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Time Management

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” ~ Walt Disney Time is the most precious commodity that we have.   Unlike money, it is finite in supply and cannot be replenished.   Once it is gone, it is gone forever.   This is why we must make the most of the time that we have.   The great thing about time is that it is unbiased.   It does not care what your age, race, sex, income, or religion is.   You have the same as anyone else regardless.   Whether you are rich or poor, black or white, male or female, your time is the same.   It is not about how much time you have, but rather what you do with it.   Are you spending your time wisely or frittering it away?   If you found that you only had one year left to live, how would you plan on spending it?   Most of us are not given the luxury of knowing how much time we have.   Therefore, to effectively utilize it, we may want to spend it as if we only have ...
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Meditation

“When you’re a kid, you lay in the grass and watch the clouds going over, and you literally don’t have a thought in your mind.  It’s purely meditation, and we lose that.” ~ Dick Van Dyke Meditation is a practice of training your mind.   Just as you can train your body through physical exercises, you can train your mind with meditation.   What you are trying to do is “empty” your mind.   You may think, “Oh, sitting and thinking about nothing?   That’s easy.”   It’s not as easy as you think.   First, sit or lay down in a relaxed position.   Use your breathing exercises to relax your body and calm your mind.   Focus on your breath.   Notice how your belly rises and falls with each breath.   As thoughts creep into your mind, don’t get frustrated, but rather acknowledge the thought, and then let it slip away.   When you begin, you will notice that it is quite difficult to “not think”.   Try doing this for just a fe...
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Forest Bathing or Shinrin-Yoku

You don’t have to be a serious hiker or cross-country athlete to get the benefit of the outdoors.   Many benefits can be found of just being exposed in nature.   Forest bathing may sound odd or unheard of to most, but is a great way of reducing stress.   Much like sun-bathing, you are exposing yourself to the woods (bathing suit optional).   Forest bathing is the Japanese practice called Shinrin-Yoku.   Unlike exercise, you are not trying to burn calories doing this.   Instead, forest bathing helps you reduce your blood pressure, lower your cholesterol levels, and reduce your heart rate all by just taking a stroll in the woods.   For instance, in a three-hour session, you may only walk about a half of a mile or less.   Forest bathing allows you to achieve mindfulness in nature.   Some call this Nature Therapy.    Whenever our attention is focused on our senses, we are being mindful.   We are feeling the grass under our fe...
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Gratitude

Gratitude Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has.   It is more than just saying “thank you”, because its meaning goes deeper.   When one practices gratitude, they reflect on what they are thankful for.   Some may refer to this as “counting your blessings”.   It is acknowledging that life is good.   True gratitude is a selfless act that is done unconditionally, but it can be contagious.   It can also be quite cathartic.   The benefits of expressing gratitude are numerous.   People practicing gratitude may experience positive emotions, sleep better, and have less depression and anxiety.   Their immune systems may become stronger, and they may express more kindness and compassion.   Take a moment each day to notice new things that you are grateful for.   Start a gratitude journal.   It may change the way that you perceive situations.   When you are relaxed and feeling good, you are happie...
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Fostering Motivation

“Be miserable.  Or motivate yourself.  Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice”. ~ Wayne Dyer Happiness has a direct correlation to motivation which leads to productivity.   The Harvard Business Review conducted a study that found that people are more productive when they are positive.   Thus, one can assume that having a positive outlook and being happy makes people more motivated.   When one loses motivation, it is typically due to one of three reasons:   1) a lack of confidence, 2) a lack of focus, or 3) a lack of direction.   When one has a lack of confidence, they do not believe that they can succeed, so they don’t even try.   When there is a lack of focus, one does not know what they want to do.   It is difficult for them to realize what they really want to do.   Lastly, if there is a lack of direction, they don’t know how to do it.   If one doesn’t know what to do, they will not be motivated to do it. ...
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