Pile On Motivation

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Tag: Self Help

  • The Mystery of Mindfulness

    The Mystery of Mindfulness

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s a mystery from your own life that you’ve never solved?
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    Explore the mystery of mindfulness

    Of all things, the mystery of mindfulness is something that has already fascinated me. This is one mystery I have always found difficult to solve. Lets explore why it is so difficult to be mindful.

    Our brain’s natural state is entropy i.e. either worry about the future or regret about the past and hence focusing on the present moment goes against our natural instincts.

    This is what makes mindfulness such a difficult skill to acquire.

    Focusing on the present moment is known to improve our immune system and leads to fulfilling lives.

    Read this insight that explores the quirk around mindfulness. Inspired from the best selling book Flow.

    The mystery of mindfulness
  • Motivation to destress

    Motivation to destress

    Daily writing prompt
    What topics do you like to discuss?
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    Driving away Stress

    In the modern fast paced world anxiety, depression and stress are common byproducts. This is a blog post where I would like to discuss this topic to serve as a motivation to destress.

    Whenever we feel stressed up, a very good tip is to take a walk to engage the motor cortex of our brain to reduce the amount of electrical activity in the prefrontal cortex as mentioned below.

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/walking-as-a-stress-reliever/

    The best medicine to cure the hyperactivity that happens in our brain during such a moment is to face the reality and act. This removes unwarranted fears as mentioned by Susan Cain in her book Quiet.

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/stress-triggers-unwarranted-fears/

    Finally take note of this piece of motivational advice from Seth Godin in his book Dip. When acted upon properly this would eliminate regret in the long term by managing stressful situations at the present moment.

    Motivation to destress
  • Fearlessly invest in Optimism

    Fearlessly invest in Optimism

    Daily writing prompt
    When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?
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    Why invest in Optimism?

    In the hustle and bustle of modern life the recipe for leading a fulfilling life is to fearlessly invest in optimism. This is the risk that I have already taken and I encourage you all to do the same as well.

    Optimism and faith in god are quintessential to remind us that the future is bright to enable progression.

    Research has proven that a positive and optimistic attitude is known to improve the immunity system and help us fight menace such as stress and anxiety.

    Hence as Simon Sinek says, I would also encourage you all to take the risk of Optimism & lead a fulfilling life.

    Fearlessly invest in Optimism

    Simon Sinek

  • Guarding against Inaction Regrets

    Guarding against Inaction Regrets

    Daily writing prompt
    Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?
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    The science associated with Inaction Regrets

    Guarding against Inaction Regrets helps you overcome regrets that you experience with increasing age. Not acting on the power of mindfulness at an early age is one regret that I have at the current time.

    In his book The Power of Regret the author Daniel Pink has highlighted how we start feeling guilty for not acting at the right time.

    This guilt has been scientifically proven to increase over a period of time.

    Hence armed with this insight let us take an oath to act now to ensure a regret free future.

    Please read this insight around the same topic, to know the details:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/act-on-inaction-regrets/

    Guarding against Inaction Regrets
  • Power of Slow Productivity

    Power of Slow Productivity

    Daily writing prompt
    Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind.
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    Do you practice Slow Productivity

    Right now what comes to my mind is the power of slow productivity. In this fast paced world this is a concept everyone should be aware of.

    Cal Newport has highlighted the three principles of Slow Productivity in his best selling book.

    1. Do fewer things
    2. Work at a natural pace
    3. Obsess over quality

    I find the concept very pragmatic and health friendly. When practiced with rigor it can increase our longevity and makes us happy.

    Hence I would urge all of you to practice this in your daily lives to make them as good as a slow cooked meal.

    Power of Slow Productivity

    To know more about Cal Newport and his work, please visit this link:

    https://calnewport.com

  • The Art of Judging Strangers

    The Art of Judging Strangers

    Daily writing prompt
    Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.
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    The art of judging strangers is a very rare skill thus making this a very difficult task. Over the past few weeks I have tried learning about this skill from Malcolm Gladwell’s best selling book.

    In his book Talking to Strangers, the author Malcolm Gladwell encourages us to use the same standards of judging strangers with ourselves as well, as mentioned below”

    “We think we can easily see into the hearts of others based on the flimsiest of clues. We jump at the chance to judge strangers. We would never do that to ourselves, of course. We are nuanced and complex and enigmatic. But the stranger is easy. If I can convince you of one thing in this book, let it be this: Strangers are not easy.”

    Talking to Strangers – Malcolm Gladwell

    Thus next time around when you talk to strangers be mindful of judging them with the right measurement criteria in order to accept or discard them as friends in your life..

    To know more about Malcolm Gladwell and his work, please visit this link:

    https://www.gladwellbooks.com

    If you have not already grab a copy of this book today.

    the art of judging strangers

  • FIVE things for a HAPPY LIFE

    FIVE things for a HAPPY LIFE

    Daily writing prompt
    What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?
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    Which are those five things that lead to happiness?

    Five things for a happy life have been enlisted below based on my own experience. These when practiced regularly can lead to a fulfilling life.

    These five things, listed below, is what I have learnt from books and validated from my personal experience.

    1. Run your own race -> NOT COMPARING with OTHERS and doing your BEST at WHAT you are passionate about.
    2. Being Optimistic -> Having full FAITH in GOD, TRUST the value system indeed works and hence be PATIENT with whatever we have.
    3. Stay away from Negative people -> TURNING a DEAF EAR to NEGATIVITY and NEGATIVE PEOPLE and maintain self belief.
    4. Remove the worry habit -> Overcoming FEAR by looking at FEAR eye to eye.
    5. Power of self compassion -> Being GOOD with Oneself if you have done my BEST, EXPECTING nothing in RETURN.

    In addition to this if you want to remain in flow by doing the work that you love, adhere to these five principles.

    Five things for a happy life

  • Inculcate Grit in school children

    Inculcate Grit in school children

    Daily writing prompt
    Describe something you learned in high school.
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    Why encourage Grit in school children?

    Inculcate grit in school children by encouraging the process of solving problems rather than grades as an end product is the tip that I would give any school. This is what I learnt in my high school.

    This insight inspired from Thomas Sterner’s book reflects on the same topic and is a great reminder to schools who stress on the grading system.

    Inculcate Grit in school children

    A similar insight on how schools can improve can be found in this insight:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/two-things-all-great-schools-teach/

  • For the love of Team Sport

    For the love of Team Sport

    Daily writing prompt
    What Olympic sports do you enjoy watching the most?
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    Though Olympics itself is a lesson in itself I follow soccer and hockey Olympic matches the most, for the love of team sport.

    Both hockey and soccer that I love are both team sports.Team sports are characterized by high performing and trusting teams. When you experience the team in action, you realize the value of working and being successful as a group.

    The more I watch and admire soccer and hockey the more I admire the following insight from Simon Sinek:

    For the love of Team Sport

    Finally few other inspiring insights from Simon Sinek, on high performing teams and how trust plays a key role in developing world beating soccer and hockey teams.

    “A team is NOT a group of people who WORK TOGETHER.

    A team is a group of people who TRUST each other”

    For inspirational insights from Simon Sinek, please visit the below link:

    https://www.benchmarkemail.com/blog/simon-sinek-quotes-will-change-your-business