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THE MAKING WAVES SERIES: BOOK 3
A GUIDE FOR PHYSICAL ADVERSITY RISING ABOVE THE OBSTACLES
ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS Published in Aisa in 2017 by Sandu Publishing Co., Ltd. 20 Kaki Bukit View, Kaki Bukit Techpark II, Singapore 415956 Tel: (65) 6742 2088 Fax: (65) 6744 2088 enquiries@pageonegroup.com www.pageonegroup.com
Sponsored by Temasek Polytechnic Edited and produced by Temasek Polytechnic School of Design – Communication Design Chief Editor: Muhammad Diroy Bin Noordin 1206710d@student.tp.edu.sg www.tp.edu.sg Text used in this book obtained from Essential Life Skills.Net www.essentiallifeskills.net ISBN 978-981-4394-90-1 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. For information, contact Page One Publishing Pte Ltd. Printed and bound in Singapore
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/////CONTENTS Introduction
XXI
Physical Disabilities
01
Overcoming Fear
02
Motivate Yourself
07
Tips on Overcoming Adversity
14
Tips for Managing Change
25
Develop Your Intuition
32
On Spirituality
39
Expand Your Comfort Zone
44
The End
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INTRODUCTION Making waves in the face of adversity. The theme and motif of the wave in the ocean is highly symbolic and meaningful. In itself, it can be interpreted as eternity as its movements that never cease; or it can also be seen to be temperamental as sometimes it surges with powerful force or at other times gently laps the shore. Because waves in the oceans symbolise the power of nature at work, humans have seen in them the potential of humans to mimic its strength or conversely they can be seen as symbols of adversity humans hope to overcome. As such, wave patterns and crest formation can be used to signify human behavior and emotions. For people who are handicapped in some way, whether physically, intellectually or emotionally, waves take on significant meanings. These series of books aims to provide advice on essential life skills to people with such disabilities so that they can lead a fulfilling life.
WHAT OTHE IS NOT IMPO HOW YOU ABOUT YOU IS ALL WHA
ERS THINK ORTANT. FEEL URSELF AT MATTERS.
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OVERCOMING FEAR
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Overcoming Fear Whatever it happens to be, overcoming a fear can be challenging, but when conquered, very liberating.
There are, of course, some fears that our
Fear is an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger and is usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight. It can be real, or imagined.
speaking, yet has no need, intention, or desire
It is certainly not always a bad thing. When fear serves as a warning signal for impending danger or a life-threatening situation, it is necessary and life preserving. If we didn’t feel it in certain situations we wouldn’t react appropriately and we’d put ourselves at great risk.
If, on the other hand, the fear of public speak-
If a fear is imagined or irrational, it can be paralyzing and hold us back from living life fully and productively. Many imagined fears, such as fear of rejection, looking foolish, or of failure are the types of fears we must learn to manage and overcome. If we let them control our lives, we would never venture forth or strive to become all that we can be.
having them, or not, doesn’t affect our lives. For example, if someone has a fear of public to speak publicly; trying to conquer the fear is of no consequence. There is really no motivation, or need, to work on conquering it. ing will hold one back from progressing in their career, or getting ahead in any way, then it’s time to work on getting rid of it.
“DO THE THING YOU FEAR AND THE DEATH OF FEAR IS CERTAIN.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Take risks and conquer your fears
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Strategies for Overcoming Fear 01/ Acknowledge the fear. Whether it’s imagined or real, the first step in overcoming fear is to admit that it exists. We all have fears; it’s human nature. Denying or ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. 02/ Analyze it. Where does it come from? Is it real or imagined? Can it be put in a different context? For instance if you think it through to its logical conclusion, what’s the worst that can happen to you? Once you’ve determined what that might be, ask yourself if you can deal with, or overcome it. More often than not, once you go through the process of analyzing it, the fear isn’t as scary as you originally imagined. 03/ Face it. Allow yourself to feel it, and then do it anyway. Act in spite of your fear and treat is as a challenge for personal growth and an opportunity to become stronger.
04/ Be persistent. Do the thing you fear over and over again. By doing it repeatedly it loses its power over you and you become less vulnerable to it. 05/ Develop courage. Sometimes the answer may not be to conquer a particular fear; it may be to develop courage. If you focus too much on any one fear instead of trying to build courage, you may in fact, intensify it. By developing courage you build self-confidence and resilience. You also build a healthy approach towards facing all fear. — As Mark Twain said:
“COURAGE IS RESISTANCE TO FEAR, MASTERY OF FEAR, NOT ABSENCE OF FEAR.”
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Fight your fear and you’ll be in battle forever face your fears and you’ll be free forever
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MOTIVATE YOURSELF
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Motivate Yourself — 5 Tips To Help You To be able to motive yourself, or self-motivation, occurs when a person has the desire and willingness to do something and is internally motivated to do it.
When we were young most of us probably didn’t like bathing or brushing our teeth but as it became habit, we no longer thought about it, we just did it.
Sometimes it’s very difficult to get ourselves moving and achieve what we want to achieve. The natural inclination is to procrastinate. Life just seems to get in the way. There is a job to go to, a house to clean, groceries to do, television to watch — whoops!
So what can we do to motivate ourselves to accomplish, or even start working on, our goals?
I guess we get pretty good at finding excuses to not get started on an exercise routine, reading a new book or cleaning out that closet. The fact is that we are creatures of routine and habit. However, once we allow ourselves to get into the habit of doing something (especially something we normally resist doing), it’s no longer a struggle and we may even end up enjoying it.
For starters we can do some critical thinking and ask ourselves what will happen if we don’t develop a particular habit or routine. What would some of the consequences be of neglecting to do so? An important question - right? Many of us don’t think far enough ahead when we need get in gear.
“PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO MOTIVATE THEMSELVES MUST BE CONTENT WITH MEDIOCRITY NO MATTER HOW IMPRESSIVE THEIR OTHER TALENTS.” — Andrew Carnegie
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Go over, go under, go around, or go through. but never give up.
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Here are some tips to get ourselves going: 01/ Decide what you want. It’s hard to motivate yourself when you don’t have a goal or objective. Set a goal and decide how you are going to go about it. Then break it down into smaller sections so it’s easier to tackle and less overwhelming. Do you want to run a marathon, lose 10 pounds, or make enough money for college tuition? Knowing what you want to accomplish is the first step in motivating yourself to get started. 02/ Keep track of your progress. Keep a log or journal where you chart your progress. It can motivate you by gauging how far you have come and how much you have accomplished. Looking at it alone can inspire you to keep pushing ahead, not to mention remind you what actions you need to take to get there.
03/ Post motivating pictures or slogans on your fridge or elsewhere. It is always uplifting to see pictures of people who have accomplished what you’re striving for. It makes it attainable and realistic. Likewise, little slogans like “go for it” or “just do it” can give you the little boost you need. Be sure to also read inspiring and motivational quotes.
Just Do It!
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04/ Remind yourself why you want this and focus on the end result.
05/ Make it a habit. Once you have accomplished your goal or
If you remind yourself that you want to be
objective make it a habit! If it was to exercise
healthier, go for that promotion or just better
or eat properly, keep it up. If it was to work
yourself, it will re-establish what you are doing
for a promotion or any other one-time event,
and why. It’s not unusual to hit a slump. Some-
maintain the habit of self-improvement. Once
times we forget what we set out to do and a
it becomes a habit, it will be second nature to
little reminder is all we need to get revitalized.
you and you won’t have to think about it any-
Visualize the end result and ‘feel’ how grati-
more. That means you won’t be procrastinat-
fied and triumphant you will be when you’ve
ing, avoiding, or trying to build up motivation
achieved your goal.
to do it yet again.
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Interesting Tip: There is an interesting point to be aware of if you are too intense or work on a task in the same way for too long. By doing so, you can actually jeopardize your motivation. Who would have thought! Therefore, make it a point to walk away and take breaks every now and then. Change the conditions and timetable you’re working under. Doing so will give you renewed energy and a fresh perspective for a project.
Not surprisingly, we all have trouble motivating ourselves from time to time. However, if we remember why we want to accomplish something, and how great it will feel when we do, quite often it will serve as the only motivation we need to get on with it.
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ASK YOURSELF IF WHAT YOU”RE DOING TODAY IS GETTING YOU CLOSER TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE TOMMORROW.
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TIPS ON OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
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Tips for Overcoming Adversity Whether we like it or not, adversity is part of
Is this meant to be a negative, cynical assess-
life. Overcoming adversity is one of the biggest
ment of what we have to look forward to?
hurdles we face. As Havelock Ellis wrote, “Pain
Not at all!
and death are part of life. To reject them is to reject life itself.” Problems, large and small, present them-
In fact, thank goodness for adversity! Learning to deal with and overcoming adversity is what makes us who we are. Every challenge
selves to us throughout our whole existence.
and every difficulty we successfully confront
Regardless of how sharp, clever, or happy-
in life serves to strengthen our will, confid-
go-lucky we are, we will encounter struggle,
ence and ability to conquer future obstacles.
challenges, difficulties and at times, heart
Herodotus, the Greek philosopher, said, “Ad-
wrenching moments.
versity has the effect of drawing out strength and qualities of a man that would have lain dormant in its absence.”
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When you respond positively and constructively to your biggest challenges, the qualities of strength, courage, character and perseverance emerge from deep inside of you. Of course, since we are human, it is very easy to get caught up in the self pity, unfairness of life, or ‘why me?’ trap. When we do, we fail to recognize the opportunities for wisdom and growth that accompany adversity. However, as soon we allow ourselves to think more clearly, we are able to let go of self-defeating and unproductive thoughts and get down to the business of dealing with what’s before us.
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The Tips For Overcoming Adversity 01/ Be aware of, and accept that adversity is inevitable in life. As has already been pointed out, adversity is part of life. To avoid or resist it will only make it persist. Everywhere you look in the world there is unmistakable struggle. There are floods, tsunamis, wars, and calamities of all types. Even within your own circle of family and friends there is death, loss and tragedy. Although pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. So what do you do?
prepared for the worst, the worst never hap-
02/ Build your internal resources. Before adversity hits, work on cultivating emotional strength, courage and discipline. When you make yourself aware that certain difficulties are inevitable, you can prepare yourself mentally for confronting adversity head-on. It would be no different than a warrior going to battle. He (or she) prepares himself physically and mentally for any possibility. He knows it could be ugly, daunting, and grueling, but he is equipped. More often than not, when you’re
going gets tough, we all need encouragement
pens, or it’s much less severe than anticipated. Another invaluable inner resource is faith. Faith that everything will work out; faith that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and faith that “this too shall pass.” Everything in life has its place and purpose. 03/ Build your external resources. Build a support system of family and friends. When the and support. We need someone to overcome adversitytalk to; someone to help ease the burden. You would be surprised to discover how often a friend has had a similar experience and can help guide you through the difficult time. Even just knowing a friend is there when you need them can be most comforting.
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04/ That which does not kill you doesn’t always make you stronger. Sorry Nietzsche! While I agree with Nietzsche, in principle, that what does not kill you will make you stronger, I do not necessarily agree with him in practice. For instance, if you do not have enough built-up resilience or experience in dealing with difficulty, adversity can crush you. On the other hand, if do you have sufficient resilience, then indeed it will make you stronger. How so, you ask? Resilience like any muscle is built up
To underscore this point, developmental re-
gradually and exponentially with repeated exposure to obstacles. If you lack practice in confronting obstacles (as when you choose to avoid them), one traumatic event can take you down.
odds. They triumphed over their adversities to
search has shown that traumatized children are more, rather than less, likely to be traumatized again. Likewise, those who grow up in tough neighborhoods become weaker, not stronger, and are more likely to struggle in life. 05/ Take inspiration and learn from others who have dealt successfully with adversity. There are many inspiring stories of people who overcame seemingly insurmountable live successful, productive lives instead of surrendering to it.
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"Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength."
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Here are some examples: Helen Keller: Lost her sight and hearing due to a mysterious fever when she was only 18 months old. She overcame her deafness and blindness to become a strong, educated woman who spoke about, and promoted, women’s rights. Winston Churchill: Overcame a stuttering problem and poor performance in school to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and one of the most influential political leaders of the twentieth century. He was also known for his powerful and rousing speeches.
Wilma Rudolph: The Olympian born prematurely, the 20th of 22 children. She overcame double pneumonia, scarlet fever and polio to become winner of three Gold medals in track at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. Lance Armstrong: Overcame testicular cancer which spread to the brain and lungs (he was told he had only a 40% chance of survival) to come back and win the Tour de France seven more times!
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*** Lance has since admitted to taking steroids during his cycling career, however, he did still battle cancer and overcame immense odds. It’s unfortunate that his career was not as exemplary as his will to overcome adversity. J.K. Rowling: Born to a poor family; left a bad marriage with a young baby to live on government assistance; wrote her first Harry Potter book and was turned down by most publishers until Bloomsbury Publishing picked it up. Need I say more? Determination, resilience, and persistence enabled all of these great people to push past their adversities and prevail. If they could do it, surely the rest of us can summon the strength and courage to do overcome our adversities!
Don’t Quit!
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Points to Consider • The difficult times in life help us appreciate when things are going smoothly. • Look for the learning opportunities in every adverse situation. • Decide whether you will allow your experience to make, or break you. Depending upon how you choose to perceive it, it could go either way. • Be prepared to accept the worst, should it occur. When you have prepared yourself mentally for the worst, it rarely ever happens, and if it does, it seems less so because you are better equipped to handle it.
• Cultivate faith, courage and resilience. The more of these qualities you arm yourself with, the lesser the impact of the adversity. • Remind yourself that adversity is part of life. To Accept adversity, helps you overcome it. Overcoming adversity is one of our main challenges in life. When we resolve to confront and overcome it, we become expert at dealing with it and consequently triumph over our day-to-day struggles.
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IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY AND CHANGE, WE REALLY DISCOVER WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE’RE MAKE OF. — Howard Schulz
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TIPS FOR MANAGING CHANGE
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5 Tips For Managing Change Nothing stays the same. Managing change is now more important than ever. Today, in this fast–paced, unpredictable world, not only is change inevitable, it is happening more quickly than ever before. It is becoming a way of life. It’s not enough that we have to deal with the normal personal changes that we all go through in life, but these days we also have broader issues to contend with such as the global economy, the domestic economy (job loss, company closures), the environment, technology, and changing cultural values. As challenging and difficult as it may be, and as resistant we are to it, we have to learn to manage change.
Most of us are comfortable with the known and uncomfortable with the unknown. (see Expand Your Comfort Zone) It is in our best interests, however, to learn to accept change – even embrace it and welcome its challenges. We can even come to terms with the fact that change can actually be good for us since it helps us develop and encourages us to grow.
“CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT.” — Proverb
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“IF NOTHING CHANGED THERE’D BE NO BUTTERFLIES.” — Anonymous
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Here are 5 Tips for Managing Change: 01/ Take care of yourself.
03/ Stay positive and put it in perspective.
Managing change can be stressful if you are not prepared, so be sure to take care of yourself. Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. Take time to relax. When you are healthy, you are better equipped and in a better frame of mind to handle anything. If, on the other hand, you are already stretched to your limits and having trouble coping, change will only add to your difficulties.
We all have the ability to control our inner and emotional responses to whatever happens. Our attitudes towards it and how we choose to deal with it is totally up to us. With that in mind, look for the positive outcomes of change — there are always some. In fact, how you react to it can often determine the outcome.
02/ Be open and flexible. Knowing that change can occur at any time helps you accept and adjust to it when does happen. Be able to let go of expectations that no longer fit what is currently going on in the world. Certainly, at no other time in history has there ever been so much change or happening as rapidly as it is today. Even though most of us prefer to settle into comfortable predictable routines, realize that your current routine is probably temporary.
04/ Take control of your life. You can manage change by taking control of your life. Use your critical thinking skills. We all know that some change is forthcoming. Therefore, ask yourself what can you do in advance to help prepare for the transition. Make a list of options. Determine the best approaches. Take charge of your thoughts and actions. If you are mentally and psychologically prepared for change, it will not rock your world when it happens.
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05/ Make changes. Become the change agent. Sometimes we are forced into making changes because we allow ourselves to get stuck in a routine or lifestyle that is no longer working for us. If, however, we anticipate it and become active rather than reactive, we can take control of a situation. We can look at where we need to make adjustments and then take action. Doing so can prevent the stress and anxiety that accompany unexpected change. Change in life is inevitable. Rather than fear or try avoid it, our best course of action is to accept it, meet it head on and allow it to be a positive, constructive force in our lives.
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EVERYTHING CHANGE BUT LIFE STILL GOES ON.
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Life Goes On
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DEVELOP YOUR INTUITION
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How to Develop Your Intuition What is intuition?
Why is developing your intuition important?
Your intuition, sometimes referred to as your inner guidance, is a mechanism of inner or instinctive knowing which neither requires, nor develop your intuitionemploys logical thought processes.
Many great thinkers, from Immanuel Kant to
It is an alternative source of knowledge, level of awareness, or as some refer to it, an inner voice. We all possess this mechanism to varying degrees, as well as the capacity to develop it further.
it as ‘a priori’ knowledge, and as being an
Carl Jung, have emphasized the importance of intuition and the great impact it had on their personal and professional lives. They defined essential and indispensable tool for us, asass as humans.
“I NEVER CAME UPON ANY OF MY DISCOVERIES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF RATIONAL THINKING.” — Albert Einstein
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According to Jung, intuition is one of four major
Intuition is also a means of creative self-expres-
functions of the human mind along with sensa-
sion, especially in the worlds of art, music and
tion, thinking, and feeling. By balancing all of
literature. Nor, is it restricted to the creative arts.
these functions within ourselves, we have the
Many haveyour intuition achieved remarkable
ability to maximize our potential.
success in the fields of science, business and
He wrote:
“I REGARD INTUITION AS A BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION THAT MEDIATES
entrepreneurship, often amassing great fortune and fame due to their abilities to make important decisions by following ‘hunches’, or intuitive, ‘gut feelings’. Intuition is ultimately your connection to the subconscious mind. It is how the subconscious
PERCEPTION IN AN
mind communicates with the conscious mind.
UNCONSCIOUS WAY.
ive power, wisdom and understanding. It tran-
INTUITION ENABLES US TO DIVINE THE POSSIBILITIES OF A SITUATION......”
This is why it’s such an amazing source of creatscends the realms of experience or reasoning.
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How to Develop Your Intuition Skills » Quiet your mind and listen. Take time each day to experience silence. Practice calming your mind by using whatever breathing or meditative technique you prefer. Let go of the inclination to think, or analyze, and try to know everything. Be open and listen. Let your thoughts roam and be open to the ideas and solutions that come to you. When you listen to your intuition it connects you with a greater knowledge. It usually communicates through symbols, feelings and emotions. » Learn to trust your hunches and gut feelings. If something doesn’t feel right chances are it isn’t. What may be right for one person could be totally wrong for you. How many times have you had that feeling in your stomach compelling you to do, or not do, something for no apparent reason? Listening to it probably helped you avoid a traffic accident, or led you to be at the right place and time for getting that great job, or meeting that special person. Your intuition is your inner guide, so learn to trust it. At first, trusting it may be a bit scary, but allow it the opportunity to develop.
» Pay attention and be aware. In order to increase your intuitive abilities you must pay attention to what is going on around you. The more data and information you absorb from your environment, the more your subconscious mind has to work with when you have to make an important decision. Since your intuition uses the information gathered by the conscious mind, the more you have available, the better the solution. Likewise, knowledge and understanding gleaned from experience contribute to the quality of insight provided by your intuition. Remember, the subconscious mind communicates information to the conscious mind through your intuition. Other types of intuition reveal themselves in thought flashes or inspiration. The key is to take notice. The more you pay attention, the more of them you will experience. If you’ve ever ignored your intuition and then had to deal with unpleasant ensuing circumstances, you know what it feels like. To prevent such mishaps, make sure to pay attention to the tiny hints and clues you receive.
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» Employ your subconscious while you sleep. Before you go to bed at night, reflect upon questions and issues for which you couldn’t find solutions during the day. Think about and explore different possibilities. This will trigger your imagination and put your subconscious to work at furnishing you with creative solutions while you sleep. Be sure to have a pen and paper handy so when you wake up during the night with some great ideas, you can write them down. » Journal. When you take time to write or journal, you tap into thoughts, feelings and ideas you’re not typically conscious of. This is an excellent way to release inner messages, insights, or hidden knowledge about a situation or problem that requires solving.
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The Benefits of Developing Your Intuition • Helps you reduce stress by identifying and dealing with problems more effectively • Unleashes your creativity and imagination • Puts you in touch with your subconscious, and therefore helps you uncover hidden truths about yourself and situations in your life • By being in touch with your intuition, you prevent the buildup of negative emotions and thinking • Integrates left and right brain functions, giving you a more complete perspective on issues • Helps you make better, more integrative decisions • Improves physical, mental, emotional health
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Developing your intuition is like learning any new skill. The more you practice, the better you get at it. As with any new exercise or routine you’re not used to, start off slowly and gradually build your “intuitive muscles.”
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ON SPIRITUALITY
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What is Spirituality? What is Spirituality? The term spirituality or being spiritual is being used quite frequently these days, but what exactly does it mean and how does it relate to life?
“THE SMALLEST FLOWER
Many people like to tell others they are a ‘spiritual’ person probably to let them know they are not materialistic or superficial and that they ‘get it’. That’s fine if we all understand and agree on what we’re talking about.
A LIFE ANSWERING
Traditionally being spiritual signified having an attachment to religious values, or matters of the spirit, rather than material or worldly interests. More recently it has also taken on to mean reaching higher levels of consciousness using meditation, yoga and similar practices. I consider spirituality to be a state in which we are connected to God, Nature, each other, and the deepest part of ourselves.
IS A THOUGHT, TO SOME FEATURE OF THE GREAT WHOLE, OF WHOM THEY HAVE A PERSISTENT INTUITION.” — Honoré de Balzac
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Why is spirituality important in our lives?
How is that spiritual?
In order for us to function fully, all aspects of ourselves must be balanced. Our mind, body and soul have to be in harmony with each other.
It is spiritual because when you are immersed in, and deriving pleasure from it, it touches your soul and connects you to the artist and creation itself (God). peacefulbeach
We cannot focus on the material and neglect the spiritual. People may think that being spiritual is difficult and demanding, but that is not the case. You can experience being spiritual when you enjoy listening to a beautiful piece of music, looking at an amazing work of art, or reading an inspirational book or poem.
You experience spiritual moments when you walk through the woods and connect with nature, walk along a beautiful beach, or when you see the sun set. You experience a spiritual connection with others when you work together to reach a common goal, such as raising funds to help those in need, playing on a sports team, being in a musical band or orchestra, or anything that involves teamwork and cooperation with others. When we are in tune with God, Nature, each other, and ourselves, we are being spiritual. There are so many wonderful ways that we can make, and take the time, to “connect”.
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How to Become More Spiritual • Take time for yourself. Rejuvenate your spirit and nurture yourself by listening to relaxing music. Read inspirational literature; get a massage. • Help those in need of your assistance. When you help others, you automatically connect better with the rest of humanity. Volunteer as a big brother or sister, coach little league, donate to the food shelter. Every little bit helps. • Practice gratitude. There are so many things to be grateful for in life. Take time to reflect on them and acknowledge how fortunate we all are for family, friends, and endless opportunities. • Practice mindfulness. Become aware of your environment. Be aware of yourself within your environment. Enjoy the colors and smells of nature around you. Enjoy the feel of rain falling on your nose and the wind blowing on your face. It will put you in a revitalizing, fresh state of awareness. • Express yourself. If you don’t already engage in artistic or expressive activities, learn to dance, sing, play a musical instrument, or take art lessons, It puts you in touch with your creative, right brain side. We all need balance the logical, linear aspects of ourselves.
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Being aware of, and cultivating spirituality greatly contributes to our overall joy and happiness. It’s never too late to develop it further and enjoy the benefits it brings.
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EXPAND YOUR COMFORT ZONE
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Expand Your Comfort Zone From a psychological standpoint your comfort zone is an artificial mental boundary within which you maintain a sense of security and out of which you experience great discomfort. For the most part your comfort zone is a reflection of your self-image and how you think and expect things should be. When you are in an uncomfortable situation, or one that doesn’t fit your expectations, you usually do whatever you can to make yourself comfortable again. For many people, even if they are unhappy or unfulfilled, their natural inclination is to stay within the comfort zone simply because it is familiar and safe. Many stay in jobs, relationships, and situations that have long since lost their relevance only because they are afraid of the unknown. The truth is that security does not reside in anything outside of ourselves; instead, it lies within us.
Unfortunately, if you choose to remain in your comfort zone you will never find out what your true potential is or what you are capable of achieving. Nor can you really succeed at anything without venturing out of the comfort of your safety net. If, however, you make the decision to move beyond the circumstances, people, and experiences you are familiar with, you move out of your comfort zone and onto the path of personal development. It is a path that forces you to stretch yourself, push your limits and become more than you were. Of course you don’t have to do anything extraordinarily out of character, like climbing Mt. Everest or swimming the English Channel if you have no inclination or desire for it. Stretching yourself does not have to be that extreme. Anyone who takes a new subject in school, learns a new language, takes up a new sport or starts a new job, operates out of their comfort zone in the beginning. Ultimately, if you ever want to achieve anything noteworthy or out of the ordinary expanding your comfort zone is a must!
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MOST EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT IS JUST OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE. — Jack Canfied
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Here are some other things you can do: 1/ Break from a routine or habit you’ve had for a long time and find a different, perhaps better way to do it.
4/ If you happen to be a shy person and
2/ If you’re typically a sedentary person take a break from reading or the computer and find a physical activity you can enjoy and partake in. If you’re normally very active, learn to wind down, read or relax.
they encourage you to speak in public by us-
3/ Read a book, watch a movie or listen to music in a genre you’re not familiar with. If you usually read mysteries, try reading an inspiring biography, if you like action movies, try a romantic comedy, if you just listen to rock, try some jazz music.
have trouble speaking in front of people, join a group like Toastmasters International where ing positive and helpful techniques. The more practice you get, the more comfortable you’ll be and the better you will feel about yourself. 5/ Go to an ethnic restaurant and try a dish from a culture different from your own. It will stimulate your taste buds and possibly open up a whole new cuisine.
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6/ Volunteer at the downtown mission or soup kitchen for a day and realize how comfortable your life really is, while helping someone at the same time.
“MOVE OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. YOU CAN ONLY GROW IF YOU ARE WILLING TO FEEL AWKWARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN YOU TRY SOMETHING NEW.” — Brian Tracy
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Benefits of expanding your comfort zone: • Enhances your enjoyment and experience of life • Stimulates brain activity and therefore boosts your mental health • Increases self-confidence • Makes you more resilient • Helps prevent getting stuck in a rut or becoming depressed • Challenges you to improve yourself • Prevents atrophy Stretching yourself and expanding your comfort zone is an important part of personal development. Each step advances you to the next level and keeps you on the path of self-improvement.
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THE END
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