19 Techniques to
Empower Yourself to Live a More Productive, Happier Life
“The block of granite which
was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak, became a stepping-stone in the
pathway of the strong.” Thomas Carlyle
When I was young, I loved the sense of
adventure that went with rock hopping. Across a creek, near the beach, along a
river bank I’d step, or jump, from rock to rock. Some surfaces were
slippery, some unsteady, some too small, and often I ended up wet and bruised.
Nevertheless, I loved accepting the challenge of making progress towards a new
place. Despite some difficulties, each stone was part of the journey that
led to achievement, to a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.
In my grown-up life, while difficulties are
still there to be faced, I retain the excitement of making progress towards new
places and new experiences. My 19 stepping stones are tried and tested
techniques that have helped me smooth the way ahead.
Well, go on. Just try some of my 19
techniques to empower yourself. Who knows? Maybe you, too, will grasp the
excitement and be empowered to live a more productive and happier life.
1.
Accept that awful stuff happens.
The usual reaction to things not going your
way is to resist and fight against them. By accepting things as they are, even
though you don’t want them to be that way, you’ll develop a more peaceful state
of mind. Saying a mantra will help – “I hate things being this way but I accept
that this is my reality just now. I’ll work through this situation calmly and
resolutely.” Slowly but surely, you will empower yourself.
2.
Adopt a flexible attitude.
Being flexible means you can face daily
changes without creating too great a stress reaction in your body. When
something’s not working, be ready to consider other ideas. Changing your
approach to meet the change in circumstances is essential for a happier and
more successful future.
3.
See challenges as opportunities for growth.
Ask yourself what you can learn from challenges as
they arise. Is this a chance to become stronger? By turning these situations
into positives, you’ll avoid resorting to overeating and other negative
behaviors – the most usual ways of coping.
4.
Use questions to empower you.
Instead of asking disempowering questions
such as, “Why is this happening to me?” use a more positive question format.
Questions that invite creative thinking are the best. An example might be,
“What alternative actions could I take in these changing circumstances?”
5.
Change negative thoughts to positive.
Negative thoughts that harbor unhelpful
beliefs only hold you back from achieving. So monitor your thoughts. When
you’re aware that they are negative, change them immediately into positive
thoughts. You’ll be amazed at how much happier and confident you’ll feel.
6.
Relish change.
Realize when it’s time to change direction.
Often we think of change as negative. But change can be very exciting and
positive. Embrace new thoughts, new opportunities and new ways of living. Even
though change is difficult to initiate, sometimes it’s essential.
7.
Calm yourself when you’re getting uptight.
When you’re calm, you are in control. You’ll
think through the problem with more clarity. Make time to listen to relaxing
music, or sit quietly and visualize a place where you’ve been that evokes calm
and contentment. It will help you focus on what’s really important.
8.
Believe you’re good enough.
It’s too easy to think you’re not good enough to get through difficult situations. Look at your
abilities. Tell yourself that you are awesome and you can handle anything that
can possibly be thrown at you. Believe in yourself.
9.
Face reality.
Don’t try to hide from problems that present
themselves. Come face to face with them and persevere no matter what. It’s a
tough thing to do, that’s for sure. Look for solutions in unusual places.
10.
Prepare yourself for busy times.
When weighed down by being too busy,
prioritize your jobs until life becomes more manageable. Sticking to a plan
will help you get back on track. Start each day with the most immediate job on
your list.
11.
Encourage and help others.
Take every opportunity to be a source of hope
and encouragement to others. Looking outward instead of inward gives
opportunity for you to contribute to the well-being of others. Your happiness
and confidence levels will rise.
12.
Make each day sparkle.
Instead of letting doubts, worries and fears
about what might happen creep into your day, look for ways to make your day
sparkle. Be positive about the fabulous things that lie ahead. You don’t know
what those things might be, but that’s okay. You’ll move forward with
excitement and courage. Shawn Achor’s TED Talk, How to Make the Present
More Positive, includes some enjoyable ideas for staying positive and
focused.
13.
Be full of thanks.
Thinking about all those things that are
going right in your life, keeps life in perspective. Be grateful for the now –
for where you are at the present time. Now is the start of big things to come.
Being grateful helps you see there is so much that usually is taken for
granted. Gratitude improves productivity and leads to happiness.
14.
Schedule play time.
For your body to remain in balance, you need
to have work time and play time. Your brain and mind will benefit from varying
what you do each day, particularly if you include some fun time in your
schedule. Follow this with diligence and notice how you feel. There’ll be
a spring in your step – even a lasting smile.
15.
Get physical.
Spend some time outdoors every day. Being
physical, through aerobic activities, gives you the energy to carry you through
the difficult times. Exercise will help you reach your goals. You’ll be charged
with enthusiasm for all things positive.
16.
Take time out.
Take regular mental breaks such as
mindfulness. Being mindful enables you to be more accepting of yourself. Sit
somewhere quiet. Breathe in to energize your whole body. As you breathe out,
believe that anxiety and tension are leaving your body.
17.
Stay connected.
Spend time with people whose company you
enjoy. It’s important to stay connected to friends and family, so you have
people who can encourage you. You’ll appreciate their support.
18.
Be an optimist.
Understand that life consists of hill and
valley cycles. This doesn’t mean that you react positively to good days and
feel down-in-the-dumps on the not-so-good days. It means being optimistic that
the good days ahead will carry you through the very difficult days, without
suffering excess stress.
19.
Laugh often – and “live happily ever after”.
Laughing will help you cope better with any
difficult situation. Of course it’s not easy to laugh when you’re going through
a rough patch. But lightening up when you see a funny sign along the way, or
smiling back at someone who is happy, can do wonders for you. You’ll have a
bubble and sparkle that wasn’t there before.
Finally
. . . . .
Let the stepping stones metaphor remind you
that despite life’s inevitable missteps, many rewarding opportunities and
moments lie ahead. The crucial thing is not what actually happens as you travel
through life, but how you respond to what happens.
Choose to use some of these 19 stepping
stones . . . . . and enjoy a happier, calmer and more productive life as you learn
to empower yourself.
BY JENNA
DREW
http://www.lifehack.org/323351/19-techniques-empower-yourself-live-more-productive-happier-life?mid=20151022&ref=mail&uid=687414&feq=daily
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