Tag Archives: Personal Growth

Peace Be With You!

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“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” Eleanor Roosevelt 

Peace is much more wide ranging than the absence of violence, conflict and war. Peace is the presence of justice, tranquility and harmonious relations. Peace is an inner state of well-being and calm.

In Christianity, peace can be found through God’s mercy and grace. Peace is bestowed upon those who praise, worship and pray to him. Simply put, peace can be found when you relinquish control and hand matters over in your personal relationship with God. So…may “The peace of the Lord be with you.”

Finding Peace

Peace is a presence of tranquility and harmony that comes from within. It is a place of inner balance. You can experience it once you gain the capacity to truly manage your emotions, feelings and stress levels. It happens when you are less reactive in challenging situations. During these times, instead of reacting harshly or out of fear, you respond in a balanced and healthy way, trusting that all will be well in the end.

“Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Achieving peace is a continuous self-journey towards taking responsibility for your own life and loving yourself just as you are, all your imperfections and warps included. Though it might seem out of reach, putting our problems and struggles into perspective helps us move closer to reaching tranquility.

Peace begins with making an effort to be more calm and present. Peace does not waver in the presence of troubles or difficult situations. It allows you to act and make decisions from a place of love, not fear. It allows you to make rational, emotionally balanced decisions. Peace is like a superpower!

  • It helps to relieve stress, and helps you deal with stress more effectively when it does get tough.
  • It improves your overall focus and clarity.
  • It manifests self-awareness.
  • It reduces your negative, agitated thinking, and worry.
  • It improves your creativity.
  • It reduces your anxiety level.
  • It improves your relationships with others (and yourself).

Peace is a lifestyle that can be chosen, and as more people adopt it as a goal, we can live in a much better, more peaceful world. Peace gives you the power to control your mind, your emotions and your attitude.

“The life of inner peace, being harmonious and without stress, is the easiest type of existence.” Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

In essence, peace means not just freedom from trouble but everything that makes for a man’s highest good. Peace is more than the absence of war or something felt in the mind. It is a way of living life in a proper relationship between man and God, as well as man and man.

References:

  1. https://awakenedinspiration.com/what-is-inner-peace-and-why-would-you-want-it/
  2. https://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/holy-spirit/the-fruit-of-the-spirit/fruit-of-the-spirit-peace/
  3. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a27115824/peace-quotes/

Psychosocial Health

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It’s important that you choose to be happy, healthy and at peace!

Health is defined as the overall mental, emotional and physical state of a person; the absence of disease and ailment. On the other hand, wellness or well-being refers to the state of being in optimal mental and physical health.

But wellness is more than optimal mental, emotional and physical health. It’s about living a life in harmony, full of personal responsibility and taking proactive steps for one’s entire well-being. Thus, a person living life very well controls risk factors that can harm them. Risk factors are different types of actions or conditions that increase a person’s chances for illness or injury.

Psychosocial (mental, emotional, social, and spiritual) health and wellness

“The secret of a better and more successful life is to cast out those old dead unhealthy thoughts.” Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

Psychosocial health includes four important components of well-being. It means being mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually sound which fortunately is no longer lost on traditional modern medicine. There’s plenty of proof that a healthy mind, content heart and grateful attitude are just as important for the prevention of diseases and therapeutic treatment. Therefore, this concept of psychosocial health, a state of mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being, deserves much attention and additional research.

Basic Traits of Psychosocial Health

“The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” William James

Individuals who are deemed to be psychosocially healthy aren’t completely devoid of problems. Actually, it’s not the quantity or quality of a problem, which makes someone sound in this respect. It’s the way people view themselves and how they view and response to stressful situations that sets psychosocially healthy people apart from those who are not. Here are just a few traits shared by these robust individuals. They:

  • Like themselves
  • Accept their mistakes
  • Take care of themselves
  • Have empathy for others
  • Control their anger, hate, tension, and anxiety
  • Are optimistic
  • Can work alone and with others equally well

Mental Health

“To make your mind healthy, you must feed it nourishing, wholesome thoughts.” Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

The thinking portion of psychosocial health is known as mental health. Your beliefs and values in life, as well as how you relate to others and respond to situations in your life, are a reflection of mental health, which overlaps with the other aspect of health.

When something happens to you that you don’t like and you respond in a positive manner by accepting your mistake and looking forward to its correction, then that’s good. But if you show up late for work regularly, get fired, and then blame anyone but yourself, then that may be an indicator of less than ideal mental and emotional health.

Emotional Health

The feeling part of psychosocial health is called emotional health. This includes things like anger, love, hate, and happiness. Oftentimes, emotional and mental health overlap a great deal in some situations. Going back to our example of getting fired from work because you came in late multiple time, if you feel a bit down, but still have high hopes for the future, that’s a positive thing. But if you lash out in a blinding rage against your boss, sulk when you go home, and avoid everyone thereafter, then that may point to improper emotional health.

Furthermore, it’s not unexpected even for an emotionally healthy person to experience some sadness and grief after getting fired; that by itself isn’t conclusive of poor emotional health. Everyone, even the most optimistic people, have their ups and downs. But an emotionally healthy person is one that responds to a situation in a manner that is controllable, in proportion, and with understanding.

Emotional intelligence is an ability to understand and manage your emotions and those of others. It can be broken up into five main parts:

  • Know your emotions: Are you able to quickly recognize your feelings?
  • Manage your emotions: Can you express those feelings appropriately? Are you able to cope with them well?
  • Motivate yourself: The more you can do this independently in order to achieve more in your life, the higher your emotional intelligence.
  • Recognize the emotions of others: The more you can empathize with others, the better.
  • Handle your relationships: The better you are at navigating conflict in life and building a good social network, the higher your emotional intelligence.

Social Health

Having healthy relationships is a good way to also introduce social health, the ability to create and maintain healthy relationships with others. I’m sure you can already appreciate how much this is related to the concepts we went over in emotional health. Everything here is related because they are all part of the one overarching concept – psychosocial health.

Social health goes beyond having appropriate emotional health and intelligence. A person with good social health:

  • Recognizes the importance of social engagement. We’re pack animals after all! We’re not supposed to live alone!
  • A person with good social health is able to support their friends in a time of need and ask for their help when they need it themselves.
  • They aren’t biased, prejudiced, racist, or sexist.
  • Listens to others well, expresses their feelings just as well, and acts in a responsible manner around others.

An example of a person with good social health is someone who has close friends. They enjoy listening to and feels close enough to share important feelings with. The contrast is a curmudgeon who is bad-tempered and discourages close personal relationships.

Spiritual Health

When you enhance your spirituality, you form a relationship built on inner peace, love, faith and security.

Spiritual health is about having “something more” in your life. In practical terms, we’re talking about getting to know yourself—getting to know what you’re feeling, what you’re thinking, what you’re intending, what your fears are, and what your loves are, according to Gary Zukav author of Seat of the Soul.

Relationships can transform into a spiritual connection and partnership. If we use our relationships with ourselves, others and God (or an entity that is transcendent) to make us wiser, kinder, peaceful, grateful and more compassionate, we can actually change how the relationships work for us. We can have and enjoy the relationships and lives we’ve always dreamed of.

Higher levels of spirituality have also been linked to increased compassion, strengthened relationships, and improved self-esteem. “Our findings show that spirituality is significantly associated with better mental health and well-being and may add to an individual’s overall wisdom,” explains Dilip Jeste, senior associate dean for the Center of Healthy Aging and a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the UC San Diego School of Medicine. “Spirituality does not require religious faith but is characterized by humility and ever-present connectedness to oneself or to others or to an entity that is transcendent, such as Mother Nature or God or the soul. It helps reduce stress in many people and allows them to be more at peace, happier, and healthier.”

References:

  1. https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-psychosocial-health-definition-components-traits.html
  2. https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/forging-a-spiritual-relationship/all
  3. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/202010/how-spirituality-wisdom-and-mental-health-are-intertwined
  4. https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2016/06/15/this-is-how-your-thoughts-become-your-reality/?sh=1dd1728528a0

Background:

Physical wellness: This means we exercise, eat well, practice safe sex, don’t do any dangerous activities like jumping off of buildings, and so on. Physical fitness increases physical wellness. By being physically fit and well, you are better able to take care of yourself and others, especially in a time of need. You are also better able to prevent illness and disease.

Intellectual wellness: Critical thinking, being curious, and always learning new things. Developing intellectual wellness is critical not only to help a person grow in school and do better at work, but it actually prevents the onset of disease. It’s been shown that people who regularly learn new things and challenge their mind can stave off many mental health problems.

Emotional wellness: Being confident, having a solid self-esteem, building trust, and being able to understand another’s feelings. A person who is emotionally well is aware of their feelings and is able to properly cope with them. Emotional wellness also implies a person can deal well with stressful situations.

Social wellness: Having good communication skills, the ability to establish good and healthy long-term relationships, and having good relationships with family and friends. Interpersonal relationships are very important in order to maintain a good emotional and physical state of being. We are, of course, ‘pack animals,’ so to speak, that depend on one another to survive and live well.

Spiritual wellness: The path to a spiritual wellness and relationship depends upon you because how you relate to yourself determines how spiritual you are toward others, according to Deepak Chopra. Developing compassion, forgiveness, being caring, having a sense of purpose and meaning in life. Spiritual wellness doesn’t automatically imply the need for religion in a person’s life. But, it does imply a personal relationship with God or committing to something higher. This personal relationship or commitment to something higher can be developed and found through things like nature, meditation, volunteer work, and family.

Mahatma Gandhi:

  1. You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
  2. Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
  3. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
  4. Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.

References:

  1. https://www.chopra.com/articles/how-to-have-a-true-spiritual-relationship

A Powerful Attribute for Success: Mindset

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Act in spite of fear!
 

Failure is a necessary evil on the road to success.

Your mindset is probably holding you back from creating the abundant life you dream and desire. Your mindset is your collection of thoughts and beliefs that shape your thought and habits.  And your thoughts and habits affect how you think, what you feel, and what you do.  Your mindset impacts how you make sense of the world, and how you make sense of yourself.

‘The 2% Mindset’.

“Adapting a growth mindset means recognizing that success is not about avoiding failures, but rather about embracing them, taking on challenges, and not giving up.” James Clear.

With a 2% or growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities and skills can be developed through dedication, deliberate practice, effort and hard work. This view of mindset creates a love of learning, growing and a resilience that is essential for success.

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” Oscar Wilde

It’s postulated that only 2% of the population go for their dreams with confidence and excitement. They make a conscious decision to live “outside the box”.  They have the confidence to live a life of adventure and are willing to go for their dreams….the bigger the better. 

Only 2% of the population choose happiness and fulfillment. Only 2% of the population get the most out of life by exploring new things and embracing the unknown. Only 2% of the population live life without limits and act in spite of fear. In other words, only 2% of the population live a life beyond their comfort zone.

To achieve this mindset, you must actively change your way of thinking. You must act in spite of the fear. Rather than fear the unknown these 2% embrace the unknown.  Change is something to be embraced, as well, and they seek it with gusto.  The 2% have been able to embody an abundance mindset, not merely as a concept but as a way of being.  A life of contentment and fulfillment is their ultimate prize.

The remaining 98% of the population

The majority of the people (98%) in this world make a conscious decision to live in a comfort zone of their own making. They remain in their comfort zone and are content with just getting by. This zone is a place that is easy, routine, and secure.  It is easy to be like everyone else as it helps keep fear at bay.

98% of the population live their lives playing it safe, doing the right things and save themselves for some future event that never happens. 98% of the population enjoy being like everyone else and simply let life push them into submission because they have no guts. Deep down inside they are fearful and terrified of taking risks and end up settling for less. They really want to succeed, but the fear of losing is greater than the excitement of succeeding. 98% of the population will look back one day and know that deep down inside they didn’t go for it.

“Success occurs when your dreams get bigger than your excuses.” Anonymous

Fear, a powerful teacher.

The fear of failure is preventing you from realizing your true potential. It stops you from going for your dreams, be that public speaking, or maybe starting your own business. Most people wished that they had honored even a half of their dreams and had died knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. But, “you need to fail, learn how to fail and condition yourself to fail” in order to find success, according to Tim Ferris.

Where there is uncertainty and fear, it’s easy to stay in your comfort zone and not face the unknowns. You experience resistance. Resistance is fueled by fear. And you feel fear because you don’t know what you don’t know and so you make up stories.

It’s important to embrace the unknown; find out how truly exiting and reinvigorating it can be. Live without limits, and enjoy exploring new things.

Regrets of the dying:

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. All fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” Steve Jobs

Bonnie Ware, an Australian palliative nurse, counseled the dying in their last days and recorded their most common regrets. In her book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying – A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing, she shared the top five regrets of the dying:

  1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
  2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
  3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
  4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
  5. I wish that I had allowed myself to be happier.

Take these five wishes of the dying to heart and avoid living a life full of regrets and unrealized dreams. Mark Twin said it best: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.”

“Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.” Bonnie Ware

References:

  1. http://sourcesofinsight.com/what-is-mindset/
  2. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FCKPHG/thbosh-20/
  3. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/07/how-overcoming-the-fear-of-failure-helped-steve-jobs-and-bill-gates.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Message
  4. https://www.inc.com/tom-popomaronis/only-2-percent-of-world-embraces-these-11-risky-mindsets-heres-why-everyone-else-doesnt-but-should.html
  5. https://bronnieware.com/blog/regrets-of-the-dying/
  6. https://substanceeducation.com/2015/05/23/a-2-mindset/

America’s Mental Health Epidemic

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“Be sure to give each other a lot of grace and be kind and forgiving to each other. We’re all experiencing heightened levels of uncertainty and anxiety right now. Giving an extra beat of patience to others is critical.” Dani Fallin, chair of the Department of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The mental health impact of COVID-19 are real, widespread and growing exponentially. The immense stress and emotional trauma experienced by vulnerable individuals, families and households amid the pandemic has given rise to an unprecedented mental-health crisis. Additionally, there’s strong evidence showing that social isolation and distancing can increase symptoms of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.

Data is staggering

The latest data reveals some of the most frightening and staggering spikes in anxiety, depression, substance use, drug overdose and suicide rates that behavioral-health experts have ever witnessed, according to Babette Hankey, president/CEO of Aspire Health Partners in Orlando.

A recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on adult mental health found that more than 40% of U.S. adults have reported at least one mental health issue during this pandemic, and more than 1 in 10 adults had seriously considered suicide. During this period, 7 out of 10 young adults (18-24 years old) reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression and more than 25% have seriously considered suicide.

In the wake of the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, many people may feel anxiety or stress.

Everyone responses differently

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations such as the seemingly enduring COVID-19 pandemic infectious disease outbreak. It is normal to experience a wide range of emotions. Yet, it’s important for people to take care of themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally.

According to the CDC study, the rate of substance abuse and/or suicidal thoughts among unpaid caregivers more than tripled between May and the end of June.

Older Americans appear to be more resilient to the strain of the pandemic compared to the young: The study found rates of anxiety, depression, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts were most prevalent among those aged 18 to 24, and the prevalence of these issues “decreased progressively with age.”

Black and Hispanic Americans tended to have higher rates of mental health issues tied to the pandemic than did whites, the study also found.

Of course, unemployment or the threat of it is a major source of anxiety for millions in 2020. So, efforts aimed at “strengthening economic supports to reduce financial strain” should be part of an effort to boost mental health, the researchers said.

According to the CDC, reactions during the outbreak can include:

  • Fear and worry about your health status and that of your loved ones who may have been exposed to COVID-19.
  • Increase levels of stress, anxiety, hopelessness and depression.
  • Changes in sleep or eating patterns.
  • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
  • Worsening of chronic health problems.
  • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

Learning to cope with anxiety and stress

Figuring out ways to cope with anxiety and stress can help you, your loved ones and your community. If stress begins to interfere with your daily life, reach out to your healthcare provider.

These numbers, although startling, are unsurprising to mental health experts given the emotionally taxing measures local and state governments have taken to reduce the spread of the virus: children and grandchildren have been separated from their parents and grandparents; students are prevented from attending school; and the sick and dying have been denied the embrace of loved ones.

During this unique moment in the nation’s history, American society and economy have slowed down, we’re experiencing unprecedented social unrest and political rancor, and, many have been left feeling powerless and uncertain about their physical health and financial wellbeing as well as that of their loved ones.

https://youtu.be/60kGONUJSRY

The importance of self-care during this challenging time.

“Seek out ways to have social and professional engagement while adhering to social distancing…can help people feel connected socially with their colleagues, family, and friends, and maintain a sense of belonging.” Dani Fallin, chair of the Department of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

  • Avoid excessive exposure to media coverage of COVID-19. Be aware and conscious of your news and media intake. The more time you spend consuming news about the pandemic, the more likely you are to feel anxious and concerned. That’s especially true at home, when you’re able to access news media 24/7.
  • Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol, smoking and drugs.
  • Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly. Try to do some other activities you enjoy to return to your healthy life.
  • Learn a new hobby or skill like gardening, a foreign language or a musical instrument. Devote yourself to learning and growing everyday.
  • Connect with others. Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships.
  • Maintain a sense of hope that “this too shall pass” and maintain positive outlook and thinking. Have faith in your inherent resilience to persevere and overcome life’s extraordinary challenges brought on by the pandemic.

Take care of your mental health

Mental health is an important part of overall physical health and emotional wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It may also affect how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices during uncertain situations or an emergency.

Again, we stress to contact your healthcare provider if you think you have new or worsening mental health symptoms or stress (or anxiety) gets in the way of your daily activities for consecutive days.

References:

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
  2. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-coronavirus-mental-trauma-aspire-health-20200914-xw7kcjahvbfrlgcd2s4bmvbmzi-story.html
  3. https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200813/levels-of-anxiety-addiction-suicidal-thoughts-are-soaring-in-the-pandemic#1
  4. https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/04/06/dani-fallin-mental-health-challenges-coronavirus/

Well-Being and Positive Thinking

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“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results…We understand this law in the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral world – although its operation there is just as simple and undeviating – and they, therefore, do not cooperation with it.” – James Allen

Gallup’s research into wellbeing found that “a life well-lived” requires the fulfillment of several elements: Career, Emotional, Physical, Community and Financial wellbeing.

In this article, we will highlight the impact that positive thinking impact on overall well-being. Essentially, a person’s wellbeing — whether thriving, struggling or suffering — can be affected by one’s thinking.

Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress

“Positive thinking is more than just a tagline. It changes the way we behave. And I firmly believe that when I am positive, it not only makes me better, but it also makes those around me better.” – Harvey Mackay

Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health, according to the Mayo Clinic. Positive thinking may reflect your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself, and whether you’re optimistic or pessimistic — and it may even affect your health.

Studies have shown that optimism can affect your health and well-being. The positive thinking that comes with optimism is a key part of effective stress management. And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits.

Understanding positive thinking and self-talk

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.” – Oprah Winfrey

Positive thinking doesn’t mean that you’re a Pollyanna and ignore life’s less pleasant situations. Positive thinking just means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive, courageous and productive way. Instead of giving into fear (False Expectations Appearing Real) and worry, you think the best is going to happen, not the worst.

Positive thinking often starts with self-talk. Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of your self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you create because of lack of information, according to the Mayo Clinic.

If the thoughts that run through your head are mostly negative, your outlook on life is more likely pessimistic. If your thoughts are mostly positive, you’re likely an optimist — someone who practices positive thinking.

The health benefits of positive thinking

Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:

  • Increased life span
  • Lower rates of depression
  • Lower levels of distress
  • Greater resistance to the common cold
  • Better psychological and physical well-being
  • Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
  • Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

It’s unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body and mental well-being.

It’s also thought that positive and optimistic people tend to live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, have stronger relationships, follow a healthier diet, and don’t smoke or drink alcohol in excess.

  1. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/267152/financial-wellbeing-pays-off.aspx
  2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950
  3. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/positive-thinking_b_3512202

FedEx’s Fred Smith Quotes on Leadership

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  • What follows are Fred Smith, Founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO of FedEx, quotes on leadership.
    1. “Leadership is simply the ability of an individual to coalesce the efforts of other individuals toward achieving common goals. It boils down to looking after your people and ensuring that, from top to bottom, everyone feels part of the team.”
    2. “Leaders get out in front and stay there by raising the standards by which they judge themselves—and by which they are willing to be judged.”
    3. “The greatest leadership principle I learned in the Marine Corps was the necessity to take care of the troops in a high performance based organization.
      The Marine Corps’ strong emphasis on this overriding leadership requirement has been of inestimable importance to me in developing FedEx over the years.  In the main, people want to be commited to an organization and to do a good job.  The principles of leadership taught by the USMC, and based on two centuries of experience, will produce outstanding organizational results in any setting, if those principles are studiously followed. In short, FedEx owes its success to this simple truth.”
    4. “I’m not afraid to take a swing and miss.”
    5. “The riskiest strategy is to try to avoid risk altogether.”
    6. “Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something.”
    7. “A manager is not a person who can do the work better than his men; he is a person who can get his men to do the work better than he can.”
    8. “My innovation involved taking an idea from the telecommunications and banking industries, and applying that idea to transportation business.”
    9. “You can’t make people do what’s right. You can lead them, and you can empower them to make the right decision, but if you don’t produce a culture that allows them to do that, then all the rest is just bumping your gums as one of my old business partners used to say.”
    10. “If you’re going to run a high service organization, you have to get the commitment of the people working for that organization right at the start. If you don’t, you’ll never be able to deliver at the levels of expectations of the customer.”

    —Fred W. Smith, Chairman, CEO, Entrepreneur and Founder of FedEx

    Understanding the Black Experience | Psychology Today

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    “Can a White Person Understand the Black Experience? Layers of pain, mistrust, and taboos keep people divided along racial lines.”

    Having frank discussions about or asking questions about racism and injustice is challenging for many well-meaning people. They simply don’t know how to approach or “connect to our fellow human beings who are from different ethnic/racial groups and cultural traditions”.

    This is particularly difficult when there are over 200 years of racism, injustice and oppression between groups; and, it is difficult while significant social, health and economic inequities remain.

    Without an American and world history lesson, it’s safe to say that there are many reasons for discomfort on both sides. This is the major reason why most White people do not understand the African American experience in America.

    “Yet, making an authentic connection with another person means understanding, empathizing, and being able to see the world through their eyes.” And, it is hard to imagine that people of color are living a completely different experience in America simply by virtue of their race, ethnicity or gender.

    Racism hurts. 

    As much as people of color adopt a stoic attitude and pretend that racism does not impact their psyche, repeated and persistent racism can be traumatic. And it hurts doubly so when those around refuse to acknowledge the experience and its potential impact. Well meaning people tend to view an experience as only a single racist occurrence, rather than understand that the incident adds to a lifetime of accumulated experiences and frustrations.

    People of color do not want other people to discount their experiences or tell them that they’re being overly sensitive. So if you are a White person patiently waiting for a “Black person to spontaneously share their experience, you may be waiting a long time.” 

    Read more: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/culturally-speaking/201408/can-white-person-understand-the-black-experience

    References:

    1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/culturally-speaking/201408/can-white-person-understand-the-black-experience
    2. Carter, R. T. (2007). Racism and Psychological and Emotional Injury: Recognizing and Assessing Race-Based Traumatic Stress. The Counseling Psychologist, 35(1), 13-105.
    3. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/being-black-in-america-shouldnt-feel-like-a-overwhelming-burden-opinion/ar-BB15jkne
    4. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/03/19/upshot/race-class-white-and-black-men.html

    Power of Vulnerability

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    In a speech that Teddy Roosevelt gave in 1910, Roosevelt said:

    “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”

    The powerful Roosevelt quote resonated with Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, who gave the blockbuster TEDTalks “Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability”.

    In the introduction to her book, Dr. Brown comments on Roosevelt’s words, which she says perfectly encapsulate her research into why she and other researchers find being vulnerable such a hard thing to do.

    According to Dr. Brené Brown, Ph.D, in he book, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead:

    “When we spend our lives waiting until we’re perfect or bulletproof before we walk into the arena, we ultimately sacrifice relationships and opportunities that may not be recoverable, we squander our precious time, and we turn our backs on our gifts, those unique contributions that only we can make,” says Dr. Brown. “Perfect bulletproof are seductive, but they don’t exist in the human experience.”

    Here are a summary of the ThenPower of Vulnerability key points:

    • Vulnerability makes you authentic and allows you to feel love, belonging and joy
    • To be vulnerable you have to:
    • – Internalize that you are a worthy (of being loved) and enough the way you are
    • – Have the courage of showing up and engaging even if could hurt
    • “Your willingness to own and engage your vulnerability determines the depth of your courage”

    “Daring greatly means the courage to be vulnerable. It means to show up and be seen. To ask for what you need. To talk about how you’re feeling. To have the hard conversations,” according to Dr. Brown.

    Source: 5 insights from Brené Brown’s new book, Daring Greatly

    1. https://thepowermoves.com/daring-greatly-summary/

    Mindset: Creating Your Own Opportunities

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    “You either walk inside your own story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.” Dr. Brené Brown, Ph.D

    Dr. Brené Brown’s research has shown that you are the only person responsible for your life story and its outcomes. Not your mother; not your spouse; and, definitely not your “bestie” are responsible. You , and you alone, must take responsibility and assume accountability for your thoughts, your habits and your behavior that have resulted in the outcome of your current life.

    If you want things to happen in your life for the better and want to improve the trajectory of your life, then you need to do something about it. If you just sit about waiting for opportunities to come to you or waiting for the government to come to the rescue, it is likely that they will never happen.

    You, and only you, need to make your own opportunities in life if you want to become a success. Set goals and take action to steer your life in the direction you want it to go, and take advantage every chance and opportunity that comes your way.

    Yes, it takes courage and accepting that occasionally you will fail and ‘get your ass kicked’ in the process of creating your own opportunities.

    Dr. Brown’s research on the power of vulnerability has shown that without the willingness to rumble with one’s vulnerability, you are unlikely to achieve the success and life you desire without a willingness to accept failing and accept ‘getting your ass kicked’ on occasion. Vulnerability is the emotion you experience during times of risk, uncertainty and emotional exposure.

    References:

    1. https://moneyinc.com/brene-brown-quotes/

    Dr. Brené Brown, Ph.D, is a professor, researcher and lecturer on the subject of vulnerability, best selling author of ‘Daring Greatly‘, and podcast host. She is based at the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work.

    7 Habits to Help Build Your Wealth | U.S. News and World Report

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    By Paulina Likos. — U.S.News & World Report May 18, 2020

    Successful investors practice these habits to be one step ahead of the market.

    Develop a routine of successful investing habits.

    When you’re investing for your financial future, practicing successful habits is a fundamental step in constructing a resilient portfolio. It’s evident that in the world of investing, money management can get complex. That’s why having the right habits ingrained in your investment approaches is important in bringing clarity to your decision-making and confidence in your portfolio management. Here are seven habits that will help guide you through investing decisions during unprecedented market movements.

    Read more: https://money.usnews.com/investing/portfolio-management/slideshows/habits-to-help-build-your-wealth

    Periodically review your investment plan.

    Know what your specific financial goals are and develop an investment policy statement. An IPS is a plan that outlines investment objectives and goals for a particular investor drafted by the portfolio manager and their client. This can be a helpful tool to guide portfolio managers on implementing strategies to grow or preserve a client’s investments. Experts advise that clients stick with the initial plan even when drastic market changes occur; however, certain benchmarks should be monitored from time to time. You should examine your risk tolerance and investment plan every six months to ensure you’re on track with your investments when a financial crisis hits. “Changes will likely need to be made in accordance with a well thought out plan that was put in place before the first punch is landed,” says Tim Bain, president of Spark Assessment Management Group.

    Invest in what you know.

    While experienced investors can try to evaluate the quality of a company, more often than not, it can be difficult to define its overall valuation and understand its trends. Taylor Kovar, CEO of Texas-based Kovar Capital Management, says, “Don’t invest in something you’ve never heard of just because someone online said it was going to make you a millionaire.” It’s best to focus on companies with products that you’re familiar with, that way it will be easier to predict and understand the ebbs and flows of a company and, most importantly, help in managing your portfolio effectively. “Look in your closet [and] kitchen cabinet, and invest in the brand of the products you see,” he says. “This will help you invest in companies you actually enjoy. It’s like you are paying yourself every time you buy their products.”

    Stay away from the latest fads.

    Investors seeking yield in a low interest rate environment should try to steer clear of fads. This short-term phenomenon is prevalent during market underperformance and tends to be pretty risky. “It is psychologically very difficult to remain true to your patient investing convictions when it seems investors speculating in the latest fad (think cannabis or tech ‘unicorns’) are being rewarded,” says Robert Johnson, professor of finance at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. There are plenty of other ways to diversify your assets rather than putting your money at risk with fads. “One doesn’t need to chase the latest trend to have investment success. Quite the contrary, chasing investment trends can be hazardous to your wealth,” Johnson says.

    Be honest with your risk tolerance.

    At any stage of your investing journey, it’s important to know if you are a conservative or aggressive investor. Defining risk tolerance is a habit that directly aligns with your financial goals. But sometimes, it can be unclear on how to determine where you lie on the risk spectrum. “Many investors tend to overestimate their level of risk tolerance, which causes them to sell at the worst times,” says Jerry Verseput, president at Veripax Wealth Management in Folsom, California. Market sell-offs like the one in March are good opportunities for investors to assess their feelings honestly as they saw the value of their investments drop.

    Keep educating yourself.

    An expert tip: Keep reading about how the market is changing. With the pandemic in mind, think about how habits and behaviors are changing in the short term, how that will affect the long term and how future trends might evolve. “What is going to be long-lasting in work and personal life? Do you want to be [investing in] Kodak film or the person investing in digital cameras? Don’t believe what you hear as much as know-how and where to find the facts,” says Peter Creedon, CEO at Crystal Brook Advisors in New York City.

    Save for retirement.

    Keep investing in your future by adding into your retirement account each month — that’s the power of dollar-cost averaging. Even if some months are fewer than others, allocating some of your income to retirement savings consistently puts long-term investors in a better position toward meeting their future financial goals. You can measure how successful you are as a saver by monitoring your retirement score, an estimate of what your retirement income may look like according to the steps you are taking to save now. This estimation will predict whether you’re on target on meeting your retirement needs or if you need to boost your allocation. It will also give you an idea of how much you will need for retirement and what changes you need to make that happen.

    Know when to seek assistance.

    Many individual investors try to find “do it yourself” methods for investing. There’s a misconception that successful investors should be monitoring the markets constantly and hold a finance degree, but most experts say the biggest hurdle is knowing when to seek help and how to find the right financial advisor. One tip: Find out what kind of experience the advisor has and which investing strategies they often use. “Make sure in an interview that the advisor shares your investing values and has a well-defined process to develop an investment policy statement for you and your goals,” says Jamie Ebersole, founder and CEO of Ebersole Financial in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts. “If you and your advisor are not aligned on these important issues, it will make for a very frustrating relationship.”

    Setting yourself up for investing success.

    • Periodically review your investment plan.
    • Invest in what you know.
    • Stay away from the latest fads.
    • Be honest about your risk tolerance.
    • Keep educating yourself.
    • Save for retirement.
    • Know when to seek assistance.

    Sources:

    1. https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/307635
    2. https://money.usnews.com/investing/portfolio-management/slideshows/habits-to-help-build-your-wealth