Archives for March 2013

10 Things You Think About Too Often

03.31.2013 by Marc Chernoff // 81 Comments

10 Things You Think About Too Often

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
?Albert Einstein

You do know you talk to yourself in your mind all the time, right?

Pretty much every one of us has a non-stop stream of thoughts – a mental monologue – that has a powerful impact on how we feel, how we behave, and how we live our lives. Too often, this mental monologue consists of unhelpful thoughts that hinder our happiness and effectiveness.

Which is why it’s time to stop thinking about…

1. Who everyone else wants you to be.

You were born to be you, not who they tell you to be. You are not here to be perfect; you are here to be true. Be gentle and kind to your heart and soul. Accept who you are, where you are, and where you came from.

Don’t make a decision based solely on popularity, or based on what others think is right for you. Just because others are doing something doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for you.

Listen to your gut. Now is the moment to follow your intuition and pursue what matters most to you. Reach deep within yourself and awaken to the purpose that moves you and makes you feel alive. The world is filled with opportunities to do an infinite number of things, so why not align your efforts with the activities that speak to your soul. [Read more…]

7 Reasons You Struggle with Happiness

03.28.2013 by Angel Chernoff // 69 Comments

7 Reasons You Struggle with Happiness

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say,
and what you do are in harmony.”
?Mahatma Gandhi

It’s important to make someone happy, and it’s important to start with yourself. But before your level of contentment can improve, your choices and actions must improve.

If you’ve been struggling to find happiness there’s a good chance…

1. You let envy get the best of you.

When you feel envious, tell yourself not to feel envious. Be blatant and direct. Tell the ‘why not me?’ voice in your head to quiet down and tell the ‘don’t be silly’ voice to speak up. It really is this simple. You actually prevent envy by addressing it directly and stopping it dead in its tracks.

When you feel flustered because someone has received the very thing you want, force yourself to remember how much you have already been given. Remember that there’s plenty for everyone, and that everyone gets one dose at a time. Remember that what happened to someone else has absolutely no bearing on what happens to you. Your success is unique to you. Remember that a wonderful thing has happened to this other person, and if you keep working and pushing forward, something wonderful will also happen to you at just the right time.

2. You don’t DO enough.

A significant majority of your anxiety and unhappiness likely stems from a subconscious disappointment in yourself for the great ideas and dreams that [Read more…]

6 Reasons Someone Wishes They Were You

03.26.2013 by Marc Chernoff // 72 Comments

6 Reasons Someone Wishes They Were You

“We often take for granted the very things
that most deserve our gratitude.”
?Cynthia Ozick

How often do you pause to appreciate your life? How often do you stop dead in your tracks and think, “Goodness, I have it pretty darn good”?

Even when life is far from perfect, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Many people in this world wish they had what you have. Here’s why:

1. You are educated enough to read this.

If you’re reading this, you have something brilliant to be thankful for. It’s called an education. Believe it or not, there are roughly 774 million people in the world who don’t have this ability. That’s a significant percentage of the human population.

Literacy is the bridge that closes the gap between discouragement and confidence, between confusion and understanding, and between sadness and hope. It’s the greatest platform of personal growth, and the means by which every human being can realize their full potential.

Isn’t it crazy to think about how many people aren’t educated enough to make use of this basic human right?

2. You are reasonably healthy.

In other words, if you got sick today you could recover.

Never underestimate the gift of your health. It’s the greatest wealth you will ever [Read more…]

8 Wake-Up Calls You Need to Receive

03.24.2013 by Marc Chernoff // 50 Comments

8 Wake-Up Calls You Need to Receive

NOTE: This entire post has been updated with new information and moved to here:

8 Little Wake-Up Calls You Need to Receive Before it’s Too Late

Photo by: Raymond Larose

30 Ways You Should Always BE

03.21.2013 by Angel Chernoff // 31 Comments

30 Ways You Should Always BE

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift,
which is why we call it the present.”
?Bil Keane

Why would you ever want to compromise something that’s beautiful and true to create something unpleasant and fake?

You’re lucky enough to BE; make your being count.

Lose track of the negativity and dishonesty. Live positively and authentically.

When you wake up to a new day, BE grateful for another chance.
When others take the easy road, BE the one who takes the right road.
When something must be done, BE proactive.
When several possibilities present themselves, BE decisive with your priorities.
When achieving something is important to you, BE open about it and go for it.
When the work seems overwhelming, BE concerned only with the next small step. [Read more…]