Why You Should Write Down What You Accomplished At The End Of Every Day

Because we can often focus too much on the negative aspects of our lives, finding ways to illuminate what is good can be a wonderful technique in getting us feeling great when we wake each morning and great as we lay down to sleep.

Instead of focusing on the negative things in your life, find ways to illuminate what is good. CLICK TO TWEET

Here are 10 reasons why writing down what you accomplished at the end of the day can be a good way to remember what is good in your life and bring you closer to a positive reality. Whether you like to write or not, consider this exercise as an end of the day reflection on your wellbeing. Read further and reflect on the following reasons to write down your accomplishments.            
1. See How Far You’ve Come

Writing down what you’ve accomplished is a good way to look back at how far you have come. By writing down accomplishments you can see how far you have come especially when compared to where you may have started.

Not to say that where you may have started was necessarily bad but where you are now shows signs of natural human progress. And whether you have a goal you wish to achieve or not, writing down what you have done can be an encouraging reminder of how hard you worked to get to where you are in the present.

2. Remember Where You Want To Go
It can also be a way to help you in figuring out your niche and where you want to go with your future. There is no problem in looking back in your past especially when it helps encourage you under your present circumstances.

Writing down accomplishments reminds us to keep on moving ahead as we reach for our goals and passions. If you do have a passion and defined goals, writing down what you have accomplished and what you still need to do to get there can be a support mechanism to keep you moving ahead.

3. Celebrate Your Strengths & Acknowledge Your Weaknesses          
Writing down accomplishments keeps you feeling positive about your inner strengths and makes you aware of your weaknesses that you can improve on. Ever wonder what your inner strengths are and whether you have room for improvement?

Feeling positive about life begins with taking steps in the right direction. CLICK TO TWEET
By writing down your experiences you can gain a better overall insight of your strengths and weaknesses, an important part of learning. Feeling positive about life begins with taking steps in the right direction. Acknowledging your forte and your limitations is a progressive move that reaffirms purpose and gives us steady ground to move on as individuals.

4. Record How You’ve Overcome  Obstacles.                                             
Writing down accomplishments reminds us how resilient we can be. No matter what may have served as a road block during our day, we were still able to continue doing what we needed to do and end the day knowing how hard we worked to get there.

For days when life seems a little too tough, looking back at written examples of how you overcame similar situations can leave you feeling confident enough to get through whatever it is you are dealing with currently. So persevere and stand strong during all obstacles. At the end of the day, write down how this made you feel, how you went about it, and how you will learn from the experience.

5. Use It For Support                             
Maybe you find that encouragement and the motivation you need to keep on going is not really there in your life. Sometimes a journal can serve as a motivational and therapeutic tool. One that definitely does not replace the need for human support but that can again, help you realize your inner strength during tough times. Look to your journal as being that friend who is there for you when you feel no one else is.

6. Reduce Stress                                  
Writing down accomplishments can ease stress at the end of the day. Stress can not only harm the way we think and feel about ourselves and those around us, it can really wear us out emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Stress can really wear you out - emotionally, physically, and spiritually. CLICK TO TWEET
Often when we feel stress, we tend to forget to be optimistic. Stress can really eat you alive. Consider taking time out of the day and think about all you have and be content with it. Think about all that you have done during the day and seek to do greater.

Perhaps your stress has a lot to do with feeling like you are not doing enough. Look at what you have done, relish in your accomplishments and seek out ways you can do greater on a bigger level. Do not see this as a stressful endeavor, rather think of it in terms of peace. A way to eliminate that stress that keeps you from understanding the world we live in and becoming all the more wise.

7. Find Your Purpose.                           
Writing down accomplishments reminds us how great we are and that our life has purpose after all. We begin to realize our dreams and seek to make them come true once we realize our purpose. Finding purpose is perhaps the most fulfilling thing we can experience.

Take a step towards this fulfillment and devote a little bit of time at the end of your day to mediate on and express how certain things made you feel. You will definitely be glad you did!

8. Feel Good                                          
Writing down accomplishments feels good. Regardless of how big or small our accomplishments may be, they are still worthy of our acknowledgment. Not only does it make you feel good in knowing what you have done, it also makes you look good.

Writing down accomplishments and acknowledging them instead of forgetting, brings out your good side. The end of the day is the best time to do this. You go to bed feeling great and wake up feeling even greater. Let those positive thoughts fill your mind.

9. Cultivate Gratitude                           
Writing down accomplishments makes us more grateful and aware. Not only do we become more aware of our strengths and weaknesses, we become aware of the world around us and what we do as individuals to keep it going.

Being conscious and grateful is essential to our overall wellbeing and happiness. Gratitude for what we have at the moment also brings us closer to what we want. So enjoy what you have at the moment and try and remember it. Write down your accomplishments and be grateful for the small success you have each day at a time.

10. Sleep Soundly                                
Writing down accomplishments at the end of the day is a great reminder of a job well done. Give yourself a pat on the back because yes, you do deserve it. You have worked hard indeed, gotten through the day and gotten through some hardships as well as enjoyed some pleasures.

You are living and you are making the most of your situation each time you wake, you conquer the day. Before you go to bed, remind yourself why this is so great and why you deserve happiness. Write it down, smile, and allow comfort and joy to envelope you and guide you into a peaceful sleep.

Isn’t it amazing how much greatness a simple thing such as writing down accomplishments at the end of the day can be? Take a share of the greatness, find a good journal, and get to writing.

You never know when you may want to look back and need a reminder of how far you have come and how accomplished you actually really are.

Barack Obama Shows Supports as Gay Marriage is Legalised Across the Nation

By far the most controversial and most powerful piece of news that has surfaced today and yes it is true! 
Friday 26th June 2015, the US Supreme court ruled in favour of Gay Marriages across the United states in a 5-4 vote.

The majority of states in the USA had legally allowed gay marriages, moreover, today the 14 outstanding states including Georgia, Texas and Michigan were forced to lift their bans. The event led to a
flood of emotions and celebration and the police even allowed a crowd of supporters to stream into the court plaza crying out 'Love has won' as they waved their rainbow flags in the air (with the rainbow symbolising 'gay pride').

The US president, Barack Obama, even expressed his support for this ruling with the phrase 'Today, we can say, in no uncertain terms, that we have made our union a little more perfect'. In fact, multiple couples in various states were already picking up their marriage licenses minutes after the ruling struck down the ban!
What do we have to say about this? Is this really what Our Maker designed us for? I'm interested to hear what you guys think about this one! 

One justice makes big difference in US gay marriage ruling

He was appointed in the 1980s under the conservative presidency of Ronald Reagan, but Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has gone on to become perhaps the most important gay rights supporter in the American legal system.

The gray-haired 78-year-old cemented that position Friday when he wrote the majority opinion for the five judges — or justices as they are known — who ruled to allow gay marriage across the United States.

“No union is more profound than marriage for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family,” Kennedy said, his deep voice resonating around the solemn surroundings of the Supreme Court.

“In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.”

All eyes were fixed on him. Without Kennedy — who soon found himself trending on Twitter — gay marriage would not have been legalized at the federal level.

That’s because Kennedy is seen as an important “swing vote,” siding with the court’s four liberal judges instead of the conservative bloc on some issues — including gay marriage.

Friday’s momentous ruling was met with jubilation by many same-sex couples, including those who had been living in the 13 states that banned gay marriage.

“Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions,” Kennedy said in his ruling.

“They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”

– ‘A humanitarian’ –

“Justice Kennedy has become probably the most powerful jurist in the entire world because he’s the point on so many issues before the Supreme Court of the US, and though he only has one vote, his vote literally changes most cases,” said Mary Margaret Penrose, law professor at Texas A&M University.

David Cruz, an expert from the University of Southern California Gould law school, said that without Kennedy’s vote, states would have remained free to exclude same-sex couples from civil marriage.
Kennedy was the “favorite to write the decision that extends same-sex marriage nationwide,” Cruz said.

In the past, Kennedy — who is considered moderate — has taken positions on civil rights that demonstrate his “flexibility” in interpreting the Constitution, lawyer Lisa Linsky said.

“His positions and decisions in major civil rights cases over the years demonstrate that he is a humanitarian,” she said.

“His constitutional scholarship is rooted in common sense and the recognition that societies, attitudes and institutions change and evolve.”

Legal analyst Elizabeth Wydra told AFP that Kennedy’s words would be immortalized in the “Obergefell v. Hodges” ruling, as the case is known.

“With this ruling, Justice Kennedy has ensured that his name will be forever linked with the recognition of equal rights for gay men and lesbians,” Wydra said.

“He has used language so sweeping and powerful to describe the desire for equal dignity that it brings a tear to the eye.”
– No coincidence –

Kennedy had already authored three major decisions affecting gay rights in America, each a significant step towards Friday’s historic ruling.

In 1996, Kennedy wrote the decision in the landmark “Romer v. Evans” case on the protection of civil rights for gays and lesbians. In 2003, the court struck down anti-sodomy laws in “Lawrence v. Texas.”

And in 2013 in “United States v. Windsor” Kennedy wrote the majority opinion against the Defense of Marriage Act.

The decision to hand down the ruling in the “Obergefell” case Friday was likely no accident, as June 26 was also the date in the years when Kennedy and the court released the rulings in “Lawrence” and “Windsor.”

It Took Me A Minute To Figure Out What This Dad Was Doing… Then It Made Me Cry!

Fathers are superheroes. They have certain characteristics that always amazed me. For example, my father always knew when I was lying. And he knew when mom already said no but I thought I would try my luck with him instead. My father always knew exactly what to say to scare my boyfriends. And my personal favorite: my father could fix anything!!

Fathers are superheroes. CLICK TO TWEET
Fathers have a unique ability to repair even the most broken toys. And it doesn’t stop there – they come up with amazing solutions for problems I didn’t even know existed. Every day they made life a little easier and a little better with their clever ideas. Dad the builder – can he fix it? YES HE CAN!                          
Dad makes life little easier and a whole lot better.                                    
In this video, a caring father comes up with a creative solution to make his daughter smile. Just wait until the end – you won’t even see it coming!

I love the look on her face when she sees what he did. Watch the video to see what this brilliant man does for his daughter, and please SHARE this with a superhero father in your life!

The Top 3 Gadgets in 2015

2) G Drive Ev SSD

If you want to experience speedy transfer
rates, G-DRIVE ev SSD is the device for you.
It exudes great performance when linked
with a 3.0 USB device and can get you
transfer rates up to four hundred MB per
second. You can also use this device with
G-DRIVE ev and G-DRIVE ev 220.
If you are an innovative professional of the
heyday and demand extreme flexibility and
development, then you must use it with the
G-DOCK ev and experience transfer rates up
to four hundred and eighty MB per second.
The device is primarily used if you need a
faster and a more lithe way to capture,
allocate and share work. G-Technology’s
modern Evolution cycle is renowned for
streamlining electronic content work flow
from the field to your studio. You can
capture on-site, transport to studio and
allocate to your partners – all by using this
one device. G-DRIVE ev SSD is supported
by a three year guarantee and an indefinite
technological support.

The Top 3 Gadgets in 2015

3) Live scribe Echo Pen

The Live scribe Echo is the unique
combination of a ball point pen and a voice
recorder. The main function of this device is
to conserve electronic copies of notes and
recordings – these can later be played,
saved on the computer or shared with
others. The Echo smart pen is a revelation
for students and professionals who
consistently take, evaluate, and share
written notes. The Echo smart pen has the
same motto as all other great technological
devices: it makes our life easier.
In this paper-less age, all ideas dictated on
papers in this digital age need make their
way into a computer. The entire process
becomes tedious: notes have to be retyped,
recordings transcribed, and drawings need
to be scanned. But with the smart pen, the
dilemma of capturing written notes and
voice messages in a digital arrangement is
solved.

It thus becomes convenient to have a device
that can astutely sync written notes with
audio

The Top 3 Gadgets in 2015

Good technological corporations tackle
problems we didn’t think we had before. If
you are a technology savvy person, then
these three great devices must make it to
your list :

1) Logitech Bluetooth Multi – Device
Keyboard

Logitech’s new K480 Bluetooth Multi Device
Keyboard might make selecting your cellular
devices while using a computer seems like a
problem, but it solves it really well. The
K480 allows you to keep your focus—
especially your hands—directly on your key
board. The Bluetooth Multi Device Keyboard
permits you to exchange key board
functionality amongst three gadgets
(computer, mobile phone and tablet) by
using a plain dial. The K480 is the first multi
device key board ever to be made and it has
garnered appreciation from the masses.
However, one must one know of the one
flaw it has: the key board does not possess
all the keys that you would normally find on
a full sizes keyboard, so it might not be a
good substitute of your desktop key board.

The five devices that will make you feel like you’re in the future

1) Cooking: Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker

This slow cooker hardly needs you. Just put
your food right in, adjust the temperature,
and then look over the cooking from
anywhere with your mobile phone. You can
adjust the crock pot’s settings by a remote
— to turn up the heat or to increase the
cooking time. You can be anywhere in the
world but still make sure that your dinner is
warm and waiting for you. It doesn’t let you
tweet or look at Google calendar like
Samsung’s well-known smart fridge, but
then why would you have time for that,
when dinner is before you?

The five devices that will make you feel like you’re in the future

2) Temperature Control

For users who want smart cooling but no
central air conditioning, or who just want to
cool one room in order to cut down on
costs, the Aros window unit by Quirky and
GE covers it all. Not only does it follow the
user’s schedule, but it also learns about the
user’s habits and proposes how to alter the
settings. It can also turn itself off when the
user leaves his or her house, and turn back
when the user comes back – based on the
user’s cell phone’s GPS – so the user can
get the ideal temperature when he or she
enters the house.

The five devices that will make you feel like you’re in the future

3) Home Surveillance

This device is truly magical because it not
only keeps a check on security by checking
for intruders but also detects hazards like
fires, leaks, and carbon monoxide gas.
Start-up Canary posses a killer HD video
camera, microphone, activity sensor, and a
temperature and humidity detector. When
the appliance, also called Canary, detects
something unusual happening when the user
is not in home, an alert with video footage
is saved with some options for responding
to it. Canary, also switches its settings
when you come back so the motion sensor
does not go off in case you wander in the
kitchen for some water.

The five devices that will make you feel like you’re in the future

4) Hazard Detection

This small guy is more adorable than the
inspection robot EVE, but it senses water
leaks and mold in the place of vegetation.
SNUPI Technologies’ Wally has detectors
that you can place anywhere in your home
to check temperature, dampness and
humidity. The sensors send alerts in case
any leaks are detected.

The five devices that will make you feel like you’re in the future

Looking through the heaps of gadgets and
gizmos and comparing consumer reviews
and merchandise details, we found five of
the most valuable smart home devices that
nail the sweet spot in uniting mechanization
with ease. Here’s the wish list:                
5) Sprinkler System.                            
There is nothing more annoying than having
sprinklers on full discharge. But this Rain
Machine by Green Electronics links to your
sprinkler controller and makes use of wifi to
download weather forecasts. It does
wonders by regulating the sprinklers
accordingly. And if the Wi fi goes down, the
Rain Machine can function using the
downloaded weather information and
changing the quantity of watering. The
sprinklers will thus be off when during rain.
Success!

5 Places to see before you Die

1. Machu Picchu (Peru):

The existence of the mountain-top ruins
was not known to anyone living outside the
Urubamba Valley until 1911, when an
American historian, Hiram Bingham,
mentioned the five-century old, pre-
Columbian site in his travelogue. The
striking architecture and structure suggests
that the site was once a home to the Incas.
A tiresome yet adventurous two to four day
hike up the Inca Rail may take you to the
old peak, but if you are looking for luxury,
you can also take the train and stay
overnight in a nearby hotel to explore the
site at length.

5 Places to see before you Die

2. The Eiffel Tower
(France):

One of the most beloved landmarks of
Europe, and a symbol of recognition for
Paris, France, Eiffel Tower was built in 1889
by Gustave Eiffel. It was the tallest existing
structure then. Historians narrate that Eiffel
declared to build the tower for the 1889
World’s Fair and expected a delightful
response from the people. However, to his
disappointment, his announcement was met
with scepticism and scoff. Yet he went on
to complete the project and the tower now
stands as world’s number one tourist
attraction and brings home a revenue of
about $561.9 billion according to a 2012
report.

5 Places to see before you Die

3. Taj Mahal (India):                                      
Built in the name of love, the beautiful white
marble mausoleum still stands as a symbol
for everlasting love that Mughal emperor
Shah Jahan had for his beloved third wife,
Mumtaz Mahal. Designed by an Afghan,
Ustad Ahmad Lahori in 1632, the structure
has been called the jewel of Muslim art in
India, and rightly so. One cannot but fall in
love with its immense expanse of lush green
gardens and imposing white minarets,
looking down at young, love-struck couples
with an air of unperturbed loftiness. The
white, romantic complex stands as one of
the world’s most remarkable architectural
masterpieces and is definitely a must visit!

5 Places to see before you Die

4. Stonehenge (UK):                                  

Towering gigantically and imploring the
sprawling city at its foot, Stonehenge flaunts
one of the world’s most awe-inspiring
prehistoric megalithic monuments.
Everything from its tremendously huge
megaliths to its concentric structure exudes
ancient sophistication. The time of its
creation is disputed, but historians agree
that it was built sometime between 3,000
B.C. and 2,000 B.C. However, the purpose
of its creation remains one of the greatest
archaeological mysteries. Book a ticket to
see England’s most iconic tourist
attractions and reflect about the ancient
mysteries today!

5 Places to see before you Die

5. Venice Canals (Italy):                      
Romantic, relaxing, serene and captivating,
this floating city bewitches you and makes
you fall in love instantly. Tired of the fast
moving lives and vehicles, people retire to
Venice to have a lazy ride in a gondola
around the city’s liquid streets. Venice is
famous for its Gothic and Byzantine
palazzos, bohemian shops and alluring
cafes. The place is an engineered heaven for
folks looking for romance, warmth and
adventure all together. It is a masterpiece
carved out of marble and a sight that might
not be around forever. So, before wasting
any more time thinking, grab a ticket and fly
off to the land of canals.

How gospel artist, 2 others murdered Customs officer’s son

LAGOS—Operatives of the Homicide sections of Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, FCIID, Alagbon, Lagos, is currently investigating the alleged kidnap and murder of the son of a Customs officer.
The victim, identified as Enere Ukonga, was reportedly kidnapped in his residence  at No, 10, Ajanaku Street, off Salvation Road, Opebi, Ikeja by a gospel artist and two others.
The suspects, who were identified as Elijah John, Ibrahim Maina and Okafor Jude, purportedly kidnapped the victim from his home, killed and buried him.
Vanguard learned that trouble started after the father of the deceased, Mr. Ajayi Ukonga was contracted by one Osarentin Enabulele to clear his goods at the port.
Enabulele allegedly gave the deceased’s father about N1 million for clearing of the goods from the port.
It was gathered that immediately the father of the deceased collected the money, he started the processing of clearing goods, while he waited for Enabulele to come with the Bill of Lading of the goods to finally clear the goods. After waiting for some time, it was discovered that Enabulele had no bill of lading of the goods.
He said: “I was surprised that one day he came to demand for his N1 million, that I should not continue with the clearing. I told him that I have already used it for his job. To my surprise, Enabulele and four others came and kidnapped my son, killed him and buried his body at Abesan Estate, Ipaja, where we later exhumed his body for re-burial.
“We are carrying out DNA test on his body with a view to ascertaining  he is the person in question. While the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the DNA result is out.”
The, FCIID, Public Relations Officer, Mr. Friday Achibong, who confirm ed the incident, said the suspects had been declared wanted
According to vanguard news paper.

EU threatens sanctions against those involved in Burundi violence

European Union foreign ministers on Thursday threatened to sanction individuals involved in Burundi’s political violence.

“The EU is determined to adopt, if necessary, targeted restrictive measures against those whose actions would have led or lead to violence and repression in serious violations of human rights,” they said in a statement after meeting in Luxembourg.

They called on EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to “start preparatory work” on possible sanctions against individuals in the troubled central African nation.

The ministers also condemned the “political stalemate” and decline of the security situation in Burundi, saying it had “serious consequences” for the country’s inhabitants and for the whole region.

Four people were killed and some 30 wounded in grenade attacks in Burundi a week ahead of key parliamentary elections, police said Monday.

The grenade blasts, which took place overnight Sunday to Monday, were the latest in a string of attacks.

Burundi has been in crisis since late April over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial bid to stand for a third consecutive five-year term, a move that opponents call unconstitutional and a violation of a 2006 peace deal that ended 13 years of civil war.

Last week, the Burundian human rights group Aprodeh said at least 70 people have been killed, 500 wounded and more than 1,000 jailed since the opposition protests began.

The EU in May said it was suspending its electoral observer mission to Burundi.

Inspirational words

Check out @Chapstar4eva's Tweet: https://twitter.com/Chapstar4eva/status/612925136841347074

9 Tips To Start Your Day In A Positive Way

Positivity is a key to seeing things and situations from a different perspective; a different pair of eyes. These result in prompting a different reaction to situations that could save you time and perhaps help resolve the issue and make the future brighter. Every day we wake up from our sleep indicates a new day with new chances and opportunities; a day with a lot of freedom and power of choice.

The first and very interesting choice we have as soon as we wake up is whether we are going to get out of bed or press that tempting snooze button on our alarm, which starts a chain reaction. This causes you to pull the blankets, continue sleeping, and possibly feel lazy or tired for part of the day. No one is going to make this choice for us (well sometimes, this is going to happen if someone is force-waking us up). Moreover, generally the way we begin our day could have an influence or impact the remaining of our day.

One party of people begin their days with motivation, optimism, and dedication. The other party, the one that usually hits the snooze button, choose to stay in bed and sleep that extra 5 or 10 minutes only to realize when they wake up that they missed a very important meeting or appointment. Hopefully you do not wake up to a distressed environment, one filled with lots of arguments and stress, because you can end up carrying that stress with you to the workplace.

This stress will then impact your work and performance negatively and it could feel even more irritating to your colleagues because your attitude could affect them. We always know that negative energy, just like positive energy, could be transmitted to others easily. Be aware that starting a day right is possible, regardless of what comes your way. Experiment by trying a different strategy every day of the week for a week and discover what the best way to start your day is.

Doing this will help you start your day on the right foot and radiate positive energy within yourself and also to other people. Positive energy is important and will help create a positive environment full of comfort and joy. Below are 9 tips to start a positive day:

1. Spend A Few
Minutes Meditating

This is one way we can start our day on the right note. Have you tried to apply the method of simply spending some time awake in bed breathing before you actually get out of bed? This breathing seems simple and is in fact simple. The most important thing is doing it regularly so that it becomes a habit and so you do not end up doing it one or two times and then forgetting about it. Try breathing in for a count of 4 or 5 seconds, allowing your body to rise and your lungs to fill up with air. Then also breathe out for a count of 4 to 5 seconds, this time allowing your body to drop back. Remember to take a pause between each breath. What this exercise does is allow you to create a sense of comfort and peace within and will allow you to be in a good mental place before your feet even hit the ground.

 

2. Plan For
Tomorrow

Is planning one of the strategies you implement in your life on a regular basis? Do you start your days with organization? If not, then hurry up and begin planning your life in order to stay organized and on the right path. Did you ever try to plan and organize your day still to come; organize your to-do-list, clothes, and perhaps any books you need the night before? This will allow you to wake up feeling in control of your day. This preparation will not take a lot of your time and will save you a lot of time the next morning when you are super busy. You do not want to be running around in the morning looking for your car keys because you did not prepare the night before. Moreover, this is will help tackle more important aspects of your mornings.

3. Boost Your
Productivity

Who would not like to be really productive every day and get things done easily and effectively by not wasting so much time on any given task or activity. A study done in 2010 by a team of economic researchers revealed that happiness induced productivity in the workplace. Negative thoughts and actions will just waste your energy and make it worthless. Instead, you want to think positively and have this positive energy. Would you have ever imagined that the simple act of smiling could be a vital step to success in relationships and career?

4. Do Your Inspirational
Reading

Are you someone that tries to always be inspired through reading an inspirational text or video? It is never too late to start. This is really a great way to start off your day because inspiration is a very powerful tool that can help push us forward in life when we are in uncomfortable and undesirable positions. We are used to reading the news every morning, but that can be a sad way to begin the day. News is often filled with politics, bad events; more than the good ones. However, you can buy a few books that are inspiring and uplifting, or maybe just simply go online and read an inspirational quote or text and live by it. This is an amazing brain stimulus that puts you in a very good position for your day with positive thoughts and energy.

5. Smiling

Did you have any idea that smiling could actually make you look and feel younger? Well, I bet you did hear something about this or maybe believe this. There is no need to consider the possibly expensive wrinkle and face creams, because smiling might be a strong, potent tool that helps with anti-aging. More than just helping with anti-aging, smiling could help brighten your day. Are you used to smiling as soon as you get up and roll out of bed? Smiling is an incredible tip to start off your day and make it a positive one. Smiling does not only benefit you, but also benefits others and loved ones around you. Would it not impress and satisfy you to make others’ days too?

 

6. Try Green Tea Rather
Than Coffee

Who does not drink coffee in the morning as their waking up recipe? I mean there are a lot of people who do not drink coffee in the morning, but the vast majority do. Moreover a lot of people overdose on coffee and have side effects. Coffee is a great stimulant, but in some conditions it could over-stimulate and make your stomach uncomfortable and not at ease. How about you try a cup of green tea to give you a soothing start to your day? It is the caffeine in the coffee that people crave and need for energy.

Fortunately, green tea always has caffeine in it; just with less quantity. However, green tea has an additional benefit over coffee and that is the healthy antioxidants it contains. Antioxidants are those substances such as vitamin C or E that has the ability of eradicating potentially damaging oxidizing agents in a living organism. You do not have to do the switch right away from coffee to green tea.

Take it step by step; maybe try green tea once a week at first, while maintaining coffee for the other six days. If you feel that there is a positive change, then maybe you could start having green tea for more days each week. Remember, at the end you have the option to stick to what works best for you.

7. Set Clear Intentions
For Your Day

Let me ask you this: Do you start your day by being grateful and setting clear intentions, or do you wear this gloomy, sad, stressed face every morning when you wake up? It is very vital to be clear when doing anything, because this will just save you time and effort. For example, your goal can be as simple and clear as having a productive day.

Moreover, you could be more specific and decide that you want to spend quality time with your family and friends without any interruptions. Other options include intending to have a good and fun day, a peaceful and calm day, an active and lively day, or maybe learning or helping day. There is no right or wrong for this; it is your choice and that is the best part. Whatever you choose you want to do with your day, one of the most important things is to set a clear, believable, and achievable day. You need to have the belief that you will be able to achieve and seize the day.

A lot of people underestimate the power and potential of thoughts and how thinking differently can help you get ahead in life. We tend to live on autopilot, doing things out of habit and not really thinking about what we are doing. This causes us to paint our reality unconsciously, even though we might not like our current life.

However, we need to start realizing and being aware that we construct our reality with our mental power (thoughts) and attitude; this means we have the power to choose to do things we want and not just end up doing things because we are used to doing them without noticing that.

Keep in mind that you are the leader of your life and you are the one that picks your own thoughts and decide on your behaviour for the day. Moreover, these choices then determine how we feel mentally, physically, and emotionally.

 

8. Go For A
Morning Run

Do you wake up late because you are a night person or are you a morning person that wakes up early? Sleeping early at night and waking up early can have a positive impact on your day. First off, you will get a good night’s sleep and wake up without any problems and without feeling like you have 20 pounds of weight on your chest.

Furthermore, waking up early allows you more time in the morning to do your favorite activities; one of which could be going for a morning run. Did you know that going for a morning run helps you release endorphins? Endorphins are the feel-good hormones that are produced when you do something exciting or exercise. Start off your day by going for a nice run around your house in the not-so-cold and not-so-hot weather before it gets too hot later on in the day.

9. Prepare A Good,
Healthy, And
Delicious Breakfast

Do you have enough time in morning to have a proper breakfast, or do you usually not have enough time to do so and need to race your way out of the house? Well, as you might know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and thus we need to make sure we have this meal before we leave for work or school. Who knows someone, maybe themselves, who wakes up every morning to check his Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter feed before he does anything else. It almost seems like he is waking up for the sheer purpose of checking his social media? Instead of wasting your time on such a task that belongs at the bottom of your to-do-list, focus on something more important such as your breakfast. A good morning breakfast can set the tone for the day.

In conclusion, there are numerous ways or tips to start a positive day. A lot of these tips depend on you and your personal interests. Do whatever you need to do to feel happy to lead positive days and thus a positive life in the long run. Also, do not be afraid to experiment. We will never learn if we do not fail. If we keep on succeeding all the time and never slipping, we will not be able to adapt and improve in the many rooms of life.

5 Shocking Reasons You’ll Probably Never Achieve Your Dreams

Are you a person full of dreams with a positive view of life? Dreaming could get very wild and interesting sometimes. However, real goals and achievements could be born from such dreams.

Dreaming is something all of us humans share and is a place we can run to, to think big and just think outside the box. In other words, a lot of the dreams and the ideas we have while sleeping would not be available or thought of outside sleep. This just provides us with a window to be creative and perhaps end up thinking of an applicable idea.

Moreover, dreams could also mean goals in a different context. Goals are something we set to add purpose to our life because without purpose and drive, we are just wasting our time. We are all entitled to set goals and achieve them, but sometimes things do not take the right turns. Sometimes we may face road blocks and dead ends that we need to face and figure out a way to detour and resolve.

Let us face it, we can dream big and outside the box, which is empowering and inspiring, but we will not achieve everything and anything we set our minds to, that is just the way it works sometimes. However, does that mean we stop dreaming or moving in the direction of achieving our goals? No, not at all, life could try to bring us down as many times as it likes, but we need to be strong to jump right up every time.

Let’s take a look at 5 things that may be holding you back from achieving your dreams:

1. Using Someone Else’s
Definition Of Success

So, are you using someone else’s definition of success or have you established the perfect recipe for your success? See ,success is different depending on the individual and what is important for them, thus using someone else’s recipe would not work for the simple fact that their goals and dreams might be different than yours.

You have to set your own beliefs, goals, and values and implement those. Why would you waste your time using other people’s ideas for success? Being clear on what you want or what success is to you is the first and foremost task you need to do to get anywhere from there and move on.

So, forget about what anyone else thinks or believes you should do, and do what you believe in because this will take you further. This does not mean that as soon as you hear your parents tell you or suggest a certain major in university, you rebel and just ignore their talk.

Besides being your parents, having more experience, and knowing you inside out, they want the best for you. Thus, listen to their suggestions and advice, and have a productive argument presenting your thoughts and ideas. Maybe this can eventually help you achieve your goals? Think about it.

2. Asking For Help Is Not
In Your Dictionary

Are you the type of person that asks for help when you need it or do you think it is not appropriate or is degrading to ask for help? Some people sometimes think that the road to success is like walking through a forest that has not been visited by anyone and that if luck is on your side you will reach the other end, known as success.

Others believe they should be independent and proceed on their way to their goals alone without help. It is a really good habit to be independent and not need anyone to achieve your goals, but do not understand independence incorrectly. If you ask for help just to pass a dead end and then continue the journey on your own then this is still being independent.

For instance, some people refuse to get psychological help or other kinds of help they need to be able to achieve and accomplish certain values and goals. This is something that needs to be done so that you are in the right form and mentality to achieve your dreams.

Moreover, in “Think And Grow Rich,” a book by Napoleon Hill, he states that, “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” Take some time and think about this statement. Napoleon continues to write that in 1937, millions of people followed and worked by his advice to amount to unimagined levels of success.
Well, this might not seem logical at first as you might think there is limited wealth to share with everyone, but the way to think of this is that helping others grow and succeed exposes you to different issues and scenarios where things do not work and thus you have a base of experience and things to avoid to make it.

As you help others to succeed, you may as well need your help on your way to success, and you will most likely get it if you were not selfish.

3. Bad Scheduling

Did you know that scheduling and prioritization are such powerful tools that could sometimes make your goals or break them? Scheduling your days and life helps you put things in perspective and order and thus help you finish tasks faster and more effectively.

You do not want to wake up every morning having many things on mind and not remembering what you need to do first. This could be hard especially for someone that is really busy and so all it takes is just pre-planning the night before or waking up earlier to set everything straight.

This thought of having to organize everything and doing the planning every day may sound like a detailed study of some sort but when you realize that you are not achieving all what you want and there is still some untapped potential, you might end up implementing the strategy of proper scheduling.

Notice that there is a big difference between being busy and productive. As author J.R.R. Tolkien says, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
Guess what will happen if you do not take control of your life and time, deciding what you need to get done and use your time for. If this does not happen, then someone else could end up doing the job for you.

Another simpler strategy than detailed scheduling would be to take off an hour or so a week and mark the important tasks/activities on your calendar to stay clear of what you need to do to gain daily success. If it is there on your calendar with the time, it will get done. It is as simple as this.

4. You Are Not Growing
Yourself Anymore

Are you continuously working on yourself in terms of growth and development? Do you know that you keep on learning as long as you are alive and that you do not stop at a certain age? Some people might think that after high school or university studies you are off the hook of education and now you will go on to work until you retire.

This could be true but even then, while working you still gain experience and more skills, also known as growth and a kind of education. As long as you are on the track to your success, you are growing. However, what happens if you are not living life the way you planned it or would like to see yourself live it?

This is when you might not achieve your dreams. Moreover, another misconception is that once you are at the summit, your mission is complete in life. Once you are at the top of the success tree, you could still slip or even get bruised. It might be the first time you reach the top and so you might not know what to do with this success and thus lose it or part of it.

After achieving a goal, ask yourself what the next step is and where you can go from this point on. There’s always room for more growth and development.

The best thing is that the idea and concept of growing yourself is not limited to a certain activity or high-class task. This can be applied to fitness, starting a business, or learning a new skill. As long as you are learning and using this knowledge, you got to be growing. Curiosity is a great way to not have to worry about growth because you will keep asking and wanting to know more.

5. Looking For
Shortcuts

If you had the choice of getting to a destination using a long route or a short one (shortcut), which one would you choose? You would most probably choose the shortcut; I mean who would not do that, especially if they are late and need to get somewhere quickly? This is usually a good strategy as long as the shortcut is not some kind of off-road that is bumpy and uneven.

However, would you implement this same strategy to achieve your dreams and reach success? This might seem like a good idea but unfortunately there are no shortcuts.

If you want something badly and want to consider yourself successful at it, you need to go full in and be ready to take the longest route to get there. That is why it is advisable to do something you love, because you will not mind the long route and eventually get there.

In addition, one of the most successful, richest people in the world says, “If you spend your time looking for shortcuts, you will find one – right out of business.” Get rich quick schemes are just not how things work. It is like you are saying that you could get straight A’s with little or no studying. Life and opportunities do not come easy like that.
Besides, if you try to take shortcuts and succeed, you will not feel the overwhelming feeling of joy that comes with hard work and perseverance and there might also be side effects to the shortcuts, just like a bumpy road has an effect on the car.

For instance, if one of your dreams is to lose weight, you would not be happy to take weight loss pills that may have an impact on your organs rather than diet and exercise, would you? Thus, prevent shortcuts and go with the traditional way, even though it could take longer, but the effects will be better.

BONUS:

You Are Not Ready For The Commitment
One very important question we usually do not ask ourselves before diving into a task or activity is whether we are committed or not? Are you the type of person that once engaged in an activity, are willing to stay with it until the end; until you complete it and achieve success in it?

If not, then here is one thing you could add to your life that will bring value. The reason some people do not commit is because they are afraid. This is because they do not know what will happen. What will people think of me if I fail, or how will I handle all this new pressure of success?

Did you know that people may choose unhappiness over uncertainty? It makes sense because people would rather remain in the same position or situation than test something new that might take them to a worse spot or position. People are too afraid to leave their comfort zone, but this is a key to success. It is like using the same recipe or eating the same food, would you not get bored? This is why we need to try new recipes once in a while and not be afraid to fail the first few times.
Remember too that status, position, reputation, and money are just by-products of success and achieving your dreams. These are things that are nice to have but the ultimate value is in the dreams you accomplish. Start loving what you do and do not pay more attention to the difficulty of the task; focus your attention on the completion and fulfillment of the dream.