Five Quick Tips on How to Start the New Year

                                         

Several days into the New Year and you might already be feeling like you didn't start it right. For a lot of people, when the fireworks die down, they will still have to wake up to the same life, with the same job and aspirations. What should be different?

Your approach to the new year is what should be different. Instead of filling up a notebook with resolutions you feel half-hearted about, why not try something different?

Here are five tips on how you can start your year on the right track. If you're determined for your personal and professional growth this year, then these tips are for you.

1. Reflect on the previous year

The first step towards a better future is taking stock of what happened in the past. To say 2020 was a tough year is an understatement. Just like everybody else, you had to deal with a situation you could never have dreamed of, and that undoubtedly had a lasting effect on you.

Start with what you liked about the previous year. This can be hard, considering the year in question, but if you look back with an objective lens and a clearer view, you may notice some blessings you hadn't considered before. After all, hindsight is 20/20, right? (Pun intended)

As you do your reflections, here are some questions for you to consider:

What worked for you professionally?

What worked in your personal life?

What had you envisioned for the year versus where you are now?

Did you manage to pivot so you could still reach your goal?

What would you change about the way you handled the situation (think global, professional and personal situations)?

While this exercise requires you to be self-critical, be careful not to put yourself down. If there were situations you could have handled better, acknowledge that with respect and objectivity, not malice and self-hatred.

The right amount of self-criticism will wake you up and push you to be better. If you start feeling discouraged anytime during your reflection, remind yourself that you are still standing and you are actively working towards being better. That is the making of a strong individual.

2. Set your goals

Now that you have a clear understanding of what went right and what went sideways in the last year, you can move forward into your present and your future. Set your goals for the year and plan how you will achieve them.

After the reflection exercise, you may notice that you still have some outstanding goals from last year. Before you put them down as this year's goals, think carefully about why they are still outstanding and if they still align with your beliefs, or really something you want. What you wanted in the previous could have changed for many of reasons.

One thing that I find people are afraid to do is to let go. Sometimes your beliefs and aspirations change, especially when you have a life-altering experience. Letting go of your previous outlook can be scary, especially since it means embracing the unknown most of the time. However, keeping goals that no longer align with your true essence will only waste time and energy, both of which are vital resources you need to guard diligently and spend wisely.

That said, you can carry over any goals that still align with your purpose and are outstanding from the last year. Also, set any new goals you may have for this specific year.

There is a plethora of resources online on how to set SMART goals, or you can attend my Goal Setting Bootcamp that provide in-depth guidance on how to set powerful goals. Whichever you decide, do your research and give yourself an adequate amount of time to work on each one. It's important to pace yourself; the only race you're in is with yourself.

3. Cultivate your support system

This step is really important and it's one that gets overlooked most often. Looking at your list of goals, you may feel like you can achieve them all on your own. The idea of being "self-made" has been pushed down our throats for years now, and asking for help is seen as a weakness.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

No human being is an island. Unless you're a monk seeking enlightenment through solitude, isolating yourself for prolonged periods of time is a bad idea. Studies have shown that prolonged isolation can result in cognitive decline.

Michael Siffre, a French scientist and adventurer, shut himself up in a cave for six months as part of an experiment. By the end of the second month, he reported that he could "barely string thoughts together." And he still had four months to go!

Isolation is not only social. You could be surrounded by people and still feel a sense of isolation. It's harder to spot, but that's why this isolation is so insidious.

In a culture that is increasingly looking to cut people off, go against the grain and feed the relationships that are most important to you. Identify the people who have been instrumental in your life and make time for them. Allow them to support you, and in turn, support them.

Now, I understand that not everyone has someone to count on. That is why I am here to help you and mentor you towards your success. Send me a message outlining your mentorship needs and I can help you start with what you have.

4. Set a schedule

Here's a public secret: nothing gets done that you don't set time for. You know how people say they are busy all the time? Well, the truth is, whatever they put off with those two words "I'm busy" really just isn't a priority in their life. What you prioritize, you make time for.

Which brings us to this fourth tip. Create a schedule. And stick to it.

I know a lot of people hate schedules, preferring to go with the flow instead, and believe that a free-range approach is effective. However, in my experience, the free range approach rarely works, and when it does, it's only for small to intermediate goals. If your goals are big to the point where they scare you, then a schedule is your best friend.

First of all, your schedule tells you what's most important in the current season of your life. It also shows you exactly how much time you could be stealing away from your top priority through procrastination and other bad habits.

A schedule also helps you to cultivate the necessary discipline that every successful person has. Once you set your schedule and you stick to it, you gain a new-found respect for your time and energy, as well as for other people's time and energy.

Note: When setting your schedule, the goal is not to fill it with tons of things every single day. It's to create the kind of day you would find most meaningful and fulfilling. That includes talking to your friends, going out where possible, and spending time with family.

5. Detox from social media

Finally, it's important for you to start your year by taking time away from social media. The fear of missing out (FOMO) keeps us glued to our screens, mindlessly scrolling on social media timelines and consuming all kinds of content. The result? Information overload.

We live in the age of information, and there has been immense good done as a result of the technological advances made over the years. However, information overload has begun to pose serious issues in society. Information overload reportedly has terrible effects on the human brain, not least of which is decreased information retention and feeling burnt out (even when you haven't been all that productive).

A healthy way to start the year would be to go off the grid for some time, a weekend, a week or if you're really committed, a month. Take this time to reconnect with yourself, pick up a new hobby that doesn't require any gadgets, such as painting, reading or walking.

Some benefits of a social media detox include mood improvements, higher self-esteem and being more present as you connect more with the real world.

I hope this article has been helpful to you. If you would like some help getting started with your goals for the year, visit us at http://www.tawawn.com and take advantage of a free consultantion, and let me help you kickstart your journey to success.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10403591

You Will Get Your Downtime, One Way or Another

                                         

Sometimes, awful things happen to you.

Life can really suck sometimes.

When you find yourself in a situation where you wish life were giving you something as harmless as lemons, here's what to do.

There'll be intellectual factors to this situation. If you lose your job, for example, you'll need to make some plans. Things like making a budget and applying for new jobs.

File that under D for 'duh'.

What folks often forget are the emotional factors.

After getting sucker punched, right after you take care of any urgent issues, take some downtime.

Lie on the grass or stare at the wall.

It's easy to think of the cliché griever - someone who responds to having the floor drop out from under them by drinking themselves blind.

A less obvious one, but still a cliché, is the person who throws themselves into work. "I need this," they'll say.

These can be nothing more than attempts to escape from their unpleasant reality.

Hmm?

What's that?

You're not an alcoholic, workaholic or any kind of holic?

You do, in fact, enjoy plenty of downtime?

Great!

With or without a screen in your face, though?

Social media, reading, TV, video games, mindless web surfing - they're all distractions from the pain of it all.

And maybe you need a distraction right now.

Take the downtime first, though. Lock yourself in a room with nothing but your thoughts.

Lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling.

Don't think it's a waste of time - it's the most important thing you could do.

Don't think it's awkward, embarrassing or lazy.

There's no need to think at all if you don't want to.

Because here's the thing:

Your mind wants to process what happened. And, sure, you can bury your consciousness in distractions so you don't have to.

Processing is painful, after all.

You can't hold out forever, though.

You know those moments where your best ideas come to you? For plenty of folks, it's when they're drifting off to sleep, in the shower, on a long walk or driving a car. That's because these activities are mental downtime. They're so natural to you that your conscious mind can switch off, letting your unconscious creativity bubble through.

Guess what?

These moments are also when you process your difficult emotions.

Do you want to feel all the anger, grief, frustration, betrayal and pain while you're driving?

Or while you're trying to sleep?

Yeah, I didn't think so.

Unless you let it out at a healthier time, your unconscious will use those moments to do what it needs to do.

If you're lucky, that is.

Your unconscious might not let it all out then.

It might instead bury the pain deep.

When you process your discomfort, you can move through it. When you bury it, it's always there, eating away at you.

It might even erupt at some unexpected time in the future.

If that happens, who knows how much downtime you're in for.

It doesn't have to be this way, though. People talk about releasing the pressure because it's a great analogy. The earlier, more often and more thoroughly you vent the steam, the safer it is for everyone.

So that's one way to enhance your life.

But if self-improvement really interests you, what would you do with more techniques than you can use?

Like, say, 60 of them?

Get your hands on Three-Score Navike - the comprehensive and easy way to grow and evolve - right here:

https://guided-thought.com/navike/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10363696

Always Keep On Praying

                                                 

Open your Bible to Psalm 88:9 it says... my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. Go ahead and highlight that scripture.

It doesn't matter what life circumstances you've been through. No matter how many setbacks you've suffered. You may not understand everything you are going through right now. It seems like things are getting worse, not better. Your bills are even piling up. Don't let Satan continue to fool you into thinking that God has forgotten you. God is going to make a way for you where it appears that there is no way right now.

You may not notice any progress but that doesn't mean it's not coming your way. God is ready to give you victory and empower you to win. How? Always keep on praying! Today is a new day, and a new day is a new opportunity for God to do something new for you. But, while you're waiting... wait with expectancy. Believe in your heart that God can make a change happen.

When you begin to have a mindset of now faith, The Most High God takes notice. It may not look like it's going to work out. But here's the spiritual secret. When you go to God in prayer, have an expectant attitude. Approach God with boldness and confidence. Always keep on praying! Why? Because God's goodness can suddenly change your biggest problem.

When you're firmly rooted and grounded in Jesus. Reading God's Word gives you strength to overcome Satan's deceptions. You don't have to worry when faced with disappointing or even negative situations. God hasn't abandoned you. As you follow the light, the path will get brighter and brighter. Always keep on praying! Just when the journey seems too difficult, Jesus gladly comes to help you. Every believer who knows Jesus has access to His presence and power.

Trust Him always, love Him always, praise Him always and enjoy His presence always. Don't just spend time with Him on Sunday morning. Jesus wants a commitment that's on fire for Him. There are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not the Spirit of Christ. It starts with sincere prayers in the name of Jesus.

You see, the quality of your spiritual life will be in direct proportion to the quality of your prayer life. Quit looking at what you can't do and start looking at what God can do. It's not where you are that matters, it's where God can take you and what He can do for you. What a tremendous truth!

Focus on the Great Savior! Call on Him! He wants to hear your prayers. What do you need the Lord to do for you? God wants to do good things and new things in your life. This is no time to quit. Which is what the devil will try to get you to do. Don't stop praying! Don't ever quit! This is the time to pray and praise Him! Now, raise your hands and say "I pray every day for your help Lord!"

God has Bigger Plans for you! God wants to IMPACT YOUR LIFE! God wants you to open up to His Spirit working in your life. Let me teach you how to receive godly benefits because you belong to Jesus! Let me teach you How to walk in heavenly victories when life is hard! Subscribe to my FREE Newsletter "Wake Up Sunday Morning" I'll teach you how to get benefits for believers! Go to http://www.jesusprosperitychurch.com also you can go read my blog and rededicate your life to God right now. Go to http://www.jesusprosperitychurch.com/blog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10548075

Quitting Is Easy. But Today Is Not the Day to Give Up

                                                     

Consider the last time you were faced with a challenge, something you did not plan for or expect to occur. It could have involved something personal, in which you had one of two choices to make. The first was to accept what was happening to you, quit making any effort to address it, and not allow yourself to feel any sense of hope. The alternative was to find a way of addressing and managing the issue, even if there was little you could do to control it. Which did you choose?

Taking an easy way out always requires the least amount of effort. That's why quitting in the face of a challenge seems easiest at times, whenever you're confronted by demanding circumstances, an unexpected situation, or even moments when you have persistent doubts about how to handle an issue. It's working past any of these conditions that may seem too challenging, because of the amount of effort you imagine it will require to work through it.

The next time you find yourself at a crossroads, when you have to make a decision whether you are going to quit trying, or continue to put in an effort, make your decision an affirmation: This is not the day to give up. No matter how many times it seems you have let yourself down in the past, because of actions or inactions taken, including the number of occasions you believe you have failed, quitting should never be an option. There is simply nothing to be gained with an attitude of defeat, because a situation or circumstance has become too difficult.

I understand there will be situations in which this may seem easier to embrace than others. For example, if you are facing a health diagnosis you did not expect to receive, and you believe the future is going to be uncertain. Well, this is exactly the time when you need to remind yourself: This is not the day to give up. Your attitude is going to have a direct impact on your well-being. You may find your ability to face the future, and care for your well-being, depends upon what and how you believe. What you can do is learn to trust your inner strength, which you draw upon as an accessible internal power. Once you do, you will find yourself stronger of mind and ready to face whatever is ahead of you.

Reason to Quit: The Unexpected

The unexpected can and will occur in life. It usually happens without warning and catches you by surprise. If ever there is a time you would want to quit facing what's before you, this would likely be on top of the list. There's no planning for every possible scenario and situation you may be faced with or will likely encounter. When the unexpected does happen, and it will, you have a choice: You can attempt to hide or retreat from it, or face it head-on. As you likely know, running away from your problems and issues is only a short-term solution at best. At some point you will always have to address whatever has occurred in your life. What you will find is your ability to address any situation depends solely upon how soon you can draw upon your inner resolve and strength.

Reason to Quit: Lingering Doubts

Whenever you are experiencing a challenging situation, be it personal or professional, your ability to handle it effectively may depend upon how strong of mind you are at the time. For example, if you have a minor setback in your life, such as a goal you could not complete as quickly as you had hoped you would, this does not need to present a significant challenge for you, as long as you have a positive state of mind.

If instead you see this as a failure, and now believe you have been only a failure in life, trying to regain momentum may become much more challenging. Even more self-defeating are doubts which you allow to continue, whether it's about your ability, capability, or anything similar. The more you cultivate doubts, the more easily it will become to quit or give up, when there are times you feel challenged or faced with a situation that seems too difficult to address at first.

Your Internal Strength and Power

The inner strength you have is often referred to as resilience, willpower, grit, determination, and other similar words. I simply call it your internal power, to represent a combination of all these qualities. It takes all these elements to give you the strength needed to continue, whenever you want to quit or give up. There are three particular powers you have that are developed from your internal power, and include the Power of Potential, Power of Beliefs, and Power of Affirmations. Each of these powers can be cultivated with intention, and utilized for self-development. At any time, you can draw upon one, or all of these powers, and make certain this is a day you do not quit, just because of circumstances.

The Power of Potential

Whenever you see a situation as too challenging, beyond your capability or capacity, more than you can possibly bear, or any other justification which could be a combination of these reasons, there is something you have forgotten to consider: You hold tremendous potential. It is important that you remind yourself of this statement often, especially during moments when you question your ability to address an issue or circumstance.

All it takes is a moment of clarity, when you recognize you can do more with your life, to look ahead at possibilities, and then realize you hold the power to make changes, all because of the potential you possess. Even if you have received the worst news possible, or the unexpected has occurred, your potential is an ability to create a mindset of strength and not give into doubts and fears.

The Power of Beliefs

Can you name a positive belief you hold about yourself now? Or is it easier to think of something negative?

A belief is a mental statement you develop and continue to reaffirm, often without changing, unless you consciously make a decision to do so. It's something you state to yourself long enough that you begin to accept it as the truth, especially if you find enough evidence or outcomes to support it. For example, if someone believes they are a failure in life, and they continue to witness failures at anything they attempt to do, the evidence will only seem to support and reinforce what they believe. Negative beliefs are the easiest to develop and replay, especially when events in life are not going well. Yet it is the power of positive beliefs that can have the greatest impact on what you accomplish in life.

When you are at a time in your life that it seems you want to quit, and negative beliefs are replaying in your mind, this is when you need to change your focus. Think of the last accomplishment that was important to you. Remember the details and what it felt like to be able to reach that particular goal. Now as you reflect, consider this: You won't know what you are capable of achieving until you make a first attempt and try. That's how you were able to achieve your last goal, by taking the first step. You don't know what the future will be like, but you have the power of your beliefs. You can be mentally prepared and unafraid to move forward.

The Power of Affirmations

The last power you have that comes from within is developed through affirmations. These are statements which are designed to be specific to you, and meant to guide you through those moments when you need strength. For example, some of the worst feelings experienced are those created out of fear and doubt. You can change your thinking by making strong positive statements that begin with "I am", and conclude with optimistic words, such as: strong, powerful, hopeful, unafraid, fearless, centered, calm, etc.

There are other circumstances in which this power can become useful. For example, you may find yourself in a situation where it seems the impossible is before you, and for some reason you initially believe you are likely to fail. Or perhaps you find yourself interacting with someone who doesn't believe in you, or won't support you, no matter how hard you try. This is a time for you to make a strong positive statement, beginning with "I can and I will", and conclude with an optimistic phrase such as "perform to the best of my abilities", or "believe in the best about myself". The purpose is to help establish a positive frame of reference, which in turn will help you to create supportive beliefs.

You Can Be Limitless

Any time you feel as if you want to quit or give up on yourself, it's time for a mental self-assessment. Ask yourself these questions: What more can you accomplish, should you find the strength to keep on trying? What is possible to achieve, with a little more effort? What do you believe about your ability to address this situation or unexpected circumstance before you now?

If you are contemplating a goal you want to complete, consider this: It's not about the sky being the limit. It's what you are willing to think about, work towards, and commit to that matters. There are no limits to what you can believe.

As to facing your fears and doubts, for every reason there is to quit, there's an even greater reason to continue trying. The bigger the challenge to overcome, the greater your resolve must be. It's not just a matter of how you'll make it to the other side of what you must face, it's about your determination to stay strong, even in the face of fear or doubt.

You have within you an unending source of internal power to draw upon, and it only requires a change in your focus. When you decide to make "I can" and "I will" your personal mantras, giving up will not be an option today, or any day.

Dr. J's mission is to teach, write, and inspire others as an academic educator, leader, author, writer, and mentor.

Dr. J writes blog posts, articles, and books to inform, inspire, and empower readers. To learn more about resources that are available for educators, along with career and professional development, please visit: http://www.drbruceajohnson.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10536804

This Genuine Reality

                                         

We all love, short, easy ways to do things. We all love to get there without any "trouble" or "drama" during the voyage to our goal or destination, even the best of us feel those feelings at times. Who loves what it really takes to get there without avoiding the work, trouble, obstacles or drama it really takes to get there honestly without "taking the easy way"? That is what this article will be about, the hard way without "easy" filters or cheating. 1972 Olympic swimming Champion Mark Spitz once said: "We all love to win, but who loves to train?" Well, the most genuine winning means doing what needs to be done with total character and not cheating or taking "the easy way to the goal". That also contradicts normal human nature of "wanting an easy way out", or getting there without "drama" or overt work.

Let me put it this way, the worst of us easily succumb to those feelings to want to cheat, trick and get past the hard work. The best of us are stronger and can surpass those feelings and genuinely achieve greatness.

Indeed, to live in this genuine reality takes work, hard work, and not avoiding issues fearfully. Who wants to know that though. Reality "should" be something fun and friendly to us instead of taking work to live in and make to work for us also. Right? Face it, reality without our direction and intervention is not user-friendly or even cooperative. The worst of us just cheat and "that is it" until caught and embarrassed about it, the best of us work and do what needs to be done in a genuine and moral sense - that is where the genuine glory is, in being the best. Who in normal human nature wants to admit that fact though when it seems easier to be "creative", cheat and do it "the easy way"?

Indeed, being the worst, no matter how much you "win" really is the ghetto of life and existence. Real and earned mansions and luxury takes direction, discipline, thought, control and hard work, and for it to feel good, you must have knowledge, responsibility and control for yourself over it all. That is what makes real winning and succeeding in a genuine sense so hard in it all. You have to be strong if you want to do more than survive. That is reality. The fantasy is the way of cheating, "creativity" and game playing. Serious is the way, sappy and not serious is not the way. The frown of real thinking is the first sign of real power. Hey, I did not say there was no enjoyment there, I said that was the first sign, the enjoyment comes after success happens genuinely. We all want great self-esteem, but are we willing to earn it from the ground up? Life and existence are only as real and as genuine as we are. Come on! This is where the rubber meets the road.

My name is Joshua Clayton, I am a freelance writer based in Inglewood, California. I also write under a few pen-names and aliases, but Joshua Clayton is my real name, and I write by that for the most part now. I am a philosophical writer and objective thinker and honest action taker. I also work at a senior center in Gardena, California as my day job, among other things, but primarily I am a writer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10546889

Memory: How to Sharpen It

                                           

Memory is the mental capacity or faculty of retaining and reviving facts, events, impressions, etc. Alternatively, it can be defined as the mental faculty of recalling or recognizing previous experiences. It is essential in our everyday lives. We would not be able to function in the present without relying on our memory.

Human memory involves three components:

1. Encoding - Encoding is the first step to creating new memory. It allows information to be converted into a construct which is stored in the brain. It is a process that begins with perception through the senses. The creation of memory begins with attention. A memorable event causes neurons in the brain to fire more frequently, making the experience more intense and increasing the likelihood that the event is encoded as a memory. Emotion tends to increase attention.

2. Storing and retaining information - Storing and retaining is the more or less passive process of retaining information in the brain, whether it is the sensory memory, the short-term memory or the more permanent long-term memory. The more the information is repeated or used, the more likely it is to be retained in long-term memory.

3. Recalling - Recalling of memory refers to the subsequent re-accessing of events or information from the past, which have been previously encoded and stored in the brain. In common parlance, it is known as remembering.

However, memory is malleable and it tends to decay with age. So, one can stay sharp by learning about the science of recollection.

The human brain has an incredible ability to reshape itself when it comes to learning and memory. The brain's natural power of neuroplasticity enables us to learn and improve our memory at any age.

Ways to sharpen memory -

The following are some of the important ways to sharpen memory:

Exercise your brain - Memory, like muscular strength, requires one to "use it or lose it." The more one works out one's brain, the better one will be able to process and remember information. To strengthen the brain, one needs to keep learning and developing new skills. The activity has to be something that is unfamiliar and out of our comfort zone. The activity should be challenging one. An activity, which allows starting at an easy level and works our way up as our skills improve, pushing us to continue to stretch our capabilities, is more suitable. However, we should choose activities that, while being challenging, are still enjoyable and satisfying.

Do physical exercises regularly - Exercise reduces stress hormones. Perhaps, exercise plays an important role in neuroplasticity by boosting growth factors and stimulating new neuronal connections. Aerobic exercise is particularly good for the brain, so we should choose activities that keep our blood pumping. On the whole, any physical exercise that is good for our heart is great for our brain. A year of regular aerobic exercise can up the size of an adult's hippocampus by 2 percent, says research from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The researchers have also found that regular strength training can boost short¬ and long¬ term memory performance and attention. Physical activities that require complex motor movements are particularly beneficial for brain building.

Go for the joe - The researchers have found that caffeine blocks inflammation in the brain, specifically adenosine receptors, which can start a chain reaction that begins the mind's cognitive decline. The amount of caffeine we drink depends on the strength of the coffee and the size of the cup. One should not exceed the limit of drinking three cups of joe of standard size daily to derive the benefit. On the contrary, consuming more coffee than this may negatively affect mental health.

Develop healthy sleep habits - Over 95% of adults need between 7.5 to 9 hours of sleep every night in order to avoid sleep deprivation. Even skimping on a few hours makes a difference! Memory, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking skills are all compromised. The research shows that sleep is necessary for memory consolidation, the key memory-enhancing activity occurring during the deepest stages of sleep.

Make friends - Humans are highly social. We're not meant to survive, let alone thrive, in isolation. Relationships stimulate our brains. In fact, interacting with others may be the best kind of brain exercise. Research shows that having meaningful friendships are vital not only to emotional health but also to brain health. Researchers have also found that people with the most active social lives has the slowest rate of memory decline.

Keep stress in check - Stress is one of the brain's worst enemies. Over time, chronic stress destroys brain cells and damages the hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in the formation of new memories and the retrieval of old ones. Studies have also linked stress to memory loss.

Eat brain-boosting food - A diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats (such as olive oil, nuts, fish) and lean protein will provide lots of health benefits. Such a diet can also improve memory. For brain health, it is significant that it's not just what we eat, it's also what we don't eat.

Improve skills to memorize - We can take practical steps to support learning and memory by the following:

• Paying attention,

• Involving as many senses as possible,

• Relating information to what we already know,

• Focusing on understanding basic ideas for more complex material,

• Rehearsing information we've already learned,

• Using mnemonic devices to make memorization easier.

The bottom line is that human memory tends to decline with age but, on the contrary, it is malleable due to brain's remarkable power of neuroplasticity. We can sharpen our memory by taking appropriate measures, which are within the reach of everyone but they need to be practiced regularly and effectively.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9811875

Success Is Subjective

                                             

Each of us has desires to achieve something in life. Some of these desires are unique with each individual while some are common amongst us. Most of us like to be rich, hold an important position in society or want to have our dream-house / job /life partner.

When we have someone else who posses any of the items which we have in our wish list, we conclude that he/she is a successful person and envy him/her. But who is qualified to decide about achievements in the path of success? It is the person who has to experience this success and no one else. An outsider does not have enough knowledge about the real agenda/desires of a person (as these are personal and seldom made public), so any comment made on that is not really relevant.

If you hit a jackpot by chance, others may perceive you as a successful person. But, what's about you? Do you feel the sense of achievement by hitting the jackpot?

A reward or prize is given by others as deemed fit by them or it is an expression of value they attach to you. It has nothing to do with your desire(s).

Success can only be measured /assessed in context with the desire(s) we have to achieve something. But most of the time desires are not focused and clarity is absent in spite of rich contents (of desires).

Each of us has a list or bag of desires where contents are dynamic (keeps on changing with time and situation/experience). These desires are responsible for pushing us into many directions or motivating for doing the required work.

Consciously or unconsciously, we keep working on our desires and convert them into goals to be achieved. Goals are refined desires with clarity and quantification. It is with respect of these goals one should gauge success.

If I set up a goal for me (whether declared to outside world or not) to run for 100 meters daily within 15 seconds, following are the example of clear failure on my part-

1. Running for 99.99 meters or less on any day.

2. Irregular running (not sticking to daily routine decided in the goal) even if it is for 1000 meters on some days.

3. Completing 100 meter run in 14.59 seconds on any day.

If you feel problem with achieving success consider following suggestions-

1. Each goal is unique and has to be dealt with context and meaning as perceived by you -'the creator of that goal'.
2. The goal(s) are either achieved in totally or dropped altogether. Sometimes amending or modifying the goal(s) is OK in the light of changed reality or circumstances. But if you modify too much then its time to examine and improve on your belief system or faiths rather than feeling guilty.
3. Our list of goal(s) is dynamic not static. On one side you will be achieving your goals set by you on the other side new goals will be added due to desires. Enjoy the dynamics of this list and keep it lively.
4. Within our goal list, items have positions and priorities attached. This position and priority can be changed by you, the owner of that list. Be conscious and judicious in this process of change.
5. Be passionate about your goals. It's your personal property. Examine and modify it needed. Why expect anyone else in the world to take interest in it?
6. As we judge and criticize others, occasionally judge and criticize yourself also. Evaluate your performance and plan for the schemes to do better next time.

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Deepak Dixit, Creative writer, please visit my blog [https://www.mindyourbusyness.org] to connect to me

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