Self Improvement Summaries | Enlightr

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Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:55:10 GMT

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7 Amazing Life Lessons from Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:37:46 GMT

Aim Above The Mark. “We aim above the mark to hit the mark.”
What You Always See, You Stop Seeing. “If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and stare.”
Conquer Daily. “He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.”
Work on Yourself. “The sum of wisdom is that time is never lost that is devoted to work.”
Repair Your Character. “No change of circumstances can repair a defect of character.”
Think Bigger. “In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine.”
Make Yourself Necessary. “Make yourself necessary to somebody.”

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11 Tips for Dealing with a Really Lousy Day

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:31:26 GMT

Resist the urge to “treat” yourself. Often, the things we choose as “treats” aren’t good for us.
Do something nice for someone else. “Do good, feel good” – this really works.
Distract yourself. Watching a funny movie or TV show is a great way to take a break, or I often re-read beloved classics of children's literature.
Seek inner peace through outer order. Soothe yourself by tackling a messy closet, an untidy desk, or crowded countertops.
Tell yourself, “Well, at least I…” Get some things accomplished. Yes, you had a horrible day, but at least you went to the gym, or played with your kids.
Exercise is an extremely effective mood booster.
Stay in contact. When you’re having a lousy day, it’s tempting to retreat into isolation. Studies show, though, that contact with other people boosts mood.
Remind yourself of your other identities. If you feel like a loser at work, send out a blast email to engage with college friends.
Keep perspective. Ask yourself: “Will this matter in a month? In a year?”
Write it down. When something horrible is consuming my mind, I find that if I write up a paragraph or two about the situation, I get immense relief.
Be grateful. Remind yourself that a lousy day isn’t a catastrophic day. Be grateful that you’re still on the “lousy” spectrum. Probably, things could be worse.

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8 Ways To Stop Feeling Indifferent

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:22:16 GMT

Travel. Few things can fuel your inner fire like discovering fresh people, adventure, and experience.
Teach. By passing your knowledge to another, you will not only illuminate the possibilities for another’s life, you will crystalize some of the skills that make you unique.
Create. Make something beautiful where there was nothing before and you might feel a purity of passion you never expected.
Connect. An internal sense of belonging is a core human need that must be nurtured and should never be ignored.
Help. Keep your eyes open for anyone with less than you, or anyone who might benefit from your benevolence.
Ask. Who knows you better than your closest friends; Chances are, you’ll be surprised by what they say.
Read. Perhaps you can’t go continent hopping, but you can conquer space and time by turning the pages of any good book.
Write. If you really want to know what makes you tick, start writing. Writing forces you to organize your ideas and bring your emotions to the surface.

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How to Stand Out from the Crowd

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:12:38 GMT

Get more involved. One of the best things that we can do for ourselves is to get involved as much as we can. By being involved, you constantly keep yourself motivated and confident.
Stay connected with people. Stay connected with you friends, colleagues and acquaintances.
Sit up front. When you sit in or near the front row, you are more inclined to pay attention, learn more, and keep your focus.
Ask Questions. One of the best things that we can do to stand out in front of everyone else is to ask questions – no matter how crazy or ‘stupid’ the question might be.
Smile. Sometimes even the smallest changes can bring significant results.

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60 Ways To Make Life Simple Again

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:07:39 GMT

Don’t try to read other people’s minds. Don’t make other people try to read yours.
Be polite, but don’t try to be friends with everyone around you.
Your health is your life, keep up with it. Get an annual physical check-up.
Live below your means. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.
Get enough sleep every night.
Get up 30 minutes earlier so you don’t have to rush around like a mad man.
Get off your high horse, talk it out, shake hands or hug, and move on.
Don’t waste your time on jealously.
Surround yourself with people who fill your gaps. Let them do the stuff they’re better at so you can do the stuff you’re better at.
Organize your living space and working space.
Get rid of stuff you don’t use.
Ask someone if you aren’t sure.
Spend a little time now learning a time-saving trick or shortcut that you can use over and over again in the future.
Don’t try to please everyone. Just do what you know is right.
Don’t drink alcohol or consume recreational drugs when you’re mad or sad. Take a jog instead.
Be sure to pay your bills on time.
Fill up your gas tank on the way home, not in the morning when you’re in a hurry.
Use technology to automate tasks.
Handle important two-minute tasks immediately.
Relocate closer to your place of employment.
Don’t steal.
Always be honest with yourself and others.
Say “I love you” to your loved ones as often as possible.
Single-task. Do one thing at a time and give it all you got.
Finish one project before you start another.
Be yourself.
When traveling, pack light. Don’t bring it unless you absolutely must.
Clean up after yourself. Don’t put it off until later.
Learn to cook, and cook.
Make a weekly (healthy) menu, and shop for only the items you need.
Consider buying and cooking food in bulk.
Stay out of other people’s drama. And don’t needlessly create your own.
Buy things with cash.
Maintain your car, home, and other personal belongings you rely on.
Smile often, even to complete strangers.
If you hate doing it, stop it.
Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother.
Apologize when you should.
Write things down.
Be curious. Don’t be scared to learn something new.
Explore new ideas and opportunities often.
Don’t be shy. Network with people. Meet new people.
Don’t worry too much about what other people think about you.
Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven, and likeminded.
Don’t text and drive. Don’t drink and drive.
Drink water when you’re thirsty.
Don’t eat when you’re bored. Eat when you’re hungry.
Exercise every day. Simply take a long, relaxing walk.
Let go of things you can’t change. Concentrate on things you can.
Find hard work you actually enjoy doing.
Realize that the harder you work, the luckier you will become.
Follow your heart. Don’t waste your life fulfilling someone else’s dreams and desires.
Set priorities for yourself and act accordingly.
Take it slow and add up all your small victories.
However good or bad a situation is now, it will change. Accept this simple fact.
Excel at what you do. Otherwise you’ll just frustrate yourself.
Mature, but don’t grow up too fast.
Realize that you’re never quite as right as you think you are.
Build something or do something that makes you proud.
Make mistakes, learn from them, laugh about them, and move along.

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56 Things I Wished I’d Known When I Was Younger

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:49:38 GMT

I wish I'd known that failure was an option.
I wish I'd known there's a difference between friends and drinking buddies.
I wish I'd known honesty, in all situations, is always, always, always the best policy.
I wish I'd known how to grow a pair and be more assertive.
I wish I'd known how to feel comfortably weird about being a little weird.
I wish I'd known how much my mum and dad really loved me, and all the warnings I got came from a place of love.
I wish I'd known that my thoughts don't have to dictate my life.
I wish I'd known that home really is where the heart is.
I wish I'd known that intelligence is not something you're born with, it's something that can be worked on.
I wish I'd known that being positive can really change your thoughts which can indeed change your life.
I wish I'd known how to be myself more and not tried to imitate Tom Cruise' (Top Gun) confidence (Although singing, 'You've lost that Loving Feeling' to girls sometimes did work )
I wish I'd known that the jacket of life could be altered to suit me.
I wish I'd known how to say No!
I wish I'd known that the phrase 'just try it' should apply to everything we do in life.
I wish I'd known that not being perfect is okay, and, in fact, striving for perfection is an impossible task.
I wish I'd known that not being 'well off' didn't mean I didn't have a rich life.
I wish I'd known that losing myself in a book wasn't a substitute for living.
I wish I'd known that my thoughts actually control how I feel, and how I feel affects the way I see the world.
I wish I'd known that sex is a physical act and that love is something different altogether.
I wish I'd known that having two strong sisters was a blessing.
I wish I'd known that formal education was only one option in life and not the only, or best, option.
I wish I'd known that starting a business didn't require as much planning or money as I'd thought.
I wish I'd known never to settle for second best, whether it be in relationships, product choice, or employment.
I wish I'd known that loving yourself was a pre-requisite to truly loving others.
I wish I'd known how to plan my finances better.
I wish I'd known that everything I ever stressed out about would not matter one year later.
I wish I'd known that TV numbs the mind.
I wish I'd known that my mistakes would define me as the person I am today.
I wish I'd known that perfection is never going to happen.
I wish I'd known never to actively participate in gossip, it's the black death of the soul.
I wish I'd known that nobody can be changed, no matter how hard you try to change them. People change because the pain of changing is less than the pain of not changing.
I wish I'd known how to express my love more.
I wish I'd known that my regrets in life stopped me from moving on. When it's done, forget it and move on.
I wish I'd known that helping others was the real path to helping every area of my own life, business, and personal.
I wish I'd known that change is inevitable, and rather than fighting it, I should have befriended it.
I wish I'd known not to waste my time and mental energy on people who didn't matter in my life.
I wish I'd known that life is a balance and I dictate the ratios.
I wish I'd known that it's okay not to know everything.
I wish I'd known to live in the moment, and not in the future or the past.
I wish I'd known that trusting myself would allow great things to happen.
I wish I'd known that not all people are bad, but not all people are good either.
I wish I'd known that what's right for me is not necessarily right for others.
I wish I'd known that although responsibility can seem scary, when embraced it gives understanding acceptance and choice.
I wish I'd known that one of lifes skills is to be able to spot genuine people.
I wish I'd known that things have to come to an end to be able to experience new, exciting things in the future.
I wish I'd known that learning doesn't finish when you leave school.
I wish I'd known how to trust my instincts more.
I wish I'd known that the world is as big as you allow it to be.
I wish I'd known that I had choices, and my route may need to change but perseverance always got me through.
I wish I'd known that the world does not owe you any favours, you have to step up to the plate and be counted.
I wish I'd known that happiness is not defined by financial wealth.
I wish I'd known the importance of working out what was right for me.
I wish I'd known that all actions, always have a consequence.
I wish I'd known that my needs and desires would change over time.
I wish I'd known that doing what I wanted to do was not necessarily me being selfish.
I wish I'd known that where you are born does not dictate where you will end up in life.

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6 Reasons You Need To Be Touched

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:41:35 GMT

Feel connected to others. We are social beings.
Reduce anxiety. Simply touching another person can make us feel more secure and less anxious.
Bonding. Regular touch is one of the ways that we continually renew our bonds with those we love.
Lowers your blood pressure. Studies have shown that those that get regular touch often have lower blood pressure than those that don’t.
Improve your outlook. It’s harder to get into a pessimistic funk when you feel connected to others.
Give us the sensory input that we crave. All the various kinds of touch from butterfly kisses to deep tissue massage send our brains the physical inputs it needs to make sense of the world.

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8 Life Lessons You Should Learn Today

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:18:55 GMT

Cut your living expenses – dramatically. Every dollar of expense you eliminate is a dollar to be saved or invested for the proverbial “rainy day.”
Ask for help from your professional and personal networks. Before you find yourself out of a job etc, get active with individuals in your network sharing ideas, offering help.
Seek out a career change. Consider starting you own business.
Hone your selling skills.
Get smarter. Pay particular attention to techniques on how to learn more effectively and faster, which apply across multiple fields of study.
Exercise.
Pray. Getting in touch with something bigger than you even if it only lies within yourself always helps put things in the proper perspective.
Be humble. When things are booming, it can lead to overlooking others who are important contributors to your success.

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Five Powerful Habits to Establish Today

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:13:55 GMT

Eating a Healthy Breakfast. Whether your diet is healthy or not, it’s part of your habits.
Getting Some Exercise. Rather than forcing yourself to exercise, look for an opportunity to slot exercise neatly into your day.
Reading More Books. Find a way to make reading into a natural, enjoyable part of your day.
Saving Money for the Future.
Taking Time Out for Yourself. This is a big one which a lot of us miss out on: taking the time we need for ourselves.

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