When they first started, hardly a trail was seen
Many then passed, a road now gleaned.
Deeper still, water they bore
Making them dangerous lore
Now I find my wheels caught still
By the ruts of habit, against my will
Pulling out is the hardest task
Harder still not falling back.

Photo Credit:

“insentient ruts.” Flickr creative commons. Some rights reserved by tetsu-k.

First published at: Opinions of Eye

Also published at: Broowhaha

Guest Author Bio

Drew Sager
I think and think and 99 times I’m wrong. But on the 100th time, I’m right. – Einstein

I blog, play music, body surf, hang out with bikers, and occasionally go to church.

Blog / Website: Opinions of Eye

Rut is a post from: LIFE AS A HUMAN

In Be Responsive, I described an important way to separate yourself from your competition. I have been meaning to write an article on other ways to differentiate yourself for some time now. I just needed a spark …

A few months ago, I found an oddly shaped package sitting on top of the rest of the mail in the mailbox. It was from Ontario. I took the mail upstairs, placed it on the kitchen counter and made myself a cup of coffee. That done, I turned my attention to the mail. Bills and solicitations were the order of the day but there was still this interesting package from a mysterious address. When I opened it, I was at once amazed and delighted to discover that its content was none other than a big package of Silly Bandz! I opened the package, placed one on my wrist and ran upstairs to my office to send a certain Ryan Hupher a big thank you.

Ok … let’s rewind the clock.

When we launched Life As A Human, one of my first priorities was to find a good company to partner with to help us serve up ads. I had done a lot of research and found a few possible suitors. I contacted these companies but was told we were too new and that I should ‘reach out’ again to them in 6 months. Six months later, I did just that … and never heard a thing back from them. Frustrated ( and a little annoyed ), I decided to look for other potential solutions which is when I found a company called Isocket while checking out what ad-platforms sites like TechCrunch use.

I contacted Isocket. Ryan Hupher replied almost immediately. We scheduled a call to discuss our needs. He gave me as much time as I needed and was genuinely interested in knowing more about Life As A Human, how it all started, what our vision was … you know … all the stuff a good executive wants to know so that he can present the best possible solutions to a potential partner. Though for now at least, we are small potatoes compared to some of his other clients like Mashable, TechCrunch & Grooveshark, Ryan was nonetheless courteous, professional, informative, and a lot of fun.

So what does this all have to do with Silly Bandz and separating yourself from the competition? A few weeks before the mysterious package arrived, I had been speaking with Ryan on the phone. During that call I asked him why his status message on one of his social media channels says:

“Yes, I’m Wearing A Silly Bandz”

He asked if my kids had ever played with Silly Bandz. I told him that to the best of my knowledge, my kids, now grown ups, had never played with Silly Bandz. Ryan explained to me that Silly Bandz were all the rage where he grew up and he described them to me in detail. I told him I would have to check them out. We chatted a bit more then said our goodbyes and I went back to doing my work, forgetting altogether about Silly Bandz.

A few weeks later, I am e-mailing Ryan a thank you note while actually wearing a Silly Bandz. While getting the package was very cool, that Ryan thought to do it in the first place is a testament to his character and his customer relations skills. You see, Ryan intrinsically understands that building strong relationships that are based on trust and respect are more important than simply providing a service. He recognizes that developing a relationship has greater lasting value than just knowing how much content we have, or how many page-views we get, or who hosts our site. On a playing field replete with self-centered, self-serving and non-responsive people, these attributes set him apart. They differentiate him and by extension, Isocket from what can at best be described as an ocean of mediocrity. Because he cares, he pays attention. Because he pays attention, he knows I am also a musician which is why he sent me the RockBandz.

Isocket is a young, creative and innovative company that have a great product for publishers and advertisers. But no matter how great their product or service might be, ultimately, it’s their people that make the difference. Apparently, they understand and have fully embraced this key differentiator.

Great job Hup!

Photo Credit

Photo From Silly Bandz Web Site

Yes, I’m Wearing A Silly Bandz! is a post from: LIFE AS A HUMAN

This may seem like a simple thing, and in fact, it is. However, very few of us ever remember to ask for a reference and only do so when we have need of one which is usually months or even years after the fact.

Suppose you have just done business with a client and during the process, the client has thanked you several times for your efforts and expressed to you what a good job you have done for them. This is the best time to ask for that reference. Just thank them and ask, “could you please put that in writing?”

People, in general, will love to write you a reference. A mentor of mine taught me this in my twenties and it has served me very well over the years. I have in excess of 30 written references. Some of these are from Presidents and Directors of companies, Government Deputy Ministers, Information Systems Directors, sales people, re-sellers and I even have some from employees and staff that I have worked with in the past which are among my most treasured references.

For me, these references serve two distinct purposes. Most obviously, it’s great to be able to hand a copy of a written reference to a prospective client or employer. Less obvious is what I call my “I Love Me” file. Let me explain.

All of us go through slumps and when we do, it’s very easy to get down on oneself. It’s easy to begin to question your worth and your ability. If that happens to you, take your “I Love Me” file and find a nice quiet room and sit on the floor. Place all of your references around you and then spend some time looking at each one. You are now surrounded by positive commentary about YOU. As you consider each one, you will remember all of your successes and get your mind off of your current slump. You will remember just how capable you are and be reminded of your potential. You will also smile remembering the writers and the relationships you built with them. You might even pick up the phone and call a few of them or send them an e-mail. Who knows what doors that might open.

Give it a try!

Photo Credits

Image From Microsoft Office Collection

First posted at synaptici.com on Feb 4, 2009
Also Posted At My Business Info

Always Ask For A Reference is a post from: LIFE AS A HUMAN

Reaching up from this muddy pit
My hand finds the first rung
I’m not letting go of it, my feet still stuck
Screaming at the top of my lungs
From this first rung on the ladder
I will not be thrown
Everything in me screaming, you can’t do it
Everyone around me laughing at my attempts
No comfort, no friends when your down this low
The first rung is all you have
Yet I climb, slapping for the next rung, I will ascend
Out of this frothing mire
I will not let go, beaten down time by time
I find myself alone, beginning again
I shake myself from my own doubt
Now I find myself afraid to succeed
What will be required of me?
No more easy carefree existence
The struggle becomes necessary to stay on the ladder.
At the bottom, swimming aimlessly in the lost masses
Who cares what you do?
As you climb out, everyone looks at you, they are encouraged by your rebellion
To climb out of their own mess, to take the challenge of living again.
This first rung, the hardest, taking the most courage to live beyond
The lies spoken to you from those in your youth, and by your lovers
Who are no longer there.
Discomfort at having to leave your habits, your friends.
Not everyone will follow you up,
Most times, no one will.
You will have to meet those who are climbing on your way up.
You see they left the mire long ago,
Every now and then glancing back to see the despair
Which they escaped so narrowly.
So I cling, to this first rung, by tenacity, hard to define
This first rung is life, this first rung is mine.

Photo Credits
Microsoft Office Clip Art Collection

First Posted At Opinions Of Eye on March 8, 2011

Guest Author Bio

Drew Sager
I grew up in Hawaii so I have a healthy love of the beach and the outdoors. I’m a free loving self educated Carpenter, Photographer, Poet, Nature Lover and Musician.

Blog / Website: opinionsofeye.blogspot.com

The First Rung is a post from: LIFE AS A HUMAN

It sounds so simple, but as Debarti Deb discovers, it’s almost magical how just being grateful for what’s good in our lives can help us live the lives we want.

By Debarati Deb

You may be in the midst of an emotional battle. All your life you have compromised, even sacrificed your happiness so that those who mean the world to you are happy, but still all they do is complain. Your frustration may have led you to the brink of madness, and now you just don’t care anymore. You now want to be left alone, to your own thoughts, and away from all of them. Or perhaps you have lost the one person you love most in this world, and now you are angry with that person and with everybody else. Even worse, perhaps you are feeling guilty about something you have done and are not able to forgive yourself.

Heartache, disappointment, or anger are devastating — and these emotions drain all your energy. But does this mean that your life is doomed? No!

Craving Alone Time

Your anger, pain, guilt, or dejection can make you want to be alone. But are you wrong in wanting this? Absolutely not! First, do not feel guilty about wanting to live for yourself when people expect otherwise from you. You cannot make others happy when you are not happy and that’s a fact. There comes a time in life when you have to stop people from walking all over you, even if they are your family. And everyone needs a timeout, even you.

If you feel you have tolerated [their behaviours] way beyond the very depths of your patience, take a stand now. Tell them enough is enough — and you will not take it anymore. It’s time that you think about yourself. And remember that you are not selfish. You need to do this so that you can carry on.

Feeling Abandoned

But if you are angry that your loved one has abandoned you, remember he/she didn’t/doesn’t want you to live this way. He wants you to pull yourself up, take control, and lead life as a warrior not a captive.

When you Can’t Forgive Yourself

The most difficult thing to handle is when you are not being able to forgive yourself for something you have done. Whoever you hurt, if the person loves you and has forgiven you, you are worthy to be forgiven. And even if you have not been forgiven, your feeling miserable about it is repentance  enough. You have learnt from your mistake. And if you are scared you might commit that mistake again, remember, the situation may change by then. We are humans and we all commit mistakes. Some big and some small. Don’t let one wrong destroy all the rights in your life. If you have positive thoughts, then positive actions and positive situations will rule your life. That’s another fact, like the force of attraction of the universe: good attracts good and bad attracts bad. It’s you who decides what you get with the thoughts you carry.

In whichever phase of life you are in, to make a smooth transition to the next stage, you must leave behind your bitterness, anger, guilt, and even pain. And to combat these, use gratitude as your armor. There is definitely something positive in your life. It can’t be all black.

Start with the basic things that we take for granted. When you wake up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror, be grateful if you have walked from your bedroom to the bathroom without anybody’s help; if you are able to brush your own teeth, comb your hair, drive your car, or make your breakfast without needing any support. There are many people out there who would give anything to be in your shoes, to lead a normal life because they can’t do it on their own. They wouldn’t mind embracing your pain that comes along with this life of yours because they know and appreciate what you have.

As you proceed every day by being grateful for these simple things, you will have more things to be grateful for, and then you will realize your life is actually not miserable as you think it to be. There are difficult situations and difficult people, but you can handle these with your renewed sense of purpose.

Being happy and grateful for what you have will rejuvenate your life, give a bounce to your step, and help you enjoy your decision to live life the way you want. And I can assure you that if you try this out, as I have, you will see rainbows every day of your life.

Photo Credit

“Orchid” Express Monorail @ Flickr.com. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.

Guest Author Bio

Debarati Deb
Life is the best teacher, and I write to share what I have learned either from my own experience or others.

Being Grateful Can Help You Lead The Life You Want And Ease Your Pain is a post from: LIFE AS A HUMAN

At some time or another we have all heard the expression “forgive and forget”. I would hazard a guess that I am not the only one who, when hearing this, thinks, “Ha, well, that’s easier said than done!”

This is particularly true if we have been the recipients of actions or behaviours at the hands of others that have deeply wounded our spirits.

There are many assumptions we make about forgiveness that perhaps renders our ability to forgive highly improbable, and certainly, in some cases, seemingly impossible.

So what does it really mean to “forgive and forget” anyway?

Surely we are not expected to just simply say, for instance, after we’ve been profoundly hurt by someone we love, “Oh, that’s ok! No biggy. Let’s just forget about it.” For some, that is exactly how they choose to deal, or rather to not deal, with their pain. They internalize it, at times even believing that they have actually let it go and are moving on with their lives when in actual fact they are unwittingly harbouring a heavy burden in their hearts that slowly eats away at their souls.

Sometimes, we begin to make excuses or even justify others people’s hurtful behaviour in our minds. Or worse, we take responsibility for someone’s else’s actions, causing ourselves so much needless suffering.

Our sense of self-worth is tremendously affected by turning the other cheek, thus allowing people the opportunity to slap us over and over again. Before we know it we can become proverbial punching bags for people to take advantage of — because we are so “forgiving”. That is not true forgiveness, that is denial.

So what is forgiveness? First and foremost, we must recognize that we can never experience true happiness without learning to let go of our past hurts. Forgiveness is one of the key elements in developing and cultivating a sense of inner peace and well-being. It is one of the most profound gifts we can give ourselves in order to heal our past and to truly be able to enjoy our present whilst moving towards a brighter future. It is one of the truest acts of self-love there is.

So how is forgiving someone else’s hurtful behaviour an act self-love, you might ask? Well, let’s look at some of the assumptions that we tend to make about what it means to forgive.

1. We think that by forgiving someone it somehow means we are condoning their behaviour.

2. We think forgiveness means that we have to let this person(s) back into our lives.

3. We think that by harbouring our feelings of hatred, anger and resentment that we are somehow punishing the person who hurt us, giving us a false sense of control, power and strength.

4. We feel that if we forgive we might get hurt again.

So now let’s go through each one in more detail…

1. Forgiveness in no way condones another’s behaviour. It doesn’t mean that what happened is okay; it just means that we consciously are no longer allowing it to affect and impact our lives in a negative way. It is quite simply a release of the toxic emotion which, if left trapped in our hearts to fester, will end up consuming our entire lives. What purpose does it serve us to waste so much energy on something that has already happened and we no longer have control over? After all, what is done is done. The only control we do have over our past is to choose to love ourselves enough to release ourselves from it.

2. Forgiveness does not mean we have to bring the person who hurt us back into our lives. In fact, we don’t even need to tell them that we have forgiven them in order to reap the benefits. Forgiveness is not about that other person, it is about us. It’s about freeing ourselves of the painful burdens of our pasts and giving ourselves the wonderful opportunity to experience true happiness in the now. That, of course, does not necessarily mean that in certain circumstances amends cannot be made in where people return into each others lives and start anew, so to speak.

3. Hanging on to our hatred, anger and resentment does not give us control, power and strength. It actually depletes our energy and our zest for life, and it brews so much negativity that it drastically hinders our ability to fully and completely experience the joy in our lives. In some cases, harbouring such emotional toxicity can ultimately manifest itself as illness or even disease. We make the assumption that staying angry at the person(s) who has hurt us somehow punishes “them”, when quite often they have no idea how angry or hurt we actually are. They aren’t the ones living day to day with the intensity of this anger and pain…we are. As long as we deny ourselves the gift of forgiveness we are creating our own suffering. And the person(s) we assume our anger is punishing most is most likely going on with their own lives without even being aware of it. So who do we think is actually being punished?

4. It is natural to feel that if we “forgive and forget” we might get hurt again. One of the most difficult challenges I personally struggle with is to love like I’ve never been hurt. However, I am very much aware that forgiveness does not open the door to being hurt again; it opens our hearts to be able to “love” again. It’s the “forgetting” part that can potentially lead us to future heartache.

There is also a gift in remembering our hurts — not to hang on to the pain associated with these hurts of course, but rather to learn the profound personal lessons from each of them. It is important to grow from our experiences and to recognize certain familiar warning signs, if and when they happen to crop up again. This enables us to be more in tune with our intuition. Where we do have control, power and strength is in choosing to listen to our intuition, placing ourselves in a much better position to be able to make better choices, establish healthier boundaries and ultimately live a happier and more fulfilling life.

Sometimes we may feel our pain is far too great to be able to find forgiveness in our hearts. Hanging on to traumatic events after they have long since past is no longer the doing of the original offenders. Without the gift of forgiveness, the pain that we are still currently hanging on to is of our own doing. It is our memory of the events that have hurt us and the entire story we have weaved around them over months or even years of rehashing in our minds that is the true cause of our prolonged suffering.

When this is the case, we would serve ourselves well to ask, “Who am I truly hurting by hanging on to my pain? What purpose does it serve me to prolong my own suffering?”

This leads us right into one of the most crucial aspects many of us seem to often overlook when it comes to forgiveness, and at times the most difficult to overcome, but is ultimately the greatest act of self-love — forgiving ourselves. What if we are the ones who have hurt others or even ourselves, intentional or not, and feel we are undeserving of forgiveness?

What it means to forgive — and ridding ourselves of the assumptions around it — applies to everyone and in all types of situations. We cannot change our past, we can only own up to our mistakes, learn from them, grow and choose to make better choices now. There is no sense in beating ourselves up for what has already come and gone. We must learn to love ourselves enough to offer ourselves the gift of forgiveness, make amends whenever possible, let it go and move on to bigger and better things.

Forgiveness is possible for even the most heinous of wrong doings once we recognize and accept that it has nothing to do with the perpetrator(s), whether ourselves or someone else, or erasing what has been done. Instead, it has everything to do with freeing ourselves from the life-draining shackles of anger, hatred and resentment.

Suffering is a choice. It is not a burden we are doomed to bear or fall victim to, and is certainly not a part of who we are right now in this very moment (link to my article “Living Our Best Lives Now!” for more related to this topic). You, and only you, have complete control, power and strength to choose to let it go.

All this being said, speaking from my own experience, forgiveness can definitely seem to be easier said than done. The important thing to consciously remember is that awareness is a huge stepping stone toward healing our pain. and if we combine that with love, acceptance and a shift in perspective, it CAN most definitely be done.

Happy soul searching!

Photo Credit

“Waterfall Upstream of the Bachnagairn bridge in Upper Glen Clova.”  shandchem @ Flickr.com. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.

Forgiveness: Beyond the Myths to Healing is a post from: LIFE AS A HUMAN

My excellent friend Dale P. sent this to me yesterday. After watching it, I knew I wanted to share it with our readers. I wondered what to say about this remarkable young man. I decided that the video and its write up are more than sufficient. I hope Manuel touches your heart as much as he has touched mine. Thank you Dale for another great find.

Manuel, thank you for your strength, your courage, and for shining your bright and wonderful spirit on us all. Truly, you are an inspiration!

Manuel de los Santos is one of sport’s most inspirational figures. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, he played baseball from a young age and by 2003 was planning to turn professional. But a motorcycle accident changed his life forever when he lost his left leg above the knee.

Following this accident, he moved to France and on seeing the film, ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance’, he was inspired to take up golf. Now 26 years old, Manuel lives in Paris and plays to a handicap of just three, competing in high profile tournaments all around the world. His extraordinary golf swing has become instantly recognisable.

Peter Montgomery read about Manuel at the end of 2009 and had the idea of making a film about him. This short documentary portrait is the result.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Manuel De Los Santos is a post from: LIFE AS A HUMAN

Karen Luniw helps you tap into the power to make a positive shift, by simply asking, “What If?…”

What if…?
…my world could really be what I want it to be?
…I could wake up every day raring to go like when I was 12?
…I could see the awesomeness of the world around me with new eyes every day?
…the weather was perfect today no matter what it was doing?
…happiness could find me and shake me out of my fog?
…confidence could find me and shake me out of my doubt?
…I could believe with all my might RIGHT NOW in all possibilities for myself?
…each day I could make a profound positive affect on at least one person?
…I didn’t need coffee to feel awake?
…I could acknowledge all the great things I did today?
…I could face the Trinity of Trouble (fear, doubt and worry) and laugh in their face and act anyways?
…love permeated every ounce of my body?
…that love was unconditional and from a human and not only my dog?
…grapes always tasted exquisitely sweet and juicy?
…my thoughts were positive more often than not?
…it felt like there was enough time in the day?
…I felt successful in absolutely every big and little thing I did?
…money did flow to me effortlessly?
…I actually didn’t have any money issues?
…body issues?
…relationship issues?
…work issues?
…butterfly issues?
…time stood still like it did that time at the beach?
…I could reach out and touch the mountaintops?
…I could heal a child’s pain?
…that fight between me and _______ was resolved?
…___________would forgive me?
…I could forgive myself?
…anything and everything that I could imagine that was good, was possible?

Here’s the thing, it is possible. Every last one of those items is possible with a shift in perspective…yours. Shifting long-held beliefs and ideas about what is showing up in front of you right now is the hardest work any of us will ever do and that’s why it hardly ever gets done.

Here are some ideas on how to change that starting today:

1. Pick your Top 5 “What if’s” from the list and make a decision that you’re ready to shift your ideas about what’s possible for each area.
2. Stop and breathe. This helps you to get into the present moment and in the present moment all options are open to you.
3. Move out of your head and into your body and take a sensory trip through each of your Top 5 items as if it were already accomplished. For instance, if you no longer had any money issues, ask yourself these sensory-based questions:

• What would you be seeing?
• Who would be with you?
• What would they be saying?
• What would you be saying to them?
• What other sounds would you hear?
• Are there any smells you can smell?
• How does your body feel?
• What is the temperature around your body?
• What tastes are you experiencing?

Important Hint: The more you can put yourself in this feeling state – the faster you can experience these as actual events.

I know it’s likely you already know this because it truly is nothing new. Top motivational speakers and authors have been promoting this for years.

The big question is….if you know this, why aren’t you practicing it?

Photo Credit

“Nature” D. Sharon Pruitt @ Flickr.com. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.

What If…? Discover the Power to Shift Perspective is a post from: LIFE AS A HUMAN

“Mean people suck” is a phrase many of us have undoubtedly seen on bumper stickers or t-shirts over the years. And I’m sure we all know that being on the receiving end of other people’s negativity does suck. But what can we do so that this kind of behaviour doesn’t affect our own moods, often putting us in a position of wanting to dish it right back at them, or worse, letting it ruin our day to the point of projecting it onto other unsuspecting and undeserving bystanders?

Allowing ourselves to be influenced in such a way only perpetuates a vicious cycle of negative energy. Quite frankly, I think there’s already too much of that going around in the world, don’t you? So how do we stop ourselves from either internalizing or reacting with equal venom? How do we stop this vicious cycle?

It can be challenging not to become a mood sponge when someone projects their poisonous attitude towards us. How can we still be happy when those around us are so obviously not? I guess the best place to start is by asking ourselves, “Do I ever dish out an unwarranted foul disposition towards others? Am I one of these so called ‘mean people’ they make bumper sticks about?”

No matter whether the answer is yes or no to these questions, learning to let go of negative energy and not allowing it to affect us — whether it is our own or someone else’s — is key. Of course, this is easier said than done, and is not something that happens overnight. Breaking this vicious cycle requires two main ingredients before we can even begin — awareness and responsibility.

To be more specific, it is up to each and every one of us to become aware of our own thoughts, behaviours, feelings and moods at any given moment and take full responsibility for them. This means removing from the realm of possibility even the notion of complaining or blaming others for our own current.

Learning to let go of that negative energy once the situation has passed is crucial. Too often we allow a negative interaction to affect us long after the actual event has occurred. We replay it in our minds over and over again, letting it stew and fester. Before we know it, we too are in a foul mood, perpetuating more negativity and projecting it onto others by complaining about the injustice we’ve just endured. More than likely we start blaming our current state of mind on the “mean” person who “made” us ‘feel’ that way.

Well, I dare say that no one can “make” us feel any particular way. Our mood is our choice (with the exception of those who suffer from actual chemical imbalances predisposing them to mood swings or other diagnosed disorders, of course). However, for most of us it is our conditioning that contributes to our general attitudes towards life, people and situations, and we have complete control over whether or not we will continue to allow ourselves to fall victim to it.

So how do we do that? Well, as previously mentioned, awareness and responsibility are the first two key ingredients. Another key ingredient, as Don Miguel Ruiz states in his amazing book The Four Agreements (which I highly recommend reading, by the way), is to not take anything personally. One of the hugest buzz-kills to a good mood is taking what people say and do to heart and assuming it has something to do with us personally. It doesn’t.

Even if someone else’s grumpiness or mean-spirited demeanor is directed at us, it is simply a reflection of what is going on internally within them. By choosing to take it personally, we make it all about us and may perhaps feel offended or wounded, consequently getting triggered and reacting with more negativity. Thus the vicious cycle begins, potentially creating a ripple effect that infects everything in its path. We all know how it works. We have all been there.

Now, imagine being able to consciously see the situation for what it is — mean people don’t suck…their “attitude” does. Perhaps the person is having a really bad day; has just heard some terrible news; is feeling exhausted or ill; or was just themselves on the receiving end of someone else’s poisonous attitude?

The point is, we don’t know what may be going on for that “mean” person and by choosing to not take their poison personally we create a space for potentially having some understanding around what they may be experiencing.

What could be going on for them that could be contributing to their negative mood? Are they just miserable people who have very little love in their lives, if any? In which case, perhaps they are in desperate need of a little more love than we feel they may deserve.

I know it’s difficult to love someone who is so seemingly unlovable, particularly if this person happens to be a complete stranger with a foul attitude. However, by remaining calm within ourselves and not becoming adversely affected by taking on whatever dark internal world is brewing within them, we are in a much better position to offer them kindness, compassion and understanding, thus potentially defusing their negativity and perhaps even putting a smile on their face, in turn breaking the vicious cycle and creating a whole new ripple effect — a positive one.

Finding compassion within ourselves for those who aren’t necessarily aware of how their behaviour affects others can be instrumental in profoundly changing the way we interact with and treat each other on a daily basis.

Other ways to build up our immunity when faced with negative energy or negative situations in general is to learn to develop a positive and loving attitude towards life, and, most importantly, towards ourselves. A fabulous way of doing that is by surrounding ourselves with positive and genuine people as much as possible.

The real gem, however, and one of the most effective ways to shift out of a negative mindset and create positive change within ourselves happens to also be the simplest of all — practicing gratitude. Redirecting our focus onto positive thoughts by expressing gratitude daily for all that we appreciate in our lives, however significant or small, can do wonders on how we feel about ourselves and how we view the world around us.

Imagine a world where everyone treats each other with kindness, love and compassion. What an amazing, wonderful and peaceful world this would truly be. It is absolutely within our power to make this happen! All it takes is for each and everyone of us to bring awareness into our lives by choosing to live consciously and by taking full and complete responsibility for our own thoughts, feelings, behaviours and moods.

So the next time you encounter someone in a foul mood, remember, mean people don’t suck…their attitude does. Don’t take it personally! Set a positive example by showing a little compassion and kindness to everyone no matter what. The ‘mean’ ones need it just as much as we do, if not more.
Namasté

Other LAAH articles related to the topics discussed in this article that may be of further interest are:

“Awareness: Is it Really Half the Battle?”

“World Peace Begins with Inner Peace”

“Gratitude:Smiling from Inside Out”

“Random Acts of Hello Counteract Unhappiness”

Mean People Suck is a post from: LIFE AS A HUMAN

Faced with being laid off, a young father focuses on dealing with uncertainties and on choosing the future he wants.

In 10 months time, my contract, along with the contracts of my fellow employees and the management team where I work, will not be extended. I don’t want to go into the details as to why it won’t be extended, but let’s just say I don’t blame my employer for closing up shop in less than one year’s time. Furthermore, I am thankful for getting almost 10 months notice. The way I look at it, I am on enhanced employment insurance for the time being, with benefits!

But, of course, there was a little anger and anxiety when the news was delivered. I will have been working at this job for more than three years when the contract ends and I was looking forward to another two years in my current role before seeking management-level positions. Now the plan has changed and the “employment scramble” begins.

This will be the first time I have been laid off in my life. Previously, I have always been able to slide from one job to another on my own terms. But now, despite having so much time to find a new job, I find myself unsure of what step to take next. The main problem is I am very happy with my current employment in all aspects, especially pertaining to the commute (ten minutes if I drive under the speed limit) and the staff I’ve worked with. Sure, there are rough spots, but I learned a long time ago that no job is ever perfect.

To make a long story short, I have become very comfortable where I work. Now I will have to step out of that comfort zone and start all over. If I were single, I would be excited thinking about all the different opportunities, without a care in the world. But having started a young family with my wife and nine-month-old daughter, rationality sets in. Do I branch off on my own and begin my own business? Should I remain loyal to my employer and stay until the bitter end or take the first good job that comes my way? Or do I take the first job offered my way?

Questions, questions and more questions pop into my mind every day. Uncertainty is definitely not something I deal with very well, but now I need to make adjustments. My goal over the next few months is to continue to provide the same level of service I always have and to search not for just any job, but for the right job. I am fortunate to have the support of my wife, who doesn’t understand why I worry about finding a job when I have so many skills to offer employers.

Of course she also likes to joke that if I don’t find work before my contract is up, a friend of hers who is a manager at Wendy’s would be more than happy to give me a job.

Who knows where I will be in 10 months time. All I can do is concentrate on exhausting all avenues in my job search.

The biggest worry, however, is choosing my future before it picks me.

Photo Credit

“Scrabble”

The Lay Off is a post from: LIFE AS A HUMAN