The power of praise has been scientifically documented to help children achieve more than they had believed, providing motivation for them to reach their goals when they thought the task impossible. With children, it is imperative to praise the effort to encourage them to try harder.

Praise is equally important in adults, but the use of praise to motivate others becomes more complicated. Catherine the Great said, “I praise loudly, I blame softly.” She was a wise woman who understood much about the human spirit, but, as with many things, there are also exceptions to the rule.

In some cases, praise has its greatest effect when it is delivered by a highly critical person. When someone has a predisposition to criticize and is difficult to please, praise can seem like an unattainable goal.

On the other hand, those who deliver praise vocally and regularly often can provide the greatest motivation by withholding it. In instances such as these, the silence screams volumes. Read Post

From my guest article 10 Tips to Turn Stress to Success at Effortless Abundance:

“If you know someone who doesn’t experience stress, they’re probably not human. We stress over our finances, relationships, health, and careers or businesses. We get stressed when things don’t go our way and we are not getting the results we want. We experience stress when we feel rushed and we run out of time to do all that we want to do. What causes you to feel stressed?

Of course, there’s good stress and bad stress. Good stress is when you’re stretching beyond your comfort zone and taking risks. You feel discomfort, while also feeling good about doing new things and taking new paths. Bad stress causes anguish, negative emotions, and oftentimes physical problems like pain, headaches, ulcers, and worse.

What I’ve noticed, however, is that some people can have the same experiences and not feel as stressed as others. So I wonder: Is stress an automatic reaction or can it be a conscious choice? Think about that as you consider some of these 10 tips to turn stress to success:”

Read the rest of 10 Tips to Turn Stress to Success.

Goal setting is a great way to increase motivation and improve your success. Developing goals is also an integral part of any time management program. Many people do not realize, though, that within the realm of goal setting that there are various types of goals. We can utilize these more specific types of goals in furtherance of our desire to accomplish a larger, overarching goal.

Generally, our goals tend to be “outcome goals,” such as having a certain amount of money in our retirement accounts. The steps we take to get there, such as transferring $100 each week into the retirement account, are classified as performance goals. Our best chances for success come when we blend both types of goals, giving us a larger desired outcome accomplished by taking smaller, measurable steps.

1. Outcome Goals Read Post

For those who have come to understand that the rat race is not all it has been cracked up to be, and have finally made the decision to slow down and get some enjoyment out of life, there also comes with it the realization that certain planning needs to take place in order to be able to realize your goals of greater happiness and fulfillment.

Planning is especially important if you have a family to consider. You cannot just chuck your high-stress career for a life of leisure – or at least you should not. Prior to giving your boss his walking papers, you must take steps to ensure the ongoing comfort and survival of your family. Otherwise, your efforts to slow down and enjoy life will all be for naught.

As you envision your more rewarding and fulfilling life, be sure to account for those little luxuries your corporate job provides, which you must now provide for yourself. Read Post

If you have been reading about self improvement for any length of time, you have heard mention made of the power of visualization. If you have not discovered its power to bring about significant change in your life, you should consider giving it a try.

Your mind, like any other muscle in your body, needs to be exercised regularly in order to remain strong. Your brain can be exercised through intellectual pursuits, such as reading, painting, writing, and such. But your mind is also capable of affecting change outside of the human body as well. In order for it to be able to do so, though, it must be exercised.

1. The Spoon Benders Read Post

Check out my guest post Whose Story Are You Living? at The Change Blog:

“Do you ever find yourself telling someone you’ve recently met the story of your life? You probably don’t think of it as a story, because to you it’s all factual. Truth is, we place a lot of interpretation on our life story. And when you remember how it was from the present day perspective, you often distort fact from interpretation. When you do tell your story, do you look at it and wonder if it’s the story you would have written for yourself? Do you ever wonder whose story are you living?”

Read the rest of Whose Story Are You Living?.

“Having purpose and vision during retirement is one of the most important determinants of mental, social, spiritual, and physical well-being in later life.” - Harold G. Koenig, author

Some of us retire by choice, others are retired by the company we worked for. Either way, you’ll have a much more successful retirement if you plan for it. If you retired by choice, you may have done some minor planning, or maybe even major planning. Do you have your financial resources set aside for this time of your life? Have you planned some long-awaited vacations or other activities? Are you thinking about starting your own business?

How you live out your retirement years is totally up to you. It can be the best years of your life or the worst. Of course, barring any serious illness, how you spend these years after leaving the work force can be filled with passion and promise. Your choice of attitude and actions can make the difference between boring or brilliant years. Read Post

Many thanks to Michelle at the Affirmawords Blog for the opportunity to share my insights on the topic:  “What Inspires the People that Inspire Others?”

Check out my interview here.

Not everyone thinks about whether or not they are expressing their unique nature. However, if you find yourself experiencing any dissatisfaction with your job, your relationships, or any area of your life, you may want to look at this issue. When we express who we are, what makes us unique, what makes our hearts soar, it’s unlikely we’ll have much dissatisfaction in what we do and how we show up in life.

Each day, you might want to look at how you are expressing yourself. Before you go to bed each night, look back on the day to see if you were true to yourself, your values, and your beliefs. Did you do anything to express your passions, your interests, or your special talents? Although you might not express the full range of who you are all the time, parts of your unique nature show up in different ways. It might be at your work, with your family and friends, or in the way you spend your leisure time.

In order to fully express your unique nature, you need to know who you are at the core of your being, and how you wish to participate in the world. Ask yourself if you are happy with who you are. Do you wake up each day feeling good about the person you are and the life you live? If you can’t answer these questions with a definite “YES,” then you may not be living a life that expresses your true nature.

Spend some time alone and ask yourself questions that will give you a glimpse into your unique nature. Think about what you love to do that expresses who you are. Is it through an artistic endeavor such as music, writing, or other hobbies? Is it through the creativity you express in your business? Is it through relationships with friends, family, and co-workers?

We all have a unique path of self-expression. Look at your past and recall how you have expressed yourself that brought you great satisfaction. Are you spending time now doing those activities you have always loved that express your nature, or are you too busy with the routines and habits of daily life? Do you spend so much time at work that you have little time for personal expression or to even figure out how you want to express yourself?

Have you ever noticed the face of someone deep into expressing their passion? Whether they are painting, cooking, dancing, or teaching, they are in bliss as they express their unique nature. When you are expressing your unique nature, your attitude will improve as will all areas of your life. You’ll be more accepting, appreciative, and at peace. You’ll be less stressed when you spend more time doing more of what you love and are good at. Everyone from business associates, partners, and customers will see the difference in you. You will be true to who you are whether at work or play. When you are fully expressing your unique nature, everyone and everything around you will celebrate with you.

Sometimes you just need a break. It’s been a crazy week at the office. Or your kid came down with the latest creeping crud and kept you up all night for the past three days. Maybe you just need some time out so you can hear yourself think over the din of competing anxieties.

When you need to get away for a while, but can’t afford the time or money for a real vacation, consider taking a mini-vacation or three. They’re quick, easy and, best of all, cheap ways to give your body and soul a rest without breaking the bank or pulling you away from life long enough to let it pile up. Read Post