The Worst Four-Letter Word
Daily Inspiration
By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach
Published April 20, 2011
http://www.lifescript.com/Soul/Self/Growth/I_Cant.aspx?utm_campaign=2011-04-20-78443&utm_source=daily-reflections&utm_medium=email&utm_content=todays-inspiration_I%20Cant&VID=78443&FromNL=1&sc_date=20110420T000000
If I was to ask you to name the most debilitating four-letter word in your vocabulary, which word would you choose? Of course, when one mentions the concept of a four-letter word, we typically think of those uncivilized curse words we tend to hear all too often. However, the four-letter word I am referring to today is not a swear word at all. It is, however, one of the most incapacitating, weakening, self-defeating and goal interrupting four-letter words in the English language. What is this devastating four-letter word I speak of? That word is can’t.
You see, once you convince yourself that you can’t do something, the game is pretty much over. And the sad reality is that, in most cases, you actually can but simply won’t for some reason. There is a mountain of difference between can’t and won’t, and there lies the reason that so many of your dreams lie broken and unrealized in your life. So today I want you to think honestly of a yet unrealized dream you have convinced yourself you can’t achieve. Then I want you to think about the honesty part of this equation. Does this dream remain unrealized because you can’t achieve it, or does it remain unrealized because you won’t pursue it? If I have been successful here today, I’m guessing that dream seems a bit more accessible now!
Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare
www.innerdiet.com
Follow Dr. Sklare on Health Bistro!
MY THOUGHTS
What more can i say? I can't think of anything else that will make this article more convincing than it already is. Unless, of course, 'can't' is your favorite 4-letter word-which is sometimes mine unless I check myself.
Showing posts with label break a habit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label break a habit. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
WHAT KILLS CREATIVITY
8 Habits That Are Killing Your Creativity
By Jessica Stillman | October 5, 2010
www.bnet.com
If you’re looking to be more creative at work, there are plenty of tips available. BNET bloggers have suggested everything from moving to another country to boost creativity to seven habits to be more innovative. But the blog Copyblogger recently took the opposite tack, suggesting eight habits to avoid, lest you stifle out-of-the-box thinking. They’re pitched primarily at copywriters (as the blog title suggests) but can help anyone who wants to generate more fresh ideas. Here’s what to steer clear of:
* Creating and evaluating at the same time. You can’t drive a car in first gear and reverse at the same time. Likewise, you shouldn’t try to use different types of thinking simultaneously. You’ll strip your mental gears. Most people evaluate too soon and too often, and therefore create less. In order to create more and better ideas, you must separate creation from evaluation, coming up with lots of ideas first, then judging their worth later.
* The Expert Syndrome. This is a big problem in any field where there are lots of gurus who tell you their secrets of success. It’s wise to listen, but unwise to follow without question. Some of the most successful people in the world did what others told them would never work.
* Fear of failure. No one wants to make mistakes or fail. But if you try too hard to avoid failure, you’ll also avoid success. To increase your success rate, you should aim to make more mistakes.
* Fear of ambiguity. Most people like things to make sense. Unfortunately, life is not neat and tidy; great creative ideas emerge from a swirl of chaos. You must develop a part of yourself that is comfortable with mess and confusion. You should become comfortable with things that work even when you don’t understand why.
* Lack of confidence. A certain level of uncertainty accompanies every creative act. A small measure of self-doubt is healthy. However, you must have confidence in your abilities in order to create and carry out effective solutions to problems. Much of this comes from experience, but confidence also comes from familiarity with how creativity works. When you understand that ideas often seem crazy at first, that failure is just a learning experience, and that nothing is impossible, you are on your way to becoming more confident and more creative.
* Discouragement from other people. Even if you have a wide-open mind and the ability to see what’s possible, most people around you will not. They will tell you in various and often subtle ways to conform, be sensible, and not rock the boat. Ignore them.
* Being overwhelmed by information. It’s called “analysis paralysis,” the condition of spending so much time thinking about a problem and cramming your brain with so much information that you lose the ability to act. It’s been said that information is to the brain what food is to the body. True enough. But just as you can overeat, you can also overthink.
* Being trapped by false limits. Ask a writer for a great idea, and you’ll get a solution that involves words. Ask a designer for a great idea, and you’ll get a solution that involves visuals. We’re all a product of our experience. But the limitations we have are self-imposed. Only when you force yourself to look past what you know and feel comfortable with, can you come up with the breakthrough ideas you’re looking for.
MY THOUGHTS
Even when you're into something you love doing, there are times when creativity seems to have flown out the window. How much more difficult could it be when you're doing something you do not like doing?
By Jessica Stillman | October 5, 2010
www.bnet.com
If you’re looking to be more creative at work, there are plenty of tips available. BNET bloggers have suggested everything from moving to another country to boost creativity to seven habits to be more innovative. But the blog Copyblogger recently took the opposite tack, suggesting eight habits to avoid, lest you stifle out-of-the-box thinking. They’re pitched primarily at copywriters (as the blog title suggests) but can help anyone who wants to generate more fresh ideas. Here’s what to steer clear of:
* Creating and evaluating at the same time. You can’t drive a car in first gear and reverse at the same time. Likewise, you shouldn’t try to use different types of thinking simultaneously. You’ll strip your mental gears. Most people evaluate too soon and too often, and therefore create less. In order to create more and better ideas, you must separate creation from evaluation, coming up with lots of ideas first, then judging their worth later.
* The Expert Syndrome. This is a big problem in any field where there are lots of gurus who tell you their secrets of success. It’s wise to listen, but unwise to follow without question. Some of the most successful people in the world did what others told them would never work.
* Fear of failure. No one wants to make mistakes or fail. But if you try too hard to avoid failure, you’ll also avoid success. To increase your success rate, you should aim to make more mistakes.
* Fear of ambiguity. Most people like things to make sense. Unfortunately, life is not neat and tidy; great creative ideas emerge from a swirl of chaos. You must develop a part of yourself that is comfortable with mess and confusion. You should become comfortable with things that work even when you don’t understand why.
* Lack of confidence. A certain level of uncertainty accompanies every creative act. A small measure of self-doubt is healthy. However, you must have confidence in your abilities in order to create and carry out effective solutions to problems. Much of this comes from experience, but confidence also comes from familiarity with how creativity works. When you understand that ideas often seem crazy at first, that failure is just a learning experience, and that nothing is impossible, you are on your way to becoming more confident and more creative.
* Discouragement from other people. Even if you have a wide-open mind and the ability to see what’s possible, most people around you will not. They will tell you in various and often subtle ways to conform, be sensible, and not rock the boat. Ignore them.
* Being overwhelmed by information. It’s called “analysis paralysis,” the condition of spending so much time thinking about a problem and cramming your brain with so much information that you lose the ability to act. It’s been said that information is to the brain what food is to the body. True enough. But just as you can overeat, you can also overthink.
* Being trapped by false limits. Ask a writer for a great idea, and you’ll get a solution that involves words. Ask a designer for a great idea, and you’ll get a solution that involves visuals. We’re all a product of our experience. But the limitations we have are self-imposed. Only when you force yourself to look past what you know and feel comfortable with, can you come up with the breakthrough ideas you’re looking for.
MY THOUGHTS
Even when you're into something you love doing, there are times when creativity seems to have flown out the window. How much more difficult could it be when you're doing something you do not like doing?
Thursday, April 7, 2011
DEALING WITH CHANGE
How Do You Adapt to Change?
Daily Inspiration
By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach
Published March 18, 2011
The English naturalist Charles Darwin is famous for his theory of evolution called natural selection. Today, I simply want to use one of his quotes to make an important point about finding peace of mind, personal happiness and overall life contentment. It goes as follows: “It’s not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives, it’s the one that is most adaptable to change.” Since change is a constant occurrence in the world, learning to accept, manage and direct it is paramount to dealing with life’s inevitable twists and turns.
Some of you may be smack dab in the middle of one of these emotional and life-altering changes right now. Most people have a natural tendency to fight change tooth and nail; others tend to hunker down and ride out the storm; and some tend to grab the bull by the horns and make the change work for them. So today’s Reflection simply asks you to consider these three modes of reacting to change and see which one best describes your typical response. At the end of the day, you can’t stop change from occurring in your life, but you can definitely get better at dealing with it!
Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare
www.innerdiet.com
MY THOUGHTS
I think the way we deal with change depends on what's going to change. It's hardest to change when everything's A-okay and you don't see the need for it.
Daily Inspiration
By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach
Published March 18, 2011
The English naturalist Charles Darwin is famous for his theory of evolution called natural selection. Today, I simply want to use one of his quotes to make an important point about finding peace of mind, personal happiness and overall life contentment. It goes as follows: “It’s not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives, it’s the one that is most adaptable to change.” Since change is a constant occurrence in the world, learning to accept, manage and direct it is paramount to dealing with life’s inevitable twists and turns.
Some of you may be smack dab in the middle of one of these emotional and life-altering changes right now. Most people have a natural tendency to fight change tooth and nail; others tend to hunker down and ride out the storm; and some tend to grab the bull by the horns and make the change work for them. So today’s Reflection simply asks you to consider these three modes of reacting to change and see which one best describes your typical response. At the end of the day, you can’t stop change from occurring in your life, but you can definitely get better at dealing with it!
Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare
www.innerdiet.com
MY THOUGHTS
I think the way we deal with change depends on what's going to change. It's hardest to change when everything's A-okay and you don't see the need for it.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
HOW TO STOP PROCRASTINATING
Q&A - How Can I Stop Procrastinating?
Daily Inspiration
By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, LifeScript Personal Coach
Published January 06, 2009
Q: Why is it bad to procrastinate? And how can I stop procrastinating?
-Ash F.
A: Hi Ash,
What great questions regarding the issue of procrastination. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll wait until next week to answer this one. I’m just kidding, of course, as I refuse to procrastinate answering your question any longer! I suggest we begin with a short definition. To procrastinate means to put off doing something unpleasant or burdensome until a later time, or to postpone habitually. The last three words in that definition (to postpone habitually) are the key words, Ash. You ask, why is procrastination bad and what can you do to prevent it?
The ultimate price you pay for procrastination is frustration and stagnation. The frustration and stagnation are the result of simply taking no action toward completing the goal or task in question. And, as is typically the case, these two culprits are often accompanied by their roommates called failure and disappointment. Failure and disappointment is a high price to pay for procrastination as they provide a lethal blow to your self-image and negatively impacts your sense of pride and accomplishment.
The remedy for procrastination is rather simple: Create a plan, and follow through with that plan. Most experts suggest you begin by taking the project at hand and breaking it down into smaller segments. Then set a date to begin working, and tackle the easiest segment first. I suggest you begin by working in small blocks of time, instead of trying to get too much done at once, and eliminate as many distractions as possible. For example, having the TV on is probably not a good idea for most people. If your project allows for outside help, get others involved as well. In short, the remedy for procrastination is ACTION! Stop thinking and start doing, and this problem simply goes away unless, of course, there is pathology involved. In that case, counseling is a must!
Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare
MY THOUGHTS
got to go! i don't want to deal with frustration, stagnation, failure and disappointment. i've been putting off so many things the past few weeks. ciao!
Daily Inspiration
By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, LifeScript Personal Coach
Published January 06, 2009
Q: Why is it bad to procrastinate? And how can I stop procrastinating?
-Ash F.
A: Hi Ash,
What great questions regarding the issue of procrastination. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll wait until next week to answer this one. I’m just kidding, of course, as I refuse to procrastinate answering your question any longer! I suggest we begin with a short definition. To procrastinate means to put off doing something unpleasant or burdensome until a later time, or to postpone habitually. The last three words in that definition (to postpone habitually) are the key words, Ash. You ask, why is procrastination bad and what can you do to prevent it?
The ultimate price you pay for procrastination is frustration and stagnation. The frustration and stagnation are the result of simply taking no action toward completing the goal or task in question. And, as is typically the case, these two culprits are often accompanied by their roommates called failure and disappointment. Failure and disappointment is a high price to pay for procrastination as they provide a lethal blow to your self-image and negatively impacts your sense of pride and accomplishment.
The remedy for procrastination is rather simple: Create a plan, and follow through with that plan. Most experts suggest you begin by taking the project at hand and breaking it down into smaller segments. Then set a date to begin working, and tackle the easiest segment first. I suggest you begin by working in small blocks of time, instead of trying to get too much done at once, and eliminate as many distractions as possible. For example, having the TV on is probably not a good idea for most people. If your project allows for outside help, get others involved as well. In short, the remedy for procrastination is ACTION! Stop thinking and start doing, and this problem simply goes away unless, of course, there is pathology involved. In that case, counseling is a must!
Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare
MY THOUGHTS
got to go! i don't want to deal with frustration, stagnation, failure and disappointment. i've been putting off so many things the past few weeks. ciao!
Friday, February 11, 2011
WANNA BREAK A HABIT? USE TIDE
Turn The Tide!
Daily Inspiration
John H. Sklare, Ed.D
Published December 14, 2006
http://www.lifescript.com/Soul/Self/Motivation/Turn_The_Tide.aspx
Habit is the enemy of change! The force of habit is what draws you back to old, negative, self-defeating behaviors. Habit is a very powerful force in our lives and, once it gets a hold of you, it’s very difficult to break free. This is how habit becomes the enemy of change and how habit provides the background music for your life. In order to bring new music into your world, I offer you the following activity. It is designed to allow you to be proactive regarding change. I call it the TIDE technique. It’s a formula for increasing awareness and enhancing change. Here’s the simple 4-step procedure:
T – Think It: What new dance steps (behaviors and thoughts) do you want to learn?
I – Imagine It: Take a few moments every day, find some quite time, close your eyes and actually imagine yourself performing these new steps (behaviors and thoughts).
D – Declare It: At least once every day look into a mirror and declare these new behaviors and thoughts as your own.
E – Experience It: Practice these new thoughts and behaviors in real life situations
Change requires that you break the bonds of habit by creating new background music for your life. Choose something that you want to change and apply the TIDE technique today. If you do, you may be dancing to a different drummer tomorrow!
Wishing You Great Health!
Dr. John H. Sklare
MY THOUGHTS
so, so hard! an easy read but very hard to follow.
Daily Inspiration
John H. Sklare, Ed.D
Published December 14, 2006
http://www.lifescript.com/Soul/Self/Motivation/Turn_The_Tide.aspx
Habit is the enemy of change! The force of habit is what draws you back to old, negative, self-defeating behaviors. Habit is a very powerful force in our lives and, once it gets a hold of you, it’s very difficult to break free. This is how habit becomes the enemy of change and how habit provides the background music for your life. In order to bring new music into your world, I offer you the following activity. It is designed to allow you to be proactive regarding change. I call it the TIDE technique. It’s a formula for increasing awareness and enhancing change. Here’s the simple 4-step procedure:
T – Think It: What new dance steps (behaviors and thoughts) do you want to learn?
I – Imagine It: Take a few moments every day, find some quite time, close your eyes and actually imagine yourself performing these new steps (behaviors and thoughts).
D – Declare It: At least once every day look into a mirror and declare these new behaviors and thoughts as your own.
E – Experience It: Practice these new thoughts and behaviors in real life situations
Change requires that you break the bonds of habit by creating new background music for your life. Choose something that you want to change and apply the TIDE technique today. If you do, you may be dancing to a different drummer tomorrow!
Wishing You Great Health!
Dr. John H. Sklare
MY THOUGHTS
so, so hard! an easy read but very hard to follow.
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