10 questions you should ask to yourself: in preparation for self-improvement

Be all you can be, but it’s not always in the Army. I often see myself as somewhat contented with my life the way things are, but of course it’s hard to think of anything else when where are real issues to be discussed.

Still I aspire for something deeper and more meaningful.

So we’re all pelted with problems. Honestly it shouldn’t even bother or even hinder us to becoming all we ought to be. Aspirations as kids should continue to live within us, even though it would be short-lived or as long as we could hold on to the dream. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks… or can they?

1. What do I really want?

   The question of the ages. So many things you want to do with your life and so little time to even go about during the day.

   Find something that you are good at can help realize that small step towards improvement. Diligence is the key to know that it is worth it.

2. Should I really change?

   Today’s generation has taken another level of redefining ’self’, or at least that’s what the kids are saying. Having an army of teenage nieces and nephews has taught me that there are far worse things that they could have had than acne or maybe even promiscuity. So how does that fit into your lifestyle?

   If history has taught us one thing, it’s the life that we have gone through. Try to see if partying Seventies style wouldn’t appeal to the younger generation, but dancing is part of partying. Watch them applaud after showing them how to really dance than break their bones in break-dancing.

3. What’s the bright side in all of this?

   With so much is happening around us there seem to be no room for even considering that light at the end of the tunnel. We can still see it as something positive without undergoing so much scrutiny. And if it’s a train at the end of the tunnel, take it for a ride and see what makes the world go round!

4. Am I comfortable with what I’m doing?

   There’s always the easy way and the right way when it comes to deciding what goes with which shoes, or purse, shirt and whatnot. It doesn’t take a genius to see yourself as someone unique, or else we’ll all be equally the same in everything we do. Variety brings in very interesting and exciting questions to be experimented.

5. Have I done enough for myself?

   Have you, or is there something more you want to do? Discontentment in every aspect can be dangerous in large doses, but in small amounts you’ll be able to see and do stuff you could never imagine doing.

6. Am I happy with where I am today?

   It’s an unfair question so let it be an answer! You love being a good and loving mom or dad to your kids, then take it up a notch! Your kids will love you forever. The same goes with everyday life!

7. Am I appealing to the opposite sex?

   So maybe I don’t have an answer to that, but that doesn’t mean I can’t try it, though. Whether you shape-up, change the way you wear your clothes or hair, or even your attitude towards people, you should always remember it will always be for your own benefit.

8. How much could I have?

   I suppose in this case there is no such things on having things too much or too little, but it’s more on how badly you really need it. I’d like to have lots of money, no denying that, but the question is that how much are you willing to work for it?

9. What motivates me? What motivates you?

   It’s an answer you have to find out for yourself. There are so many things that can make everyone happy, but to choose one of the may be the hardest part. It’s not like you can’t have one serving of your favorite food in a buffet and that’s it. Just try it piece by piece.

10. What Really Makes You Tick? So?

    What really makes you tick? You can be just about anything you always wanted to be, but to realize that attaining something that may seem very difficult is already giving up before you even start that journey. Always remember, that self-improvement is not just about the physical or philosophical change you have to undergo, but it’s something that you really want.

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Affirmation is defined in the Glossary section of the IAmUniversity website as “a positive statement that has been specifically worded for the purpose of reprogramming the subconscious mind with positive and spiritual thoughts.” Now, that could all be mumbo-jumbo to others. So in simple terms, affirmation is just a statement that another person could tell you or a person could say to himself in order to improve one aspect of his life or his overall personality.

One could enjoy many benefits simply by repeating an affirmation to oneself. Consider the following situations:

How Affirmations Can Lead to Career Growth

One way of looking at affirmations is thinking of it plainly as a self-motivation technique. A person can easily get rid of long-time bad habits and other personality defects or weaknesses through self-motivation.

Many people tend to have difficulties expressing themselves to others, especially when it requires them to take a stand. Many people find it hard to take charge and responsibility, even though they know in their hearts that they are more capable than others in fulfilling the requirements of the job.

If you find yourself in the same situation, having an affirmation you can repeat to yourself can be just the key to increasing your self-confidence and developing your leadership skills. Follow the next few tips to be able to formulate your own affirmation.

Consider your strengths and weaknesses. Choose what areas you wish to improve on and which strengths or capabilities you have that you wish to further develop. Make one simple sentence that would clearly define your goals and intentions. For instance, if you wish to become more assertive, you can have your affirmation stated as such:

“Each day, I’ll be able to express what’s in my mind and my heart because I know it’s worth expressing.”

Repeat this every day before you go to work.

How Affirmations Can Lead to Personal and Social Growth

Children who used to be described as shy or quiet sometimes grow up without any noticeable changes in their personalities. These people tend to become wallflowers in the party and usually encounter difficulties in making friends or forming intimate relationships with other people.

An affirmation can easily cure you of such things and build up your level of self-esteem and self-confidence. One common reason why a number of individuals are very reticent is simply because they don’t believe they’re worth knowing. An affirmation would help them see the light and be able to fully appreciate who and what they’ve become.

The effects of affirmations greatly depend on the intensity of the person’s belief in the power of affirmations. If he doesn’t have complete faith in doing affirmations and on his ability to make the affirmations come true, there’s certainly no point in continuing to make affirmations.

How Affirmations Can Help You Overcome Bad Habits and Vices

One popular saying among therapists: Individuals working in rehabilitation clinics often find themselves dealing with the impossibility of trying to help someone in need who doesn’t want to be helped.

There is no denying that affirmations are powerful - but their influence can only go so far. First, you have to acknowledge the fact that you need help overcoming your addiction - it could be something as simple as having a predilection to be late for office or something as serious as having a pathological craving for drugs - and secondly, you need to absolutely believe that there’s hope for you.

Only when these two conditions have been met can affirmations - along with supportive therapeutic programs - do their job.

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clipped from cultivategreatness.com The Science and Spirituality of Cultivating Greatness As a scientist I value productivity, creativity, and effectiveness. Twenty-five years ago during my involvement with cancer clinical trials I was shaken by a young person’s death. I decided to investigate the spiritual realm. I found spiritual teachings that can be merged with my scientific perspective. This “scientific spirituality” has been responsible for much of my growth. “Scientific spirituality” seems like an oxymoron. Generally one doesn’t think that science supports spirituality. What is it? It is using a scientifically proven method to find our true self. The “spiritual” I discuss is not religion. To me “spirit” is our true essence. If a person is in tune with his or her spirit it means that that they can be in tune with the spirit of a co-worker or a loved one. Scientific studies support spiritual assertions of meditation’s benefits.

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To achieve spiritual growth in a world defined by power, money, and influence may appear a Herculean task.

Modern conveniences such as electronic gadgets, television, and the web have caused us to confine our attention mostly to physical needs and wants. As a result, our concepts of self-worth and self-meaning are muddled. How can we strike a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of our lives?

1) To grow spiritually is to look inward.
Introspection goes beyond recalling things that happened in a day, week, or month. You need to look closely and reflect upon your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and motivations. Periodically examining your experiences, decisions, relationships, and the things you engage in provides you with useful insights into your goals.

Moreover, it gives you clues on how to act, react, and conduct yourself in the midst of any situation. Like any skill, introspection can be learned. All it takes is the courage and willingness to seek the truth within you. While looking inward, remember to be objective, forgiving of yourself, and focused on your areas for improvement.

2) To grow spiritually is to develop your potentials.
Religion and science have different views on the human spirit. Religion views people as spiritual beings temporarily living on Earth, while Science views the spirit as one dimension of an individual.

Self-mastery is a recurring theme in both Christian (Western) and Islamic (Eastern) teachings. The needs of the body take a second seat to the needs of the spirit. Beliefs, values, morality, rules, experiences, and good works provide the blueprint that ensures the growth of the spiritual being.

In Psychology, realizing one’s full potential leads to self-actualization. Maslow’s theory states that when basic physiological and emotional needs are satisfied, spiritual or existential needs come next.

There lies the difference between science and religion on the topic of self-development: Christianity and Islam see self-development as a means of serving God, while psychology views self-development as an end by itself.

3) To grow spiritually is to search for meaning.
Religions that believe in the existence of God such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam suppose that the purpose of the human life is to serve the Creator of all things.

Several theories in psychology propose that we ultimately give meaning to our lives. We do not know the meaning of our lives at birth; but we gain knowledge and wisdom from our interactions with people and from our actions and reactions to situations.

As we discover this meaning, there are certain beliefs and values that we reject and affirm.  Our lives have purpose. This purpose puts all our physical, emotional, and intellectual potentials into use. It sustains us during trying times and gives us something to look forward to and a goal to achieve. A person without purpose or meaning is like a drifting ship at sea.

4) To grow spiritually is to recognize interconnections.
Religions stress that we are all related to all creation. Thus, we call other people “brothers and sisters” even if there are no direct blood relations. Moreover, deity-centered religions, such as Christianity and Islam, speak of the relationship between humans and a higher being.

On the other hand, science expounds on our link to other living things through the evolution theory. This relatedness is clearly seen in the concept of ecology, which is the interaction between living and non-living things.

Recognizing our connection to all things makes us more humble and respectful of people, animals, plants, and things in nature. It moves us to reach out to other people, and become stewards of all other things.

Growth is a process; thus, growth in spirit is a day-to-day encounter. We win some, we lose some, but the important thing is that we learn. From this knowledge, further spiritual growth is made possible.

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