attachments create an atmosphere of fear. You are not reliant on things and allowing yourself to think you are will prevent you from being happy.

6. Let go of making criticism
Refrain from criticizing anything and everything that you don’t understand. We are all different and that’s what makes life beautiful; what a boring place this would be if we were all the same. Allow people and things to be different; don’t see difference as an excuse to criticize. We all want to be happy, let’s allow ourselves to be happy and let us allow others to be happy.

7. Let go of blaming 
Stop trying to find reasons for why things are what they are, in looking to explain things away we often try and find fault in something or someone, this negativity harms those around us, but more than anyone else, it harms us!

8. Let go of trying to impress other people
There is so many more important things in life than worrying what someone thinks of our shoes, what you do for a living or the car you drive. These things are not that are going to nurture healthy relationships. What people want from you is to be real, to be yourself, when you drop all pretenses you’ll realize that people appreciate you for who you are and you’ll find your relationships are now stronger and deeper.

9. Let go of your excuses
Sometimes we get into the habit of making excuses for the sake of making excuses. We have all the time, resources and energy that we will ever have. We need to take advantage of our youth, good health, wealth, free time and most of all, our lives while we have them!

10. Let go of trying to always control
Situations, events, and people; as much as we may try, much of what happens around us cannot be controlled by us and so we must spare ourselves the hassle of trying to think that it can. Let everyone and everything around you just be and you will feel much more relaxed and happier.

11. Let go of the past
Keep things in perspective, never dwelling on the past or being anxious about the future, rather enjoying these precious everyday moments. Today is all you have. Tomorrow has not been promised to you and yesterday has passed you by. So be present in all that you do. Remember, these are the good old days, happiness is not something you can postpone for the future.

12. Let go of resisting change
Every life process entails change. As human beings we often enjoy familiarity and once we become comfortable we become resistant to change. But very little lasts forever and so we have to always be ready for change, that doesn’t mean we fear it, rather we embrace it whenever it comes knocking at our door, we welcome it in and see it as opportunity, opportunity for something new and better.

13. Let go of living life to other people’s expectations
Too much of our lives is spent trying to fit into social archetypes. We allow the expectations of others determine the job we do, the car we drive, the clothes we wear and much more! How much happier would we be if instead we followed our hearts and did things the way we wanted to do them. We allow our loved ones to dictate to us, our parents, siblings, partners and often we allow influences such as the media or government to dictate to us how we live our lives. We are all talented individuals, we all have something to offer, something unique. Each one of us is gifted. We need to nurture our talents and gifts and contribute through doing what we do best, doing what we love, rather than doing what we think is expected of us.

 

Original Link:

http://worldobserveronline.com/2012/04/25/15-things-you-should-give-up-to-be-happy/

Anonymous and encouraging message posted in university restroom

By Mike Krumboltz
January 18, 2013

A Reddit user posted a photo of a poignant message that she found taped to the stall in a women’s restroom at her university.

An encouraging message was posted in a university restroom (Imgur)

The user, chellylauren, wrote: “In a girls’ bathroom stall at my university, girls have written about some of their most horrifying life experiences. This week, somebody replied.”

The reply, written on notebook paper, is anonymous.

The reply in full:

To the girl who was raped: You are so strong. I cannot fathom the pain you must have gone through. The fact that you have the bravery to write it (even on a bathroom wall) gives me hope.
To the girl with eating disorders: I promise you, although I don’t know you, you are beautiful, you deserve your health. You deserve freedom from that hell.
To the girl with the alcoholic father: I am so sorry for the agony it must cause. Again, such courage is remarkable you must be such a strong person to see such pain.
To the girl whose father died: Missing them never goes away. The ache of their absence never goes away. But the love they had, the memories you share surely must last. I am sure, out of the bottom of my heart, the people who have left you in this world are exceptionally proud of the person you are.
Everytime (sic) I see these walls, these confessions, I feel so blessed to know I have the priviledge (sic) of seeing them. Your moments, these secrets, are all precious even though they are sad. To all of you (including those I did not mention, and those who have not yet written)
-You are worthy.
-You are strong.
-You are brave.
-You are loved.
-Somebody cares.

Written below that, somebody penned a quick response:

To the person who wrote this, thank you.”

 

Original Link: 

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/anonymous-encouraging-message-posted-university-restroom-172524530.html

You can reach Mike Krumboltz via Twitter @mikekrumboltz or Google +