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June 18 2007

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Eight Ways to Get Out of Your Own Way

Reaching Your DreamsSetting, and reaching your goals is a key to happiness in life, yet there is one culprit that often stands in the way of progress: yourself.

You, in fact, may be the only thing blocking yourself from achieving the fulfilling, satisfying life you deserve.

You've heard the saying before: "We're all our own worst critics." It's this negative energy that can often bring you down and away from well-being. This compelling LifeHack article has got some simple, practical ways for you to finally reach your dreams ... by getting out of your own way:

1. Make time for what's most important to you.

2. Focus on your strengths, and they will grow.

3. Don't worry about how you feel (in fact, don't even pay attention to how you feel).

4. Realize that things tend to improve in gradual increments, not sudden breakthroughs.

5. Don't wait until you feel happy to get things done. Getting things done will make you feel good.

6. Rather than worrying about what needs to be done, spend your time doing things that need to be done.

7. Be open to changing your ideas.

8. Instead of getting stressed if things don't go your way, accept what happened and move forward.



LifeHack.com June 18, 2007

Related Articles:

Boost Your Productivity in 33 Time-Saving Ways

Stealing Time for Yourself: Six Ways to Find the Time You Need to Change Your Life

How to Work Less, Achieve More and Be Successful





 
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Comment on This Article Community Comments (13)
 
 
Posted On Jun 19, 2007
This post was deleted because it violated our Terms Of Use :
Comment does not pertain to the topic of the article or does not provide value or insight to the discussion. Submit stories or comments linking to affiliate programs, multi-level marketing schemes, or off-topic content or any other system that will result in your personal financial or commercial gain.

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Posted On Jun 21, 2007
I have to agree... Some might call it Selfish (yes, with a capital S!), but I believe that you need to be able to accept at the very least, and feel wonderful in the best case - whatever circumstance you are dealing with.

While all the above are true, with this exception, the more joy you bring into your life, the more you expect. The more joy you expect, the more you get.

ALL of the great inspirational writers have basically stated the same thing - from Napoleon Hill to Deepak Chopra. I myself have just begun to understand this concept, and through experimentation over several years, have proven it to myself beyond ANY shadow of a doubt.

Once understood, the idea of gratefulness and courting of joy at ALL times not only proves itself in one's outlook, but in EVERY area of life!!

Sue

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Posted On Jun 21, 2007
Dr. Mercola references the superb book by David Allen, called Getting Things Done, in this article. I first learned of this book from Dr. Mercola and it has had an extraordinary impact on my life for the better.

Points 3 and 5 in this article strike me as redundant. The point is to do even when you do not feel like doing. The best slogan that I know that summarizes this point is, "Action precedes motivation." I used to believe that I had to feel like doing something before I would start to do it. But accomplishments are achieved by those who start even when they don't feel like starting. Keep on starting, even when you don't feel like it and you will get a lot more done and be much more satisfied. That's what happened with me.

I read the slogan "Action precedes motivation" in another extraordinary book called The Feeling Good Handbook by David D. Burns, MD. Using the methods of David Allen and David Burns is truly a formula for successful self-improvement.

Point 4 is one that I rarely see stressed and I believe is vital. Huge and significant changes occur through the accumulation of small differences over time. Ocean floors become mountaintops in geological time. Rivers erode plains to become vast canyons. Within our own lives, the gradual accumulation of small changes can result in extraordinary growth if we are disciplined enough and knowledgeable enough to preserve our beneficial habits and build on them when we can.

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moises
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Posted On Jun 18, 2007
It's always good to hear common sense reinforced.   Thank You!!!

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Jane Akre
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Posted On Jun 18, 2007
8 suggestions that have worked most evert time they have been tried.

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Russ Bianchi
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Posted On Jul 05, 2007
How do you deal with the fact that Christian teachings focus on service to others as opposed to attaining what's best for you?  One incident springs to mind.  I attended Catholic schools most of my (student) life.  On one particular occasion, after reading from the poem, Invictus, the last stanza which is as follows:

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

When the I and many others in the class reacted to the sheer life asserting power of this prose,  the teacher, who was a nun, said, "Do you know why we're here, on this Earth?".  I answered, "To be as happy as possible, of course!".  She stated, "No, we are here to sacrifice our happiness to others!".  How can anyone attain guilt free fullfillment and happiness with this kind of legacy?

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Posted On Jul 05, 2007
Seems if we give up our happiness for others--and they do the same--no one would allow themselves to accept it from others because that would be wrong...so there would be fighting over not being able to give their happiness to others--and soon everyone would be unhappy--which translates in Christian terms...to being happy. Do I have that right?

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Posted On Jul 06, 2007
Nowhere does the Catholic Church teach that we ought to be miserable. Rather, it teaches that happiness should not be our goal but rather virtue. More often than not, great happiness comes with the attainment of virtue. By devoting your life to doing good, you are filling your life with positive energy and also learning to love others. Constantly seeking to achieve this or that and trying to make your life better, always one step behind this elusive happiness, is conducive to discontent. Sure, you might end up with a fast car and a cellar full of wine that you will never drink, but that will just lead you to want an even faster car or even more expensive wine. Doing good is the only ambition that counts towards real happiness. I know a good many Catholics and I have found that the true Catholics, (i.e. those who take the religion seriously, not just those whose religiosity extends to going to Mass at Easter and Christmas) are some of the most truly happy people I have ever met.

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Posted On Jul 06, 2007
Pywll, it seems you're nit-picking because you don’t agree with the philosophy. It’s more or less like saying “if everyone attended to their responsibilities, with no regard given to protecting their own rights, then we would all have our rights violated.” Which ignores the fact that if everyone scrupulously fulfilled their responsibilities, there would be no rights violations. So it is with happiness – if everyone put virtue and the welfare of others ahead of themselves, there would be happiness all 'round.

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Posted On Jul 07, 2007
Denisy, I completely agree.  I was raised Catholic and this had done me a lot of harm.  The church teaches you to love your neighbor as your self, but not how to love yourself.  It teaches you to turn the other cheek, rather than avoid people who want to drag you down.  It teaches you not to judge others, when good jugment is the only way to be happy.  I prefer Indian religions, which teach self-esteem, and how to be truly happy.

How can you love others when you don't love yourself?  I don't like religions that teach humility to others.  The only humility I should have is to God (or Spirit).  Not other people.

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