Thursday, January 17, 2013

Skill Lists


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Skill Lists

Job Skills The following is a list of job skills. There are literally thousands of job specific skills. This is not an adequate check list, it is only intended as an example of what to look for. You will have to research the job skills specific to your occupation.

Auditing
Brake Alignments
Building Maintenance
C++ Programming
Carpet Laying
Cleaning
CNC Machine Composite Engineering
Cooking
Counseling
Customer Service
Desk Top Publishing
Drill Press Operation
Driving
Editing
Electronic Repair
Filing
Hammering
Interviewing
LAN Administration
Management
Mechanical Drafting
Metal Fabrication
Microsoft
Word Operation
Payroll Accounting
Public Speaking
Scheduling
Soldering
Surgery
Teaching
Technical Writing
Telemarketing
Total Quality
Typing
Welding
WordPerfect
Self-Management Skills
These are the skills you use every day to survive and to get along. These skills are often important because employers hire people who they feel will fit with the work group. Self- management skills are used to define "a good worker." Below, you will find a list of some self-management skills. Look it over and mark the skills you possess right now.
Critical Skills:
Responsible
Follow instructions
Punctual
Responsible
Follow instructions
Punctual
Get along well with others
Get things done
Honesty
Other Adaptive Skills:
Ambitious
Ask questions
Assertive
Assume responsibility
Competitive
Complete assignments
Creative
Decisive
Dependable
Detail-oriented
Diplomatic
Enthusiastic
Flexible
Friendly
Highly motivated
Ingenious
Integrity
Intelligent
Inventive
Kind
Learn quickly
Mature
Outgoing
Patient
Persistent
Physically strong
Pleasant
Proud of doing a good job
Results-oriented
Self-motivated
Sense of direction (purpose)
Sense of humor
Sensitive
Sincere
Sociable
Tactful
Tolerant
Tough
Trusting
Understanding
Willing to learn new things
Transferable Skills
These are general skills that can be useful on a variety of jobs. They are called transferable skills because they can be transferred from one job, or even one career, to another.
Critical Transferable Skills...these tend to get you higher levels of responsibility and pay. Emphasize them in an interview as well as on your resume.

Meet deadlines
Public Speaking
Supervise others
Accept responsibility
Solve problems
Project planning
Budgeting
Sales
Efficiency
Thing skills:

Sense of touch
Key boarding, typing
Manual dexterity
Gathering
Separating
Sorting
Assembling
Driving
Observing/inspecting
Operating machines
Balancing, juggling
Drawing, painting
Sewing
Weaving
Hammering
Hand Crafts
Precise tolerance or standards
Physical agility, strength
Endurance
Finishing\refinishing
Restoring
Sandblasting
Grinding
Keypunching, drilling
Modeling or remodeling
"People" Skills:

Caring
Comforting
Counseling
Consulting
Diplomacy
Helping others
Instructing
Interviewing
Listening
Mentoring
Negotiating
Outgoing
Mediating
Group facilitating
Communicating
Encouraging
Conflict management
Tolerance
Diversity
Conflict resolution
Respect
Empathy
Sympathy
Sensitive
Responsive
Problem solving
Negotiating
Motivating
Inspiring trust
Developing rapport
Interviewing
Inquiry
Dealing with data:

Analyzing
Auditing
Budgeting
Calculating/computing
Checking for accuracy
Classifying
Comparing
Compiling
Counting
Detail-oriented
Evaluating
Investigating
Financial records
Research
Financial Management
Recording facts
Synthesizing
Taking inventory
Surveying
Examining
Detail oriented
Following instructions
Financial or fiscal analysis
Cost analysis
Organizing
Problem solving
Using words, ideas:

Articulate
Verbal Communication
Correspondence
Brainstorming
Design
Edit
Inventive
Logical
Public speaking
Write clearly, concisely
Telephone skills
Imaginative
Quick thinking
Speech writing
Promotional writing
Advertising
Publicity
Sign Language
Leadership:

Competitive
Decisive
Delegate
Direct others
Influence others
Initiate new tasks
Decision making
Manage or direct others
Mediate problems
Motivate people
Negotiate agreements
Planning
Results oriented
Risk taker
Run meetings
Self-confident
Self-motivated
Solve problems
Judgment
Integrity
Coordinating
Work schedules
Results oriented
Self directed
Multi-tasking
Decisive
Goal setting
Strategic planning
Creative/Artistic
Artistic
Drawing
Expressive
Perform
Present artistic ideas
Dance, body movement
Visualize shapes
Designing
Model making
Handicrafts
Poetic images
Visualizing
Illustrating, sketching
Photography
Mechanical drawing
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This page was last updated on April 17, 1997
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Copyright © 1996, 1997 by Minnesota Department of Economic Security

Friday, January 11, 2013

20 Things To Do in Your 20′s


by CAMERON SCHAEFER on MAY 20, 2008
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Team AgadirThe twenties are an amazing time in life. For most of us it is the first time that we are truly on our own and free to choose our own path. It is an age where we essentially get to start with a clean canvas and begin painting the type of life we have dreamed of since childhood. It is an opportune time to try new things, new jobs, develop new habits and enjoy the lifestyle that comes with having little responsibility and endless amounts of energy.
The twenties are also foundational years for us and should not be wasted or lived unintentionally. With the help of some friends and mentors, the following are some of the best things we could think of to do in order to make the most of your twenties:
  1. Surround yourself with wise mentors – you don’t know how to get somewhere you’ve never been. that’s why you need mentors– insight and help from people who are where you want to be. None of us know the answer to every curve ball that life throws our way, but with the help of others that have been there, our chances of making the best decision grow exponentially. Choose a diverse group of mentors and utilize their experience.
  2. Become a lifelong learner – as mentioned above, the awesome thing about your twenties is that you gain a tremendous amount of freedom to pursue whatever direction in life you choose. With this freedom comes an opportunity to study things for your own enjoyment rather than because you were told to. It’s easy to think that because, “school’s out for summer,” that learning is out as well, but keeping your mind active and continually challenging yourself are key parts of living well and developing these habits in your 20′s will help keep you from becoming dumb and irrelevant.
  3. Travel – the practice of leaving home to experience new locations and cultures is fundamental, and one that nearly everyone I posed the idea of this list to told me to include. There is something magnificent about traveling that goes beyond just snapping a few photos or placing thumbtacks on a map. Traveling helps us understand that life is much bigger than ourselves and inevitably leads us to the wonderful question, “why?” as we notice the differences from place to place. It is this lifestyle of “why” that is so valuable as we learn to question the way we all live rather than just taking everything at face value.
  4. Learn to listen and handle criticism well – if there’s one deadly mistake I’ve seen made by many of my peers over the past few years it is the inability to receive criticism. Guess what, all of us have things we could do better at, especially in our 20′s. Toughen up a little and have enough maturity to realize that criticism is a healthy part of life and doesn’t require a poor attitude, excuse or rebuttal on your part. Most importantly learn from criticism.
  5. Develop an active, healthy lifestyle – by adopting healthy habits such as eating well and exercising regularly in your 20′s you are setting yourself up for a much better quality of life. No great experience or event matters if you are not healthy enough to enjoy it. Learn to cook healthy meals and join a gym…if you’re really adventurous, run a marathon. Developing these habits at age 24 is far easier than age 44.
  6. Read a classic – even though we are required to read a few classics here and there throughout school, if you’re like me you have forgotten most of the characters and plot twists by now. Take the time to read something by Dostoevsky, or if length is a big issue for you, try something like “Catcher in the Rye.” The issue isn’t so much the specific book, just developing a habit of reading for personal enjoyment. If you’re not sure where to start, check out this list made by my friend Brett at Art of Manliness.
  7. Go on an overseas missions trip – Traveling is wonderful, but it is possible to travel the globe without ever really stepping outside of yourself. Some of the moments that have changed my life the most came serving others in the poorest and most broken places in the world such as helping in the rebuilding effort in Thailand after the devastating tsunami in 2005. It is well-known truth that we often find ourselves the strongest when we spend our lives in the service of others.
  8. Create a monthly budget – often the big advice from financial planners for young people comes in a cheeky remark about cutting back on the Starbucks lattes. Well, I love Starbucks and don’t plan on giving up my coffee. Instead I’ve built them into a monthly budget. Building a monthly budget is foundational to a healthy financial life, by starting one and living by it in your 20′s you can ensure a solid financial situation for years to come.
  9. Start a Roth IRA – I know of no better retirement vehicle than the Roth IRA. A Roth is unique because your money grows tax-free meaning at retirement age (currently 59 1/2) when you finally decide to pull out the money you have accumulated, you don’t have to pay any taxes on any of it. For a layman’s guide to the Roth IRA including how to start one, read my post on the subject here.
  10. Buy a used car – it may be tempting to show how independent you’ve become by pulling up to your friend’s house in a brand new car, but fight the urge. You are losing thousands of dollars the second you roll out of the dealership parking lot. Even buying a year-old car will save you tons of money while still providing you with a relatively new vehicle. I mention this for twenty-somethings because I’ve seen so many of my friends bury themselves in debt over a car, one of the few “investments” in the world almost guaranteed to do nothing, but depreciate during its lifetime.
  11. Understand basic investment principles – there is no doubt that financial illiteracy is rampant among young people mainly due to it’s weak to non-existent standing in secondary school curriculum. Most people do not truly begin understanding the basics of investing until they are at an age where it won’t make much of a difference anyway. The three principles I have written about here at Schaefer’s Blog which I think every young person should know include: 1) Time Value of Money 2) Pay Yourself First 3) Dollar-Cost Averaging
  12. Go to a concert – Ever noticed that many people’s fondest memories start with, “One time we got tickets to (fill in the blank).” There is something amazing about live music and thousands of screaming fans that turns up the volume of our lives in all the right ways. Whether it’s Coldplay, U2, Celine Dion (my wife drug me to her show in Vegas and….it was actually pretty good) or Willie Nelson (one of the best I’ve seen) pony up and buy some tickets to a good concert.
  13. Learn a foreign language – there’s something wonderful about communicating with someone in their native tongue; it breaks down cultural barriers like nothing else. The 20′s are a wonderful time to learn a new language as you travel the world and immerse yourself.
  14. Start a blog – the ability to communicate one’s ideas in writing is an incredibly valuable asset. Blogging is similar to journaling, but with the added bonus of exposing your ideas to the scrutiny of millions of eagle-eyed online viewers. It’s amazing how quickly your writing improves when you realize that people will actually be reading your work. For more great reasons why you should start a blog read here.
  15. Get your college degree – according to a recent report from the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau a college graduate can expect to earn approximately $900,000 more over their lifetime than those with only a high school diploma. Whether you like it or not, a college degree is one of those things that society considers an entry ticket for most well-paying jobs. Instead of lecturing everyone on why a college degree is overrated, just take the time to get one and save your lectures for the classroom.
  16. Pay off credit cards – We’ve all heard the alarming stats yet few seem to be changing their behavior. The average college graduate it now entering the workforce with approximately $3,200 in credit card debt. Add to this student loans and it is easy to see why most in their 20′s take the attitude of, “I’ll deal with it later when I’m making more.” The problem is credit card debt can affect things like qualifying for a home loan, saving for retirement and building a solid credit rating. If you can’t pay off the full balance of your card every month then do yourself a huge favor and don’t use one in the first place. Secondly, whatever debt you do have, pay off as soon as possible – it will save you a lot of headaches in the future.
  17. Stay in a hotel that costs over $200 a night – My wife and I had a debate about this one. I said you should do this in order to see that it’s not that much better than the $89-a-night Holiday Inn down the street. She disagreed, stating it was normally much better and one should stay in a nice hotel at least once in their 20′s just to treat themselves with a nice experience. So, I guess whatever way you look at it, staying in a nice hotel is something every twenty-something should do.
  18. Read the Bible cover to cover – no other book has been cited by others, recounted in the arts, or debated in the public arena more than the Bible. And yet, very few have actually read it cover to cover. Being that this book covers so many fundamental issues central to life such as the role of God, man, sin, death, salvation, etc. it is something every person should read for themselves instead of relying on hazy quotes from the university philosophy professor or television evangelist. Man’s decision of what to do with God is one of the most integral he will ever make. Better to make this decision based on a personal encounter rather than off-hand information.
  19. Explore your family of origin issues (positive and negative) and pursue growth –so many studies in sociology always end up pointing back to one’s family life growing up as the major factor in their growth and development. No doubt some of us experienced a wonderful family life while others went through something more akin to a nightmare. Either way the 20′s are a key time in understanding any family issues that may be holding you back and taking the necessary steps to find healing. It may require some counseling or may be as simple as calling your parents and telling them how much you love them.
  20. Figure out the type of person you want to marry – I happened to get married at the age of 22 to my beautiful wife. This may seem young to many, but it has worked well for us. While I don’t think getting married in your 20′s is for everyone, it is definitely the time of life to start deciding what traits and values you desire in a future spouse. I’m not saying you need a 3 page checklist, but deciding on some of the non-negotiables will allow you to narrow in your focus and keep you from jumping into one poor relationship after another.
So, what have I missed? What should not be on the list and why? Please leave a comment and make your voice heard!
Here my link  http://www.schaefersblog.com/20-things-to-do-in-your-20s/

The 7 Chakras for Beginners Healing, Balancing, and Opening Your Chakras with Exercises, Foods, Colors


By MindBodyGreen
7 Chakras for Beginners: Healing, Balancing, Opening Chakras: Exercises, Foods, Colors The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows through.

Blocked energy in our 7 Chakras can often lead to illness so it's important to understand what each Chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely.

Here's our quick summary of the 7 Chakras:

1. Root Chakra - Represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded.
Location: Base of spine in tailbone area.
Emotional issues: Survival issues such as financial independence, money, and food.
More on Root Chakra healing

2. Sacral Chakra - Our connection and ability to accept others and new experiences.
Location: Lower abdomen, about 2 inches below the navel and 2 inches in.
Emotional issues: Sense of abundance, well-being, pleasure, sexuality.
More on Sacral Chakra healing

3. Solar Plexus Chakra - Our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives.
Location: Upper abdomen in the stomach area.
Emotional issues: Self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem.
More on Solar Plexus Chakra healing

4. Heart Chakra - Our ability to love.
Location: Center of chest just above heart.
Emotional issues: Love, joy, inner peace.
More on Heart Chakra healing

5. Throat Chakra - Our ability to communicate.
Location: Throat.
Emotional issues: Communication, self-expression of feelings, the truth.
More on Throat Chakra healing

6. Third Eye Chakra - Our ability to focus on and see the big picture.
Location: Forehead between the eyes. (Also called the Brow Chakra)
Emotional issues: Intuition, imagination, wisdom, ability to think and make decisions.
More on Third Eye Chakra healing

7. Crown Chakra - The highest Chakra represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually.
Location: The very top of the head.
Emotional issues: Inner and outer beauty, our connection to spirituality, pure bliss.
More on Crown Chakra healing

Published October 27, 2009 at 8:00 PM

21 Ways You Should Take Advantage Of Your 20s


1. Don’t feel the need to respond to every text message, phone call, and email the second it reaches you. Once upon a time, it took longer than a minute to reach someone. People used stamps and envelopes; they had answering machines they didn’t check for hours, sometimes days. No one will die if you don’t immediately respond to every message you receive.
2. Ask for what’s owed to you. Half the time, you’re not getting your needs met because you’re not making them known. Your employers, romantic interests, and friends are not going to read your mind and give you what you need unless you speak up.
3. Never turn down an open bar. Seek them out and make them a priority. Indulging in open bars when you’re older isn’t appropriate because a) people will think you have an alcohol problem and b) you’re supposed to have enough money to afford your own alcohol.
4. If you’re unhappy and someone offers you a way out, take it. You don’t owe your first job years of loyalty and your first-born; you don’t have to stay in your city just because you’re on a first-name basis with the bodega guy. Do what feels right; the initial fear will give way to excitement.
5. Take advantage of all the energy you have in your 20s. In your 30s and 40s, your body starts getting upset with you, when some 20-something babe is all, “Wanna race?” That’s not a concern when you’re in your 20s — don’t ever take it for granted.
6. Let your more successful friends pick up the check this time. Before you’re 30, it’s still okay to be work as a barista and not have your career path figured out. Save your cash and take up your lawyer-friend’s offer for dinner. Use the money you saved to buy more ramen.
7. Play a sport you played in elementary school. Kickball, dodgeball. There are leagues for these games now. Get on it.
8. Learn how to cook. Here’s an idea — instead of spending all your money on ridiculously marked-up restaurant food, save your money by buying non-processed WHOLE FOODS and LEARNING HOW TO MAKE A MEAL OF REAL FOOD. A meal of real food is not a box of Annie’s Organic Mac and Cheese — that’s PROCESSED FOOD. A meal is something like sauteed brussel sprouts with onions and pinto beans garnished with salt and pepper. You’ll thank yourself for learning how to cook when your metabolism catches up to you.
9. Keep making friends. Everyone complains that it’s hard to make friends after college, but we still manage to find new people to flirt with and date, right? It’s not that hard. You know yourself better than you ever have before, and your friends can finally reflect that. Don’t cling to old friends because it’s too frightening or ‘risky’ to make new ones.
10. Let your parents buy your plane ticket home. It can be trying to be stuck in a house with your family for a few days or a week, but vacations in your 20s can be hard to come by. Let them subsidize your trips home and do you as much as you can when you get there.
11. Stay up late. In your 20s, you’re all, “Let’s go to another bar!” “Who wants to eat at a diner?” “Have you guys seen the sun rise from the High Line?” “In this moment I swear we were infinite!” When you get older, this becomes, “What are you doing? Go home. Watch Parks and Rec and go to sleep. What is wrong with you, staying up all night? Who has time for that?” If you’re in your 20s, you do. You have all the time. Do it now and take advantage of how not tired you are. You think you’re crabby now when you stay up too late? You’ll never believe how terrible you feel when you do it in your 30s.
12. Savor those 20s hangovers. They are a gift from God so that you’ll always remember what your tolerance level is. Your hangover recovery time is like flippin’ Wolverine in your 20s. You wake up, feel like death, pull on some shades, gulp down coffee or maybe a bloody Mary and whine about your headache over brunch. Oh, boo hoo. When you’re older, every hangover is Apocalypse Freaking Now. You’re not making it to brunch. You’re not making it off your floor in a weeping puddle of regret.
13. Indulge in diner/ fast food at 4 a.m. This is considered depressing behavior once you become a real adult.
14. STOP PROCRASTINATING YOUR TRIP ABROAD. YOUR CHANCES OF TAKING A LONG VACATION ABROAD DIMINISH AS YOU BECOME MORE SET IN YOUR WAYS AND AS YOU GAIN MORE RESPONSIBILITY.
15. Do ‘unacceptable’ things to your hair. Dye it. Dread it. Shave only the left side of your head and give a crap if it grows back in a flattering manner (hint: it won’t). There’s no time but now.
16. Avoid Burning Man. Save it for your weird-Dad mid-life crisis.
17. Sit down, unplug, and read non-fiction. Do this daily. None of your peers are doing it. They’re playing video games and refreshing Facebook and Gmail chatting about nothing in particular. After a month you’ll be smarter than all of them.
18. Walk into Forever 21 and grab every single crappily-made floral dress available. Is every other girl on the street wearing it? Is it literally falling apart at the seams? Is it also actually five dollars? BUY IT IMMEDIATELY. When you get older, your clothing becomes all expensive blazers and tailored khakis and other pieces that won’t break while on your body. That will be a great day — the day when your closet starts to look respectable. Though those outfits are more expensive, they also last longer and look better on you. You will be a classy human ready to take on the future. But as long as you’re still in your 20s? You know — the demographic of Forever 21? Game on, stretchy black dress with pockets that lasts about a week. Game on.
19. Take road trips. Sitting in a car for days on end isn’t something your body was designed to do forever.
20. Don’t invest in things like window curtains or throw rugs or… Windex. You’re a young, social person who doesn’t have time for things like picture-framing and broom-sweeping. No one actually expects you to maintain a bed skirt or a duvet cover in your 20s, they’re the home decor equivalent of puppies/ children.
21. Go to/host theme parties. Once people age out of their 20s, no one’s trying to wear pajamas or Saran Wrap out of the house. The only theme parties that exist after your 20s are ‘Wedding,’ ‘Baby Shower,’ and ‘Funeral.’TC mark
All information provided in this article is for reference purposes only.

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Thursday, January 10, 2013

13 Things You Should Do To Live Life Without Regrets


A study that was performed on elderly individuals a few years back, has shown that during old age, there are many people who regret the things they didn’t have the courage to do as opposed to only a few who had regrets about the things they’ve done.
By taking this study into consideration, let’s assume that tomorrow is the last day of your life. Would you have any regrets regarding the things you did or did not do?
What I want to point out through this mental exercise is that you should review your life in advance before it’s too late and start having regrets, and if you are not exactly sure how to do that, then here is a list that could help you turn things around so you will live a life free of regrets. I would also love to know which of these 13 things you found the most challenging.

1. GET YOUR LIFE ON PURPOSE

Firstly you will need to understand how important it is for you to get your life on purpose. If you keep putting all your meaningful plans off and you if you continue doing things just for the sake of doing them, chances are that you will look back at your life with regrets. Stop chasing the wrong things and get your life in order, get your life on purpose. “When I chased after money, I never had enough. When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself and everything that arrived into my life, then I was prosperous.” Wayne Dyer

2. STOP WASTING TIME

It’s funny how for many of us tomorrow looks better than today for getting things done. We put off those things that are so important for us and we lie to ourselves by saying we will do them later, we will do them tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Stop fooling around, it is your life you’re playing with, your future and the future of those close to you.
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

3. STOP PLAYING THE VICTIM CARD

Know that the more time you spend complaining the more time it will take you to find a solution and get out of the mud. The brain is hardwired to look for trouble in order to protect you from a great danger,  but keep in mind that we are not cavemen anymore.
 “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”  Shirley Hufstedler

4. TAKE ADVANTAGE – EACH DAY OFFERS A NEW BEGINNING 

It doesn’t really matter where you’ve been, it doesn’t really matter how many mistakes you’ve made and it doesn’t really matter how many times you’ve been rejected and ridiculed in the past because you see, today is a brand new day and you have another chance, a new opportunity to start all new.
“Don’t let a bad day make you feel like you had a bad life.”

5. STOP MAKING UP EXCUSES

“You already have every characteristic necessary for success if you recognize, claim, develop and use them.” - Zig Ziglar
There are so many people out there who managed to go past their disabilities and inspire lives, and we can take Hellen Keller as an example. You and I know that there are plenty of people who have no disabilities whatsoever and still they find all kind of excuses not to move forward with their lives, not knowing this will only bring more pain upon them along the way. Don’t let that be you. Look within and know there is something you can do better than anyone else. Find what that something is and share it with the whole world for that’s where you will find happiness.

6. STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS

No matter what you do, no matter who you are and where you are, always remember you have your own unique path to walk on. Don’t compare yourself, your work and your journey to anyone else for that would only distract you from your own path, your own journey of self-discovery and self-mastery.
“True nobility isn’t about being better than anyone else; it’s about being better than you used to be.” Wayne Dyer

7. STOP SABOTAGING YOURSELF

Yes, we sabotage ourselves all the time, whether we realize it or not. We say we want something and the moment we feel it’s coming our way because we get scared, we start sabotaging ourselves in one way or another and this usually happens at the subconscious level. 

8. STOP THE WHAT IF

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” - Steve Jobs
What if they laugh at me, what if I fail, what if I’ll look stupid, what if, what if…  Well, you will never know until you try but chances are nothing terrifying will happen to you and if you ask me, there is nothing more terrifying than wasting your life, there is nothing more frightening than getting to the end of your life and realizing you wasted your life, the only life that was offered to you.

9. STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Get out of your comfort zone, have the courage to step into the unknown for that is how you’ll allow your mind to expand, to grow and to create new things. Don’t be afraid to try new things, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and most important, don’t be afraid to learn from these mistakes.
“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” Brian Tracy

10. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS

In order to learn and grow you will have to ask questions, a lot of questions. Nobody was born having the answer to everything. It’s okay not to know, so don’t be afraid to ask questions.
“He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.” Chinese Proverb

11. EMPLOY YOUR TIME IN IMPROVING YOURSELF BY OTHER MEN’S WRITINGS 

With the Internet and the many resources we have at hand nowadays is quite easy to learn everything we want to learn and even more. You can’t really use your excuses anymore. Take advantage of all that is being offered to you and promise yourself to
Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.” Socrates

12. FIND A MENTOR

Find somebody who will help you become the person you aspire to be whether this person is alive or not, whether it’s somebody you know personally or not as this would have a huge impact in your life and your journey. I chose Wayne Dyer as my mentor and I only spoke to him once but that hasn’t stopped me from being inspired and motivated by him and all of his teaching and to master many of the skills he has.

13. DON’T GIVE UP ON YOURSELF

No matter how hard life may seem and no matter what happens to you, don’t give up on yourself and don’t give up on your dreams. Have faith in yourself and know that, just like Dale Carnegie said it: “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” 
Added by Luminita Saviuc on 1, June 2012

18 Simple Truths Nobody Told Us While Growing Up



You know how when you were a little child you used to thinks that grown ups have the answers to all of your questions and how those answers would in fact reflect the ultimate truth and how life should be lived? Well, what you did not know then and probably a lot us us don’t know it now either, is that each and every one of us has a different set of beliefs and based on those beliefs we build our lives and our reality and what we usually do, is imposing our own set of beliefs on them.
This is a list of 18 simple truths that nobody shared with you while growing up, and it is based on my own beliefs, experiences and you don’t have to believe anything, ”no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” Buddha

1. With self love and acceptance comes real happiness

If you ask me, there is no greater gift you can give to yourself than the gift of self love.
“If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself.” Barbara De Angelis

2. Judgments prevent us from seeing the good in people

 The moment we judge another human being, we are blocking ourselves from seeing beyond the labels we put on to these people, restricting ourselves from really knowing and seeing them for what they really are, and not for what we think they are. 

3. Gratitude equals happiness

Gratitude is one of the 12 activities that Sonja Lyubomirsky  talks about in her book, “The How of Happiness” , activity that is scientifically proven to help us achieve and attract more happiness into our lives.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” Melody Beattie

4. What other people think of you is none of your business

 Your reputation is not something you have control over. The more people you interact with, the more reputations you get. I know, quite funny - we can’t really control what other people think of us, and trust me, this has nothing to do with being a “good” or a “bad” person.

5.There are no limits to what we can achieve, only those we choose to impose on ourselves

“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you’ll see the way to fly.” Richard Bach

6. When we do good, we feel good

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” The Dalai Lama

7. Time waits for no one

It does not. Time passes by so fast, and that is exactly why we must learn to treasure every single moment we spend on this beautiful Earth, to be present and engaged in everything we do, for time, once gone, is gone forever.

8. Wisdom never decreases by being shared

 Share your knowledge with the world, share your unique gifts and talents for it is in giving that we receive.

9. Love people, not things; use things, not people

Things come and go but people, once they’re gone, they’re gone forever and that is exactly we really have to pay close attention to how we treat everybody around us and to choose to always be kind, loving and respectful toward them.

10. Money does not equal happiness

If you love what you do, you will always find a way to earn money, but don’t you ever make money your end goal for you will never be happy if you do so.
I find the words of Wayne Dyer to really resonate with this: “When I chased after money, I never had enough. When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself and everything that arrived into my life, then I was prosperous.”

11. Hard work does not equal success

We were raised to believe that if we work hard, very hard, we will become successful and we will afford many things that not so hard working people won’t be able to afford them, but that’s not always the case.
I know that it may sound a bit harsh, but I do agree with Bill Bowermann on this one:“The idea that the harder you work, the better you’re going to be is just garbage. The greatest improvement is made by the man or woman who works most intelligently.”

12. We know more than we think we do

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will find them gradually, without noticing it, and live along some distant day into the answer”. Rainer Maria Rilke

13. You attract what you focus on

 What we focus on expands and what we resist persist! You don’t like something, don’t fight it, don’t resist it, don’t complain about it.
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” Richard Buckminster Fuller

14. Don’t believe everything you think

Every time we choose to stress about the things we can’t change, the things we can change, the things we don’t want to change, we are in fact causing even more stress in our lives, keeping us even further away from thinking clearly and taking smart decisions.
“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.”Peace Pilgrim

15. Beliefs become self fulfilling prophecies

and “if you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.” Goethe

16. Don’t compare and don’t compete

 To compare yourself with others it’s toxic, unhealthy and damaging to your self-esteem and self image. Constantly trying to compete with others will drain so much energy out of you and the best thing you could do for yourself is to realize that: “True nobility it is not about being better than anyone else. It is about being better than you, used to be. “ Wayne Dyer

17.  Love everything, be attached to nothing,

knowing that: “attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be attained only by someone who is detached.” Simone Weil

18. It’s very healthy to talk openly about death

 Why should we do such a thing you may ask. Well, because: “A dying man needs to die, as a sleepy man needs to sleep, and there comes a time when it is wrong, as well as useless, to resist.” Stewart Alsop
Talking about it and not acting like it will never come our way, will help us live fuller lives,  will help us enjoy the moments we spend with the people we love even more, expressing our appreciation and gratitude toward them more often, and when the time will come for us or them to leave this planet, to do it with grace and serenity.
How many of these things were shared with you while growing up? Share your insights by commenting bellow or by posting your lovely comment on the PurposeFairy Facebook Page. And if you’ve enjoyed reading this post, press the share button :)
Added by Luminita Saviuc on 11, April 2012