The “Zeigarnik Effect” is the principle that unfinished tasks are harder to get out of your brain than are tasks that haven’t been started. This means that starting a project — even if you work on it for just 10 minutes — will make it harder for your brain to forget or dismiss it. If you find yourself daydreaming instead of getting started, set a timer for 10 minutes and do something (anything!) during that time. Once you start, the big, scary project will turn into an unfinished task — meaning your brain will latch onto it and figure out how to get it done. Write down your major priorities at the beginning of each day. This is a great way to block out annoying distractions and periodically refocus your attention. A daily focus list — a short, bulleted outline of three major and three secondary priorities — isn’t just a “to-do list”; rather, it’s a grounding tool that keeps your head out of the clouds and focused on what’s really important. (Download an example of a <a href="https://www.additudemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/My-Daily-Focus.pdf">daily focus list </a>.) Racing thoughts and hyperactive imaginations mean that ADHD brains are easily thrown off course by passing thoughts about dry cleaning or returning Aunt Linda’s phone call. Deal with sidetracking thoughts — and the anxiety they can create — with a “parking lot,” an easily accessible place to dump unneeded thoughts until a more appropriate time. The parking lot could be a notebook you carry in your purse, or a post-it note stuck to your desk; whatever it is, it will save you stress and keep your focus unbroken.

1. Remember the Zeigarnik Effect.

Write down your major priorities at the beginning of each day. This is a great way to block out annoying distractions and periodically refocus your attention. A daily focus list — a short, bulleted outline of three major and three secondary priorities — isn’t just a “to-do list”; rather, it’s a grounding tool that keeps your head out of the clouds and focused on what’s really important.

Use a “daily focus list.”  

When the ADHD brain gets stressed, it jumps into fight or flight mode. This looks like a lack of motivation: You abandon your piles of laundry or half-done taxes and binge-watch Netflix instead. Break this cycle by identifying the triggers that cause you to feel overwhelmed. For some, it’s hunger; for others, it’s too many conflicting priorities. Getting a handle on what causes your overwhelm won’t be enough to deter it every time, but you’ll be better equipped to anticipate its arrival and plan accordingly.

Identify your “overwhelm” triggers.  

ADHD comes with plenty of superpowers (like hyperfocus), but you can’t always predict when they’ll kick in. Respect your brain! Recognizing when you’re “in the zone” — and able to tackle tasks that require attention and focus — is just as important as recognizing when your brain is in a fog. When you’re totally out of it, give yourself permission to shift your attention to less-demanding tasks, like filing papers or folding socks. You’ll get more done in the long run!

Go with your flow — not just the flow.  

Wondering why your good intentions can't translate into focus? These 12 strategies will help any adult with ADHD develop real, sustained attention.

productivity

Productivity

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

problemsolving

Problem Solving

timemanagement

Time Management

12 Ways to Maintain Focus All Day Long

Having a financial plan is about more than figuring out how much of your paycheck is left after the bills are paid. Your plan starts with thinking about what you really want to do. What goals do you have? Do you want to travel? Buy a house? Own a business? Being successful, whatever that means to you, starts with having a clear idea of where you want to go and then making a plan to get there. Creating a budget is a key part of any financial plan and will help you achieve your goals and stay focused. If necessary, look for resources that provide budgeting or other money management tips.

1. Make a plan.

Don’t put yourself in a situation where you have to rely on credit for unexpected expenses. One of your top priorities should be building up your emergency savings. As a guide, experts recommend saving at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses.

2. Save for the short term.

Saving for retirement should be another top priority. When investing long-term, you’ll want to consider putting your money in something other than a standard savings account that has tax benefits. The most popular accounts that can allow your money to grow tax-free until you are older (hint: age of withdrawal without penalty is 59.5) are 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). You may want to get financial tips and guidance from a professional advisor.

3. Invest for the long term.

Using credit responsibly is an important part of a sound financial plan because your credit score impacts your ability to make almost any big financial purchases. Be sure to pay your bills on time, every time, and try to keep your balance well below the limit of the card. Pay attention to the ratio of how much debt you currently have to how much you can borrow. This number should stay below 30 percent or it can negatively impact your credit score.

4. Use credit wisely.

Housing costs are generally the most significant part of everyone's budget, as well as a major emotional investment. The search for the "perfect" home can easily extend your budget beyond what's really comfortable. When setting a housing budget, be sure to include all fixed costs and consider what amount you really want to pay. Keep in mind if you are buying a home that just because a lender approves you for a certain home loan amount does not mean that amount is ideal for your budget. The lender is looking out for their best interests — not yours.

5. Choose a reasonable rent or mortgage payment.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when getting their finances in order is becoming too strict. If we constantly deny ourselves the things we love the most, we will eventually cave into the pressure and make mistakes. Studies have shown that willpower is a limited resource — you can only resist so many temptations before you will give in.

6. Treat yourself.

The world of finance is complicated, but money is a necessary part of life. You don't have to understand everything, but in order to stay financially secure, you need to keep learning about tools and resources you can take advantage of to make what you have work hard for you. Take stock of what you already understand; then build on that with books, classes or savings advice from a professional. Before you know it, you’ll be sharing your expertise on how to manage money effectively with friends and family.

7. Never stop learning.

Understanding financial basics will empower you to be more financially secure both now and in the future. Start with a simple financial plan that includes budgeting and goals, as well as using credit wisely. Focus on saving for the short term with an eye on long-term investing and goals.

moneyandinvestments

Money & Investments

Follow These 7 Tips To Manage Your Money Wisely

Morality emerges out of iterative voluntary games. What we regard as moral is the principle that most aptly governs the longest game.It's an idea Peterson borrowed from Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist. Piaget focused on kids as ways to understand humanity at large. He believed that the act of voluntary play in kids is the precursor to ethical societies. The games are thus micro-cosmoses of society and as we grow up we are just extending the game into adulthood.

Morality emerges from play

If you think life is not a game, then you are not playing it properly.

If 2 groups are playing a game: one group playing the game voluntarily and another one forced to do so .... The voluntary group will always outperform the other. Fiat, ruling through power, is demonstrably a sub-optimal strategy compared to freedom. This idea has implications in:<ul><li>economy: a regulated economy will be outperformed by a free economy</li><li>management: unrestrained teams are doing better than micro-managed ones </li><li>etc ....</li></ul>

Voluntary Games vs Fiat

Alan Watts used to say life is a dance, not a journey. The eastern tradition has identified play as a the natural state for peace. Interesting how a psychological analysis can come up with similar findings. 

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson joins for me a special edition episode exploring the philosophic implications of Bitcoin as an incorruptible system of value. This episode was recorded in front a live studio audience on April 8th, 2022 during the Bitcoin 2022 Conference in Miami, FL. Be sure to check out Swan Private, your dedicated partner in developing and executing a Bitcoin strategy: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/private/ GUEST Dr. Peterson's Twitter: https://twitter.com/jordanbpeterson Dr. Peterson's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL_f53ZEJxp8TtlOkHwMV9Q Dr. Peterson's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/DrJordanBPeterson PODCAST Podcast Website: https://whatismoneypodcast.com/ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-what-is-money-show/id1541404400 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/25LPvm8EewBGyfQQ1abIsE?si=wgVuY16XR0io4NLNo0A11A&nd=1 RSS Feed: https://feeds.simplecast.com/MLdpYXYI Transcript: OUTLINE 00:00:00 “What is Money?” Intro 00:00:08 Intro by John Vallis 00:04:38 Standup Comedy Opening by JP Sears 00:27:22 Show Intro by Robert Breedlove 00:31:52 Welcoming Jordan Peterson 00:32:39 The Concept of Fiat and the Ethical Optimality of Voluntary Games 00:43:57 Voluntary Games Optimize the Genuine Motivation of Positive Emotion 00:45:03 Fiat Currency as an Involuntary Game and its Psychological Implications 00:48:10 What Justification is there for Use of Force or Fiat? 00:52:32 “Whenever You’re Doing a Thing You Want, You’re Playing.” 00:55:50 Defining Truth (and its Antagonism to Fiat) 01:00:43 The Spirit of Truth, the Process of Inquiry, and Freedom of Speech 01:04:11 Free Speech is How Humans Contend with an Incomputable Future 01:07:11 How an Incorruptible Money Could Impact the Free Market Process 01:11:44 How The Free Market Enhances Our Relationship with Value 01:13:39 Inflation Penalizes Prudence and, In Doing So, Destroys Civilization 01:16:58 Giving Gratitude to our Sponsors 01:29:40 Controlling Speech and Money as Unerring Hallmarks of Totalitarianism 01:35:04 The Costliness of Signaling and the Sanity of Communication 01:39:18 “The Monetary Standard and Moral Standard are Inexorably Linked” 01:45:09 What are the Unexpected Consequences of Bitcoin? 01:49:00 Systemized Violations of Property and the Inducement of Irresponsibility 01:53:51 Bitcoin and The Philosopher’s Stone 02:00:15 Money is a Promise: A Contract with the Future 02:03:44 The Impact of Technological Innovation on Trust in Society 02:07:02 Christ and the Value of Absolute Truthfulness 02:10:56 The Personal Transformations Occurring in the Lives of Bitcoiners 02:13:05 Bitcoin as a Means of Detaching Exploitation From Economic Success 02:17:03 “What is Money?” Outro SOCIAL Breedlove Twitter: https://twitter.com/Breedlove22 WiM? Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhatisMoneyShow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breedlove22/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breedlove_22/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breedlove22?lang=en All My Current Work: https://linktr.ee/breedlove22 WRITTEN WORK Medium: https://breedlove22.medium.com/ Substack: https://breedlove22.substack.com/ WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE Bitcoin: 3D1gfxKZKMtfWaD1bkwiR6JsDzu6e9bZQ7 Sats via Strike: https://strike.me/breedlove22 Sats via Tippin.me: https://tippin.me/@Breedlove22 Dollars via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/RBreedlove Dollars via Venmo: https://venmo.com/code?user_id=1784359925317632528 The "What is Money?" Show Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32843101&fan_landing=true RECOMMENDED BUSINESSES Off the Chain Capital is the best performing value investment fund over the past 5 years: https://offthechain.capital/ Iris Energy is focused on building mining Bitcoin operations with sustainable energy: https://irisenergy.co/ Swan Private guides high-net-worth individuals and businesses in all areas of Bitcoin strategy: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/private/ Noah is the mobile money app of the future—the all-in-one money app for everyone, everywhere: https://noah.com/?referral=iseqvom&refSource=copy Okcoin is an innovative and education-focused cryptoasset exchange platform—earn $50 in free Bitcoin by signing up at: okcoin.com/breedlove Join Me At Bitcoin 2023, pre-order your tickets now (discount code BREEDLOVE): https://b.tc/conference/2023 Looking Glass is a free, all-in-one educational platform built with the intention of empowering individuals to take control of their financial future: http://www.lookingglasseducaation.com/ Trammell Venture Partners (TVP) is a venture capital firm that launched the industry's first institutional venture fund series focused on Bitcoin startups: https://tvp.fund/

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

philosophy

Philosophy

crypto

Cryptocurrency

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson joins for me a special edition episode exploring the philosophic implications of Bitcoin as an incorruptible system of value. This episode was recorded in front a live studio audience on April 8th, 2022 during the Bitcoin 2022 Conference in Miami, FL.

Be sure to check out Swan Private, your dedicated partner in developing and executing a Bitcoin strategy: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/private/

GUEST
Dr. Peterson's Twitter: https://twitter.com/jordanbpeterson
Dr. Peterson's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL_f53ZEJxp8TtlOkHwMV9Q
Dr. Peterson's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/DrJordanBPeterson

PODCAST 
Podcast Website: https://whatismoneypodcast.com/ 
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-what-is-money-show/id1541404400 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/25LPvm8EewBGyfQQ1abIsE?si=wgVuY16XR0io4NLNo0A11A&nd=1
RSS Feed: https://feeds.simplecast.com/MLdpYXYI 
Transcript: 

OUTLINE 
00:00:00 “What is Money?” Intro
00:00:08 Intro by John Vallis
00:04:38 Standup Comedy Opening by JP Sears
00:27:22 Show Intro by Robert Breedlove
00:31:52 Welcoming Jordan Peterson
00:32:39 The Concept of Fiat and the Ethical Optimality of Voluntary Games
00:43:57 Voluntary Games Optimize the Genuine Motivation of Positive Emotion
00:45:03 Fiat Currency as an Involuntary Game and its Psychological Implications
00:48:10 What Justification is there for Use of Force or Fiat?
00:52:32 “Whenever You’re Doing a Thing You Want, You’re Playing.”
00:55:50 Defining Truth (and its Antagonism to Fiat)
01:00:43 The Spirit of Truth, the Process of Inquiry, and Freedom of Speech
01:04:11 Free Speech is How Humans Contend with an Incomputable Future
01:07:11 How an Incorruptible Money Could Impact the Free Market Process
01:11:44 How The Free Market Enhances Our Relationship with Value
01:13:39 Inflation Penalizes Prudence and, In Doing So, Destroys Civilization
01:16:58 Giving Gratitude to our Sponsors
01:29:40 Controlling Speech and Money as Unerring Hallmarks of Totalitarianism
01:35:04 The Costliness of Signaling and the Sanity of Communication
01:39:18 “The Monetary Standard and Moral Standard are Inexorably Linked”
01:45:09 What are the Unexpected Consequences of Bitcoin?
01:49:00 Systemized Violations of Property and the Inducement of Irresponsibility
01:53:51 Bitcoin and The Philosopher’s Stone
02:00:15 Money is a Promise: A Contract with the Future
02:03:44 The Impact of Technological Innovation on Trust in Society
02:07:02 Christ and the Value of Absolute Truthfulness
02:10:56 The Personal Transformations Occurring in the Lives of Bitcoiners
02:13:05 Bitcoin as a Means of Detaching Exploitation From Economic Success
02:17:03 “What is Money?” Outro


SOCIAL 
Breedlove Twitter: https://twitter.com/Breedlove22 
WiM? Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhatisMoneyShow 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breedlove22/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breedlove_22/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breedlove22?lang=en 
All My Current Work: https://linktr.ee/breedlove22 

WRITTEN WORK 
Medium: https://breedlove22.medium.com/ 
Substack: https://breedlove22.substack.com/ 

WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE 
Bitcoin: 3D1gfxKZKMtfWaD1bkwiR6JsDzu6e9bZQ7 
Sats via Strike: https://strike.me/breedlove22 
Sats via Tippin.me: https://tippin.me/@Breedlove22 
Dollars via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/RBreedlove 
Dollars via Venmo: https://venmo.com/code?user_id=1784359925317632528 
The "What is Money?" Show Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32843101&fan_landing=true 

RECOMMENDED BUSINESSES 
Off the Chain Capital is the best performing value investment fund over the past 5 years: https://offthechain.capital/
Iris Energy is focused on building mining Bitcoin operations with sustainable energy: https://irisenergy.co/
Swan Private guides high-net-worth individuals and businesses in all areas of Bitcoin strategy: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/private/
Noah is the mobile money app of the future—the all-in-one money app for everyone, everywhere: https://noah.com/?referral=iseqvom&refSource=copy
Okcoin is an innovative and education-focused cryptoasset exchange platform—earn $50 in free Bitcoin by signing up at: okcoin.com/breedlove
Join Me At Bitcoin 2023, pre-order your tickets now (discount code BREEDLOVE): https://b.tc/conference/2023 
Looking Glass is a free, all-in-one educational platform built with the intention of empowering individuals to take control of their financial future: http://www.lookingglasseducaation.com/
Trammell Venture Partners (TVP) is a venture capital firm that launched the industry's first institutional venture fund series focused on Bitcoin startups: https://tvp.fund/

Asking yourself that all-important question "What is Money?" is the rabbit which will lead you down the proverbial rabbit hole of new inquiries, perspectives on socioeconomic reality, and worldview-shattering revelations. Undoubtedly, it is the single most significant question we can ask ourselves in a world drowning in deception. By engaging in deep conversations with a diversity of deep thinkers from all walks of life, we will doggedly pursue this "rabbit" in our relentless hunt for truth.

Robert Breedlove is a freedom maximalist, ex-hedge fund manager, and philosopher in the Bitcoin space. To him, Bitcoin is fundamentally a humanitarian movement exposing the greatest con in human history: central banking. By learning about the connection between honest money, entrepreneurship, and civilization, we are renewing hope for the future of humanity. To this end, Robert's mission is to restore freedom, truth, and virtue in our world by tenaciously asking the question: "What is Money?"


Robert Breedlove

Bitcoin as an Incorruptible System of Value with Jordan Peterson (WiM168)

Jordan Peterson with Robert Breedlove discussing fiat & bitcoin

Don't try to have a good day.Have a productive day

How To Start Your Day With Productive Morning

Get a good night's sleep.so that you can easily wake up early in the morning.

Early To Bed, Early To Rise

We set our alarm early at morning but we keep on pressing snooze button and after waking up we realize that we have been late to work.But it's actually hard to Avoid presing snooze button so we can stick a stick note or a page on our alarm writing a good and motivational quote or name of the work for which you have to wake up early.Which means you have to Find Your “Why” you are doing it?

Avoid Snooze Button

It's always best to take small, consistent steps over time.when creating an early morning routine, make it so easy that you never miss a day.For example, if you usually wake up at 8.00 am, don’t set your alarm for 5.00 am – likely, you won’t make it more than a few days. Instead, set your alarm for 7.30 am. Then, once you’re consistent, move to 7.00 am and so on.

  Start With Small Steps

Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success.”In reality, it takes an average of two months before a new behavior becomes automatic – 66 days in a row to be precise. However, depending on the habit you’re trying to create, it can take anywhere between 18 to 254 days to form.Nothing will work unless you’re consistent.As the classical greek philosopher Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”So, commit.

Commit To Consistency

Turn your phone off and don’t keep it in the bedroom20/20/20 rule20 min-high intensity exercise20min-meditation/ or take diary and reflect your whole life and start thinking where you need to improve.20 min-read something which enhances your knowledge like-reafing book, newspaper, encyclopedia etc....Make sure there are at least 5-to-10 minutes between each behavior.you can instead of 20 min can also start doing this action from 5 to 10 min

Plan Ahead  

Here’s an example to help illustrate a balanced early morning routine:6.00 am: Wake up and write down three things you’re grateful for (Emotional)6.10 am: 15-minute meditation (Spiritual)6.30 am: 15-minute home workout (Physical)6.50 am: Shower and change7.00 am: Have a healthy breakfast with your partner, pet, or housemate (Physical and emotional)7.30 am: Listen to an audiobook on the way to work/school (Mental)

Create Balance  

The morning routine helps us set the tone for the day, better allowing us to control our schedules rather than our schedule controlling us. As we start each day fresh, we can better focus on what is in front of us, where to prioritize our time, and, ultimately, increase our productivity.

After years of trying, I created a daily morning routine for success. Here, I share the secret recipe to help you learn how to create a morning routine.

habits

Habits

How to Start a Productive Morning Routine for Success (Proven Method)

There are many reasons why it is a good idea to keep a journal. I want to share four big ones with you.<ol><li>Remember details</li><li> Find old friends</li><li>Help process feelings and ideas</li><li>Preserve the writer’s history</li></ol>

4 Advantages of Keeping a Journal

When I travelled to Europe in 1978 I kept a journal.There were several details of my trip, that I had completely forgotten until I re-read the journals.Recording the details of your life can enrich your stories.

1. Remember details

People who keep journals have life twice.

Keeping a journal can help you find old friends. One of the women I met on November 26th, 1978, wrote down her address. I found her on Facebook and just sent her a message. (Social media and Google can also help, but the journal did remind me of her name.)

2. Find old friends

When you keep thoughts in your head it can be hard to know how you think and feel. Writing down how you feel will help you process your emotions, as feelings become words, which can be then be edited.

3. Help process feelings and ideas

Writing is the only way I have to explain my own life to myself.

When you are dead and a famous writer, your journals will give your readers insight into how you thought and what your life was like.You may never sell more than one hundred copies of your book, you may never publish your writing, or your journals may only be read by the mice that crawl through your basement. Or your journals will be read by zombies after the zombie apocalypse, sharing insight into how you felt and thought.

4. Preserve the writer’s history

Now you know why journaling can be helpful. But how should you journal? It is very personal, and you should do what works best for you. But I will give you some tips to help you get started.<ol><li>Choose your kind of journal</li><li>Date your entry</li><li>Tell the truth</li><li>Write down details</li><li>Write down what you felt</li><li>Write a lot or a little</li></ol>

6 Tips for How to Write a Journal

You have several options for how to keep your journal.A book, where you write with a pen or pencil onto paper: Write in a book that is not so pretty you are afraid to write in it. Keep the size small enough you don’t mind carrying it in your messenger bag, and big enough you can read your handwriting. The advantage of paper is you can write without having to be plugged into an electronic device.The disadvantage to a paper journal is if you lose the journal and you didn’t make a copy of it, you have lost all of the writing.

1. Choose your kind of journal

Software: There are several software applications on the market you can use to journal. Be sure they sync to the cloud, as you don’t want to lose your entries because you fry your computer hard-drive.<a href="https://journey.cloud/">Journey</a> and <a href="https://dayoneapp.com/">Day One</a> can add photographs and text, and export all of your entries into a PDF. You can also journal in Microsoft Word or <a href="https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview">Scrivener</a> and save your files to a cloud-based program that will keep your files safe if you lose your computer or pour water on your keyboard.

You think you will remember when it happened, but without a written date, you might forget.

2. Date your entry

The journal is a record of how you felt and what you did. Telling the truth will make you a reliable storyteller.If you haven’t cleaned the seven litter boxes for a week, don’t write that you clean them every day simply because you want your readers one hundred years from now to think you had good habits.

3. Tell the truth

Record details like the time, location, who you were with, what you were wearing. Details will help bring the memory alive when you record using your five senses.To this day, if I smell a certain kind of Japanese soup, I can remember vividly the day I flew to Korea to renew my Japanese visa, only to discover the Japanese embassy was closed for a traditional Japanese holiday.

4. Write down details

What you were thinking? Were you mad? Sad? Happy? Write down why.

5. Write down what you felt

A journal entry doesn’t have to be three pages long. It can be a few words that describe what happened, a few sentences about the highlight of your day, or it can be a short description of an event from your day, where you describe details to help you remember what happened. Like, what time of day was it? What sound do you remember?Your journal entry might be a drawing, a poem, or a list of words or cities you drove through. It is your journal, and you have the freedom to be creative.

6. Write a lot or a little

There is no right or wrong time to write in a journal. Write when you will remember to do it. Do you always brush your teeth before you go to bed? Have writing in your journal be part of your bedtime routine. Perhaps put it on your bedside table, or beside your hammock, or on the floor beside your futon.If you are a morning person, consider keeping your journal on the table where you drink your morning coffee, tea, water, milk, or orange juice.These are only suggestions. You don’t have to write down your feelings or why you felt a certain way.

When to Journal

A journal is a diary of your life. Who you are, who you were with, and where you want to go.

As somebody who journals semi-regularly, I have seen its positive effects on my mental health. I hope this wonderful write-up by author Pamela Hodges helps others keep journals too. 

Many people wonder how to write a journal. This writer's clear tips will help you get started and encourage you to continue.

mindfulness

Mindfulness

writing

Reading & Writing

communication

Communication

How to Write a Journal: 6 Tips

We're all going to get lumps, and we're all going to get bumps. None of us can predict the future, but we do know one thing about it and that's that it ain't gonna go according to plan. We will all have high highs and big days and proud moments of smiles, but between those high highs, we may also have some lumps and some bumps too.Having a great attitude is about choosing, no matter how difficult it is, no matter what pain hits you, to move forward and move on and take baby steps into the future.

Attitude

Try hanging out with three-year-olds and observe how they see the world because they're seeing the world for the first time. Having a sense of awareness is just about embracing your inner three-year-old. Because you all used to be three years old. That three-year-old is still part of you. And being aware is just about remembering that you saw everything you've seen for the first time once, too.

Awareness

This is just about being you and being cool with that. When you're authentic, you end up following your heart, and you put yourself in places and situations and in conversations that you love and that you enjoy. You meet people that you like talking to. You go places you've dreamt about. And you end up following your heart and feeling very fulfilled.

Authenticity

We are the only species on the only life-giving rock in the entire universe that we've ever seen, capable of experiencing so many of these things (airplanes, highway lanes, interior design, magazines, concerts, movies, architecture, horoscope signs. We've got fashion magazines, house party scenes, books, buffets, weddings, rollercoasters, bakeries, naps etc.)We've got all that, but we've only got 100 years to enjoy it. And that's the sad part. Life is so great that we only get such a short time to experience and enjoy all those tiny little moments that make it so sweet.

There Are Many Things To Be Happy About

And that's why I believe that if you live your life with a great attitude, choosing to move forward and move on whenever life deals you a blow, living with a sense of awareness of the world around you, embracing your inner three-year-old and seeing the tiny joys that make life so sweet and being authentic to yourself, being you and being cool with that, letting your heart lead you and putting yourself in experiences that satisfy you, then I think you'll live a life that is rich and is satisfying, and I think you'll live a life that is truly awesome.

Needing to feel motivated? Enjoy these inspirational Ted talks that will change your perspective and make your day better.

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

7 Days of Inspiration 

Neil Pasricha reveals the 3 secrets (all starting with A) to leading a life that's truly awesome

http://www.ted.com Neil Pasricha's blog 1000 Awesome Things savors life's simple pleasures, from free refills to clean sheets. In this heartfelt talk from TEDxToronto, he reveals the 3 secrets (all starting with A) to leading a life that's truly awesome. TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

videos

Videos

http://www.ted.com Neil Pasricha's blog 1000 Awesome Things savors life's simple pleasures, from free refills to clean sheets. In this heartfelt talk from TEDxToronto, he reveals the 3 secrets (all starting with A) to leading a life that's truly awesome.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You're welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.

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Neil Pasricha: The 3 A's of awesome

Impact bias is the tendency to overestimate the hedonic impact of future events.For example, consider two groups of people where one group won the lottery, and the other group became paraplegics. Data shows people of both groups are equally happy a year after the event.  A recent study suggests that major life traumas that happened over three months ago had no impact on happiness.

Impact Bias

In 1642, Sir Thomas Brown wrote that he is the happiest man alive. "I have that in me that can convert poverty to riches, adversity to prosperity, and I am more invulnerable than Achilles. Fortune hath not one place to hit me. " All humans have the same remarkable notion. We can think of it as a psychological immune system that helps us change our views of the world so we can feel better about the world in which we find ourselves.

Psychological immune system

<ul><li>Natural happiness is what we get when we obtain what we want.</li><li>Synthetic happiness is what we make when we don't get what we want. </li></ul>In our society, we strongly believe that synthetic happiness is of an inferior kind. However, synthetic happiness is as real and enduring as natural happiness. Studies show that when we get what we didn't want, our liking for the owned object increases and our liking for the unowned object decreases. That's the synthesis of happiness.

Synthesising happiness

All human beings have this capacity to synthesize happiness, but some can do it more effectively.<ul><li>Freedom - the ability to make up your mind and change your mind - is a friend of natural happiness because it allows you to choose the one you would most enjoy. </li><li>However, the freedom to choose and make up your mind is the enemy of synthetic happiness. </li></ul> The psychological immune system works best when we are totally stuck because then we will find a way to be happy with what we have. When we still have options available, we will always wonder if we have made the best choice.

The ability to synthesize happiness

In a Harvard study, students could join one of two photography courses where they can also develop two of their best photos, one for them and the other for headquarters. <ul><li>They could join the course where they had four days to decide which photo they wanted to keep.</li><li>They could join the course where they had to make up their mind right away.</li></ul>Sixty-six percent of students preferred the course where they could change their minds, meaning they chose to be deeply dissatisfied because they didn't understand the conditions under which synthetic happiness grows.

The importance of understanding synthetic happiness

William Shakespeare said, "Tis nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so. Adam Smith, the father of modern capitalism, said, "The great source of both the misery and disorders of human life seems to arise from overrating the difference between one permanent situation and another... The person under the influence of any of those extravagant passions is not only miserable in his actual situation, but is often disposed to disturb the peace of society in order to arrive at that which he so foolishly admires."

Our desires are often overblown. Of course, some things are better than others, but when our preferences drive us too hard and too fast because we overrate the difference between the two, we risk sacrificing things of real value.  When our ambition is bounded, we're prudent and thoughtful. When our ambition is unbounded, it can lead us to lie, steal, cheat, and hurt others.

Bounded and unbounded ambition

http://www.ted.com Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, challenges the idea that we'll be miserable if we don't get what we want. Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel truly happy even when things don't go as planned. TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate If you have questions or comments about this or other TED videos, please go to http://support.ted.com

http://www.ted.com Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, challenges the idea that we'll be miserable if we don't get what we want. Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel truly happy even when things don't go as planned.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate

If you have questions or comments about this or other TED videos, please go to http://support.ted.com

The surprising science of happiness | Dan Gilbert

Creative people across all genres have this reputation for being mentally unstable and undone by their gifts. Not knowing if you can top your great success is one of the most painful reconciliations in a creative life. Once artists produce a magnificent work, they are asked, "What if you'll never ascend to that height again? Then what will you do with the rest of your life?"

The impossible things we expect from creative geniuses

In ancient Greece and Rome, people did not believe that creativity came from human beings. It was believed to be a divine attendant spirit that came to humans. <ul><li>The Greeks called these attendant spirits of creativity "daemons." </li><li>The Romans called it a genius. Romans believed a genius was like a magical entity that lived in the walls of an artist's studio and invisibly helped the artist.</li></ul> This understanding helped the ancient artist protect himself from certain things, such as too much narcissism. If your work was brilliant (or terrible), you couldn't take all the credit for it.

Managing the inherent emotional risks of creativity

During the Renaissance, the individual was placed at the centre of the universe. People started to believe that creativity came only from the self, not from mystical creatures that took dictation from the divine. It is the first time in history that people refer to certain artists as a genius, rather than having a genius. Allowing someone to believe that they are the source of all divine, creative, eternal mystery is too much responsibility to put on one fragile human psyche. It's like asking somebody to swallow the sun. It creates unmanageable expectations about performance.

Believing creativity came from the self

The pressure of unmanageable expectations about performance is destroying artists. As an artist, you may be full of anguish if believe that the most extraordinary aspects of your being came from you. But if you believe that a genius was on loan to you from another unimaginable source for some portion of your life to be passed along when you're finished,  it changes how you feel. When you create, don't be daunted. Just do your job. Continue to show up for your piece of it and use the creative moment when it comes to you. Otherwise, keep on showing up.

Removing the pressure to outperform

Find an accurate transcript (and subtitles in 46 languages) on ted.com: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius/transcript?language=en "Eat, Pray, Love" author Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk. TED Talks is a daily podcast of talks and performances from TED, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages are available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate Follow TED Talks on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tedtalks Like TED on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TED

creativity

Creativity

Find an accurate transcript (and subtitles in 46 languages) on ted.com:
http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius/transcript?language=en
 
"Eat, Pray, Love" author Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

TED Talks is a daily podcast of talks and performances from TED, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages are available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate

Follow TED Talks on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tedtalks
Like TED on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TED

Your elusive creative genius | Elizabeth Gilbert

When we feel powerful, we make ourselves big; we stretch out; we take up space. We're basically opening up. However, if we feel insecure, we make themselves smaller. Maybe we're hunching, crossing our legs, wrapping our ankles or holding onto our arms.Non-verbal language governs how other people think and feel about us. We make sweeping judgments and inferences from body language. Those judgments can predict meaningful life outcomes, such as who we hire or promote or who we ask out on a date.

The effects of our body language

When people win a physical competition, they naturally put their arms up in the V and their chin slightly lifted. They will do it even if they've never witnessed someone doing it. However, when they feel powerless, they do the opposite. They close up and make themselves small.  When we come in contact with other people, we complement the other's nonverbals. For example, if someone is powerful with us, we tend to make ourselves smaller.

Natural body language

We know that nonverbals govern how we think and feel about others. But body language also governs how we feel about ourselves. For example, we smile when we feel happy. Conversely, when we're forced to smile, it makes us feel happy. When it comes to power, it also goes both ways. When you feel powerful, you're more likely to open up, but when you pretend to be powerful, you are more likely to feel powerful.

We are influenced by our own nonverbals

Powerful people tend to be more assertive and confident, more optimistic. They take more risks.  Studies showed that a two-minute power pose leads to hormonal changes that configure your brain to be either assertive, confident and comfortable, or stress-reactive.<ul><li>People with a high-power pose experienced a 20-percent increase in testosterone and a 25 percent decrease in cortisol, meaning they feel more assertive and less anxious.</li><li>Those who adopted a two-minute low-power pose had a 10-percent decrease in testosterone and a 15-percent increase in cortisol.</li></ul>

The two-minute power pose

Before you enter the next stressful evaluative situation, for two minutes, try a Power Pose. Configure your brain to cope the best in that situation. Get your testosterone up and your cortisol down.  Leave the situation feeling like you really got to say and show who you are.

Tiny tweaks can lead to big changes

Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy argues that "power posing" -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don't feel confident -- can boost feelings of confidence, and might have an impact on our chances for success. (Note: Some of the findings presented in this talk have been referenced in an ongoing debate among social scientists about robustness and reproducibility. Read Amy Cuddy's response here: http://ideas.ted.com/inside-the-debate-about-power-posing-a-q-a-with-amy-cuddy/) Get TED Talks recommended just for you! Learn more at https://www.ted.com/signup. The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Follow TED on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TEDTalks Like TED on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TED Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/TED

Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy argues that "power posing" -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don't feel confident -- can boost feelings of confidence, and might have an impact on our chances for success. (Note: Some of the findings presented in this talk have been referenced in an ongoing debate among social scientists about robustness and reproducibility. Read Amy Cuddy's response here: http://ideas.ted.com/inside-the-debate-about-power-posing-a-q-a-with-amy-cuddy/)

Get TED Talks recommended just for you! Learn more at https://www.ted.com/signup.

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more.

Follow TED on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TEDTalks
Like TED on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TED

Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/TED

Your body language may shape who you are | Amy Cuddy

Your body language may shape who you are

The dogma is this: If we are interested in maximising the welfare of our citizens, we have to maximise individual freedom.  The reason is that freedom is good, valuable, worthwhile, and essential to being human. The way to maximise freedom is to maximise choice: The more choice people have, the more freedom they have. The more freedom they have, the more welfare they have.

The official dogma of all Western Industrial Societies

We have an almost unlimited variety of choices, for example, hundreds of salad dressings, an unlimited variety of phones, choices in health care, prescription drugs and more. Even something like our identity can become a matter of choice. We get to invent and reinvent ourselves as often as we please.  This huge freedom of choice means we have to make a decision, again and again and again. Should I answer this call? Should I respond to this email? Should I draft this letter?

Too many choices

Too much choice has two negative effects on people:<ol><li>Paradoxically, it produces paralysis rather than liberation. Too many options, and people find it very difficult to choose at all.</li><li>Even if we overcome the paralysis and make a choice, we end up less satisfied with the result of our selection than if we had fewer options. It's easy to imagine that a different choice would've been better.</li></ol>

Not everything should be a matter of choice

Too many options lead us to expect perfection - you may never be pleasantly surprised by quality because your expectations have gone through the roof.  When you choose from thousands of options, you may always feel disappointed. You may think you're at fault because you could've chosen something better. As a result, you have higher expectations and do better in general, but you still feel worse.

Expecting perfection and feeling worse

The problem that lies in the modern, affluent, Western societies is that expensive, complicated choices don't help. They make us worse off. Therefore, income redistribution can make everyone better off, because of how excess choice plagues us. Too many choices don't give freedom. It paralysis us, and decrease satisfaction.

Less choice as a policy matter

http://www.ted.com Psychologist Barry Schwartz takes aim at a central tenet of western societies: freedom of choice. In Schwartz's estimation, choice has made us not freer but more paralyzed, not happier but more dissatisfied.  TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes -- including speakers such as Jill Bolte Taylor, Sir Ken Robinson, Hans Rosling, Al Gore and Arthur Benjamin. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, politics and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

http://www.ted.com Psychologist Barry Schwartz takes aim at a central tenet of western societies: freedom of choice. In Schwartz's estimation, choice has made us not freer but more paralyzed, not happier but more dissatisfied.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes -- including speakers such as Jill Bolte Taylor, Sir Ken Robinson, Hans Rosling, Al Gore and Arthur Benjamin. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, politics and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

The paradox of choice | Barry Schwartz

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