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The Magical Power of Focus : zen habits

Your focus determines your reality

If you wake up focused on what a wonderful gift your life is, you'll have a great day.
If we keep our attention focused on one job at a time, we'll enjoy it and find it very productive.
If we focus on being healthy and fit, we will become healthy and fit through exercise and good eating.

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The Magical Power of Focus : zen habits

zenhabits.net

Key Ideas

Qui-Gon to Anakin

"Always remember, your focus determines your reality."

Your focus determines your reality

If you wake up focused on what a wonderful gift your life is, you'll have a great day.
If we keep our attention focused on one job at a time, we'll enjoy it and find it very productive.
If we focus on being healthy and fit, we will become healthy and fit through exercise and good eating.

Buddha

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.”

Focus on a Goal

The most important determinant of whether you'll achieve a goal or stay with a new habit is not self-discipline, nor rewards, nor willpower, nor motivation. It is focus.

Having multiple goals spreads out your focus and makes it less likely that you'll complete any of them. Maintain your attention on one goal at a time.

Focus on the task

People find their greatest enjoyment when they're fully absorbed in a mindful challenge, known as "flow".

How to get into flow:

Find work that you're passionate about.
Clear away distractions and focus entirely on the task.

Focus on the Positive

Be aware of your negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts. For example, instead of quitting your exercise routine, think about how great you feel.

Focus on the good parts of your life. Be thankful for what you have.

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13 Things to Avoid When Changing Habits : zen habits

zenhabits.net

"Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time." - Mark Twain I've learned a lot about changing habits in the last 2 1/2 years, from quitting smoking to taking up running and GTD and vegetarianism and waking early and all that.

Key Ideas

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Aristotle

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”

Taking On Two Or More Habits At Once

No matter how much enthusiasm we have for the goals, taking on even just two habits at once is setting ourselves up for failure, because greatly increases the difficulty of sticking to it.

Pick only one habit to change and devote all of your energy to that, and once it’s on autopilot, move on to the next one.

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5 Zen Principles To Live By

dariusforoux.com

I love practical advice that you can immediately apply to your life. And Zen, a school of Mahayana Buddhism, is full of practical wisdom. When I tell my friends, colleagues, and people I work with that I like reading about Zen Buddhism, they often make remarks like: "When are you going to grow your hair, walk around bare feet, and talk about yoga all day?"

Key Idea

5 Zen Principles To Live By

Whatever you do, practice being in the moment.
Makes sure you enjoy most moments of your day.
Don’t look for happiness in other places. Find it right where...

Attack Your Limitations: Turn Your Weaknesses Into Strengths : zen habits

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"Our strength grows out of our weaknesses." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Something that has always intimidated me from starting something new has always been a deep worry about my shortcomings. I know that I have weaknesses, and I'm afraid they'll lead to my failure.

Key Ideas

Focus On Baby Steps

For some goals, you need to sustain something for a long time, but most can be broken down into smaller, more approachable goals.

Dividing goals makes the process seem less overwhelm...

Weaknesses Holding You Back

Take a minute to think about what you always wanted to do, or what you’re doing now. Ask yourself:

What are your fears?
What do you see as your weaknesses?
What are your limitations?
What’s holding you back?

Turn Your Weaknesses Into Strengths

Believe that your weaknesses can be turned into strengths. Always find your strengths, examine your weaknesses and how to turn them into an advantage by using your strengths or developing new ones to find ways around it.