Why Accountability Is So Important

Two of the focuses of my blog are Creating Ecosystems of Success and Health/Wellness. A little known secret of life is that accountability is critical. Accountability is an important but difficult attribute but it is essential. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Accountability Is So Important.

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Whether it is at work or home, being accountable is a vital characteristic. Accountability is the foundation of honesty, compassion, integrity, and it will help you to build deeper and more meaningful relationships.

It’s a simple concept to be truly accountable. All it requires is for you to own everything that you do, and that happens to you. From your attitude and your actions to your communication and mistakes. While it is simple in its concept, it can be hard to apply this to all areas of your life, however without it you will make your life harder, potentially hurt people and, in the long term, you won’t live a full and rounded life.

Accountability in personal relationships is essential. It helps to diffuse arguments and strengthen love. Everyone makes mistakes; however, it is how we deal with these mistakes that matters. If you can hold your hands up, apologies to the person you love and truly understand why and how your actions have affected them, they are more likely to forgive you and move on. Many people will only focus on what matters to them. This is why a lot of marriages fail. Two people are unhappy, and they are trying to communicate what is hurting them, however, if only one person is accountable, then the relationship will become unbalanced. As one person grows, the other stays the same, and it is this which divides marriages and ends love. Put simply, someone who is accountable for their actions will outgrow the relationship if you cannot do the same.

We all make stupid mistakes from time to time. Maybe you went to help a friend who was upset, and you were doing a good deed. He offered you a drink, and you agreed. As the night went on, you had a few more, and without thinking, you drove home. All you could think about was being a good friend and getting back to your family. Unfortunately, if you are stopped, the police won’t be interested in any of that. You will end up with an OUI, and your licence will be taken away. However, if you show accountability, don’t focus on excuses for your actions but admit you should have said no to the first offer of a drink and made better arrangements. If you can prove to a judge that you are accountable for your actions, and you are sorry, then you may be able to obtain a hardship license. This could mean you are able to continue to drive under licence and not lose your job. Even the law respects accountability.

At work, it is vital. We are faced with many situations in our working day that could leave us feeling bitter and resentful. Imagine you went for a promotion, you had been at the company for a long time, and you were confident that you were good enough for the position. However, your boss tells you that he has hired someone else. Instead of losing sleep over it and letting it lower your productivity, you need to speak to your boss and listen to his decisions. Listen to what he tells you, perhaps there are things you do at work that need to be improved. If you don’t find out, then you will never know and you won’t be able to improve yourself or achieve the fantastic things you are capable of. If after listening to his decisions, you still believe your boss is wrong, then accept that it is his choice and the consequences of making the wrong decision lie with him. Let it go.

You may also find a situation where one of your colleagues criticizes you. Perhaps they say that your team doesn’t think you listen and that you always seem to communicate negatively. If you defend your actions, then you will only enforce their thoughts. An accountable person will seek to listen and understand. If we make people feel a certain way, then it’s essential to know why. You should always thank someone who has the guts to talk to you; it’s tough to criticize someone, especially if you have to work with them every day.

Being accountable isn’t just about doing the right thing for other people. It is about understanding who you are and how you are perceived. Having the strength of character to question, listen and accept will make you a popular person to be around. Your life will feel much happier, and you will move forward instead of staying in the same place your whole life.

How To Become More Competent And Confident In The Things You Do

The overarching principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. No matter what your field or passion is, you eventually want to get to the point where as competent and confident as you can be at it. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Become More Competent And Confident In The Things You Do.

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Life is all about taking advantage of opportunities and getting as much out of them as you can. We don’t exactly know the specifics of why we’re here, but we can all agree that living it to the fullest is what someone should be striving for. We all have our definitions of what that entails, of course, but the fundamental point still stands.

In order for us to do that, we need to have a little confidence in our own ability. Confidence makes us get out of bed in the morning, and it gives us the boost we need in terms of completing whatever’s in front of us. Just look at all the timid and nervous people on this planet – they get very little done and live a life of regret, don’t they? It’s no disgrace, obviously, but nobody wants to miss out on what could be an amazing few decades here.

So, we’ve established that confidence absolutely makes us or breaks us. How can we build such confidence in order to get out there and live life to the max? Well, here are a few ways of doing it:

Find A Passion And Work Towards It

When we have meaning, that’s when we feel as though we’re valuable. When we’re idling and don’t really know what’s going on, we tend to feel as though we’re pointless and worthless. That can lead to overthinking, which will lead to toxic thoughts that lower our self-esteem. When we have a project to complete, we then become a little more important. We also have things to talk about with others if we feel like showing off! Whatever you like, be it computers, fishing, fighting – anything – try and work towards it and make it into something tangible and, perhaps, even profitable.

Be A Little More Social

If you’re comfortable and charismatic around others, then you’re going to feel a lot more confident in your ability to do things. After all, how we behave in front of others is the main point when confidence is the subject. Those with low confidence worry about how they’re perceived. If you worry less about the opinions of others, then you’re good to go. Get out and talk to people – realise that there’s little to be afraid of.

Know Your Rights

When you know exactly what you can and cannot do, that’s when your freedom to do things becomes a little more specific. You’re then able to go out and live out a life with more zest. If you know what you’re allowed to do, you’re then less likely to be bound or impeded by uncertainty – you know exactly how you should go about the world. Legal professionals like Police Misconduct Attorneys and alike will be able to advise you on the limits and rights you have as a person looking to make their way in life.

Adopt A Positive Mindset

Negativity gets you absolutely nowhere. When you’re negative or stressed about a certain upcoming task, you only suffer more. If you’re positive and optimistic, then you’re going to feel a lot more at ease with whatever’s thrown at you. You’ll respond to failure with the right mindset, and you’ll often attract positive outcomes. The law of attraction isn’t absolutely set-in-stone, but it’s a darn good way to live your life.

3 Tips for Staying on Top of the Important Things

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Health/Wellness. Many people have problems managing their lives. This is particularly true when shouldering responsibilities for one’s self and others. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Tips for Staying on Top of the Important Things.

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Everyone has certain important responsibilities that they have to attend to, as well as various chores and less pressing obligations that nonetheless have to be handled, in order to prevent significant problems from developing.

Whether you are trying to remember to change your auto insurance, or are planning a vacation getaway with a special someone, it’s essential to have effective strategies at hand in order to stay on top of the important things in life.

Here are a handful of tips for staying on top of the important things.

Simplify your life as much as possible

It’s very easy, all things considered, to forget important tasks and duties – and to procrastinate on important projects – if you have too much going on in your life at any given time.

If you’ve got dozens of different tasks to keep track of, combined with all sorts of distractions in your everyday life, and a host of decisions that need to be made on a regular basis, it will naturally be harder to get anything done.

According to the book “The Paradox of Choice,” by Barry Schwartz, an overabundance of choice is actually psychologically detrimental, while also increasing the degree to which people remain static or become so overwhelmed or otherwise complacent that they let important things slide.

So, in order to stay on top of the important things, begin by simplifying your life as much as possible. For starters, work on filtering out those distractions and decisions that don’t enrich or benefit you in some way, but that instead serve as time sinks.

Use automated tools and systems to keep yourself reminded

Part of the reason why the budgeting service You Need a Budget is so popular with such a broad audience, is because it helps to streamline a usually difficult process – namely money management. Specifically, it “automates” a lot of the irritating number crunching, and can allow you to track “scheduled” transactions and so on – but it doesn’t “automate” the overall process to the extent that it allows you to be complacent.

If you are at risk of forgetting about important pending transactions, or upcoming appointments, consider using automated tools and systems to keep yourself reminded.

Simple forgetfulness and inattention are frequently the reason for a failure to get important things done.

Use a task and project management system that requires mindful engagement and review

There are various task and project management systems out there which thrive specifically because they focus to a significant degree on promoting regular engagement and review of various tasks and projects.

David Allen’s famous “Getting Things Done” task management system, for example, involves constantly reviewing the different projects that you have to handle, so that you can continually identify and act on the “next action” down the line.

Ryder Carroll’s paper-based Bullet Journal Method, on the other hand, involves writing entries out by hand, and copying them out during regular “reviews” and “migrations.” The overall effect is that you’re forced to remain proactive and to engage with your to-do list.

Generally speaking, task and project management systems that require mindful engagement and review are going to be much more effective in terms of actually ensuring that you get things done as required.

Building a Sustainable Wardrobe

A key focus of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. A key aspect of any of our lives is our wardrobe. Our wardrobe can impact how people view us and even treat us. In some regards, wardrobes are organic things that the items in them have lives and can outlive their usefulness by the owner. The following contributed post is entitled, Building a Sustainable Wardrobe.

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We are a terrifyingly, throw-away society. We buy cheap clothes knowing that we’ll probably only wear them a few times before we throw them away. We replace our phones and other tech every few years, and we’d never dream of sowing up a hole in a sock. We’d just buy a new pair; they are only cheap, after all.

But, we’re also becoming more aware of the damage that we are doing to the environment with our poor habits. We’re trying to use less plastic and more reusables. We’re researching environmentally-friendly changes that we could make at home, and we’re repairing things instead of replacing them.

But what about our wardrobes? If you are the kind of person that has a closet bursting with clothes that you have hardly worn, or you buy a new outfit for every event that you attend, it might be time to start thinking about some changes.

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Learn More

To start, learn more about modal fibre properties and other sustainable materials. Research your favorite brands to find out more about the materials that they use and their policies. You might find that they have sustainable ranges already. Learn more about sustainable fashion in general, so that you know what you are looking for.

Don’t Replace for the Sake of Sustainability

If you’ve got a wardrobe filled with fast fashion, you might think that the best thing to do is throw it all out and replace things with more sustainable, long-lasting options. But, this kind of goes against everything that we’re trying to do.

Don’t start replacing things for the sake of sustainability; that’s just creating more waste. Wear your clothes until they can no longer be worn, and then replace them with a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable alternative. If you don’t want something anymore, and it still has life to give, donate it to a charity shop or give it away, instead of binning it.

Spend a Little More

Often with clothes, we get what we pay for. Fast fashion is cheap, but it doesn’t last and has often been produced under poor conditions. Spend a little more of higher-quality clothes, and they’ll last a long longer, perhaps even saving you money long-term. Buy what you can afford, even if it means buying a lot less.

Check Working Conditions as Well as Materials

When it comes to buying sustainable fashion, you shouldn’t just be looking for the use of recycled or otherwise sustainable materials, like bamboo cotton. You should also be considering where and how your clothing has been produced, and the working conditions on the production lines. Many brands now publish this information, and it’s easier to find than it used to be.

Shop More Mindfully

Often a key to sustainable living, whether we are talking about fashion or any other areas of life, is being more mindful.

Think before you buy. Do you need it? Will it last? Will you get a lot of wear from it?

Buy Second-Hand

Another option is buying second-hand. Even if the materials aren’t sustainable, giving new life to a product stops more being created, and prevents clothing from ending up in the bin. Buying from charity shops also gives you a chance to donate.

5 Tips On Moving To A New Country

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a major portion of that is planning. Few things are bigger than a move, and especially moving to another country. Don’t underestimate the steps needed when considering moving to another country. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Tips On Moving To A New Country.

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So you’re packing up and heading out on a new adventure? Whether it’s for a new job or just for the fun of it, there’s plenty to organize before you get going. Creating yourself a check-list is a great way to ensure you don’t miss out any of your key tasks. To give you a good head start, remember these five tips.

1 . Organize your healthcare

When you’re planning to move to a new country, one of the most important things to do is do organize your healthcare. Research the logistics of the healthcare system, find out what the procedure to register with a doctor involves and look into the associated costs. Ensure that you have a good travel insurance package and are clued up on what it does and doesn’t cover.

2. Prep your important documents

You’ll want to prepare your essential documents well in advance so that there aren’t any setbacks. Check if your passport needs to be renewed, and apply for visas as early as possible. If you are moving abroad due to a new job, your employer may be able to help you to navigate the visa process or even front some of the costs, so it’s worth checking this.

3. Do your research

Before you arrive at your destination, it’s best to do as much research as you can. Find out which are the best neighbourhoods and which are the places to avoid. Familiarize yourself with any local customs, and find out which are the must-see places to visit, whether for sight-seeing, food or nightlife. Research the groups for fellow expats, using sites like Meetup, Internations and Facebook. When moving to a new place, it can be comforting to have a support network of those in a similar boat.

4. Practice the lingo

If you are moving to a place with a whole new language, get practicing the lingo early. The sooner you master the basics, the sooner you’ll feel safer and more at home. Apps like DuoLingo can be handy to get you started, or you could try investing in a face-to-face language tutor when you arrive. Either way, don’t put off this task as it will only become harder to build up your confidence.

5. Storage or shipping

Depending on your situation, you might like to put some of your larger items in storage. This can be particularly useful if you might be returning to your home country at a later date. If not, shipping services can be useful to move items such as cars, larger items of furniture, (or anything that you can’t fit in your suitcase)! When it comes to your vehicle, ensure that you choose the best Automotive Shipping Solutions. Look for a company with plenty of expertise and experience, to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

As with any big move, the trick is to get organized early. Choosing a new home and upping sticks is an exciting time, as long as you plan in advance!

Little Changes That Make A Big Impact On The Workplace

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Career Discussions. When you’re managing a workplace or a business, you want to make the environment as favorable as possible for your staff. Doing so will increase their productivity and overall happiness at work. The following contributed post is entitled, Little Changes That Make A Big Impact On The Workplace.

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What’s the difference between a happy team and a miserable one in the workplace? Sometimes, it’s less than you might imagine. Humans are often driven by needs that are a little simpler and even trivial seeming, but ensuring they’re fulfilled can be great for any work environment. Here are a few examples to consider.

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A little appreciation
You wouldn’t believe how few people get genuinely thanked for their work. A simple thank you isn’t enough, you need to acknowledge the role people play and why you value them in the workplace for them to really feel the effects. You might even make a little show of it with workplace trophies for your annual party or the like.

A real break room
It has been shown time and time again that eating lunch at your work desk is detrimental to your emotional health, to your productivity, not to mention that it’s pretty unhygienic. A break isn’t supposed to feel like simply taking the necessary time to eat at work, it’s supposed to feel like a clean break from work, and having a break room where people can do that, even with a few games or distractions, can be excellent at refreshing them for the latter part of the workday.

Tasty treats for the team
Satisfying the occasional need for indulgence and treating the team can have a big effect on morale and make them feel a lot more cared for and appreciated. It can be as simple as getting them a box of danishes to share, or you can go as far as installing a commercial roaster so they have fresh made coffee shop-quality coffee at the ready. It can do a lot to improve how well your team feels they are treated.

Some life to the office
Most steps to improve the office will have a significant effect over time, but perhaps one of the simplest and most surprisingly beneficial improvements is bringing an office plant into the environment. They are known to reduce stress, increase positivity, and boost creative thought simply by making the office a more lively and colorful place, and they may have some health benefits, such as helping with air quality and noise level reduction.

Team lunches, dinners, or drinks
As mentioned, a tasty treat improves morale, but enjoy it together can also improve the sense of belonging and togetherness in the team. Arranging for a once-a-week team lunch, once-a-fortnight team dinner, or once-a-month team drinks can help foster stronger social bonds in the team. This can make it a lot easier for them to feel comfortable when collaborating on projects for their work, as well.

The above changes to the workplace can have more of an impact than you might imagine, but don’t expect that any trophy or cup of coffee will make up for toxic management practices, unfair demands, or culture of bullying, for instance. If there’s rot at the core of the office, you still need to deal with it.

Thrown Off Your Career Path Without Warning? Here’s How To Move Forward

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Career Discussions. Unfortunately, some individuals find their careers disrupted, often without warning. It’s important to understand what to do if your find yourself in that situation. The following contributed post is entitled, Thrown Off Your Career Path Without Warning? Here’s How To Move Forward.

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Most of us, as in those who are concerned with expanding our professional utility, skillset and career orientations, can often become truly shocked to the core when our path is thrown off. Perhaps a redundancy prevents us from raising the ranks in a career we’ve followed our entire life, and now we need to find work elsewhere, delaying that promotion for some time. Maybe we’ve realized that an industry path is not for us after 20 years working within that field.

Or, perhaps worst of all, we may find ourselves becoming injured or unable to work due to an accident, or workplace neglect, or safety standards failing. This last issue can be so debilitating, because not only does it knock our professional potential, but all other life progress for the time being. As far as that’s concerned, it can be worth knowing what your options are. Gathering yourself is key in these situations, as this process can provide you hope for the future.

As far as that is concerned, we’d love to give you some worthwhile and timeless advice in this direction. Please, consider:

Litigate If Needed

If necessary, it can be important to litigate. This can not only give you a sense of emotional closure, but it can help you protect yourself and claim the compensation you truly deserve. This can soften the blow of being out of work for a while, just as you recover from an injury or come back to your potential productive self. Go to lawboss.com to understand just what processes are best to follow in this light, and how you can approximate the best results with careful attention.

Understand Your Rights

Understanding your rights is also an essential part of this process to keep track of. It might be that you are entitled to workmen’s compensation, or disability, or job seekers allowance, or another form of support that enables you to look for further work. Sometimes, understanding your rights may even help you figure out that you were wrongfully terminated, and this may give you grounds to seek a renewed litigation effort. Understanding your rights can also enable you to search for worthwhile work, and avoid being placed into an unfriendly contract out of desperation.

If Returning To Work, Follow Best Procedure

When starting anew, no matter how unjust or unfair the circumstances may have been leading to this point, it’s important to apply humbly and understand how to follow best procedure. You may not be entitled a new job just because of being fired. Perhaps you need to prove yourself to a new employer before gaining work. Maybe reputational management can help you wipe off the layers of inaccuracy that can always occur in any dramatic change of social circumstances. Following best procedure, carefully, with humility, verifying your right action all the way, can help you once again structure your career in the best possible manner, even if you decide to start out on your own.

With this advice, we hope you can come back to your professional life with care and possibility.

How To Choose Where You Live

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. A major aspect of your personal wellness and that of your family is where you choose to live. The place where you live has multiple effects on your life. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Choose Where You Live.

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It doesn’t matter whether you are planning to retire or you are just looking for a new place to live, deciding where to go is not a natural choice to make. There are so many cities and towns, suburbs, and municipalities to choose from. It’s always smart to look at your options and move to what you feel is the best location for you.

But where do you begin? Choosing where to live takes research. You’ll need to know where the jobs are and how the real estate market is looking (and Peter Barlin makes this easy for Austin!). You need to see if you will have the right amenities in your new place, and you need to find out whether you are in the right place for everything that you will need. So, what do you need to consider when choosing where you should live the rest of your life?

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  1. Town Size. Whether you covet the city or you swoon after the suburbs, you need to choose the size of the town that works for you. You want to find somewhere to live based on your needs, and it starts with the size. The internet is invaluable for this, as you can find out what the populations are for all the areas you are interested in.
  2. The Weather. If you hate rain, Seattle is not a good idea. If you love the sunshine, then Miami could be for you. The weather affects your mood, and it affects everything that you want to do – especially if you love the outdoor life. Choose the right climate for you, and you’ll be able to enjoy the new area in which you are basing your life.
  3. Entertainment. Are you looking for a quiet life, or do you hope for jazz clubs and buzz? Living within the right area can make a big difference in the way you look at life. It would help if you considered what you enjoy and what’s close by to you. There’s no use in feeling isolated and living so far away. Be aware, though, that the more built-up the area, the more expensive it can become.
  4. Employment. Are you moving for your job? Do you hope to find a new job when you do eventually move? These are essential questions that you need to answer because without doing so, you’re going to find it hard to settle without means to pay your way.
  5. Amenities. Are you moving with children? Well, you’ll need to consider schools you may also want to know about public transport and local hospitals just in case you need this. You will need to live somewhere that ticks all the boxes, whether that’s a town or city to start with!
  6. The Great Outdoors. Nature is a big deal for a lot of people, especially if you love hiking and walking to new areas. Beaches are also a big deal if you love water sports. Choose your area based on your interests, and you can’t go wrong.

4 Life Principles That Will Help You Professionally and Personally

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and two focuses are Career Discussions and Health/Wellness. Whether its your personal life or your professional life, there are principles that lead to success in both arenas. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Life Principles That Will Help You Professionally and Personally.

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Life is a deeply complicated thing, to say the least, and there are all sorts of different ideologies, viewpoints, and approaches on how to live the best life, and how to get the most done with the time that you have on this mortal coil.

The self-help section of any bookstore will contain a vast number of tomes dedicated specifically to such topics, and there are of course all sorts of proprietary systems that have been suggested by various entrepreneurs and celebrities, for the express purpose of making money, and helping you to achieve your dreams – whatever those might be.

As it is often difficult to figure out exactly how to move forward in a specific situation, or how to sift through and select between the different strategies, approaches, and personal and professional achievement techniques that you have encountered, one of the most consistently useful things to do is to have a set of general principles that can be applied in the broadest possible range of situations, with good effect.

So, here are a few life principles that will help you professionally and personally, in almost all situations.

Use the right tool for the right job

There’s a very old idea, that has been spoken about by learned people, for a very long time. That advice is to always use the right tool for the job, and there are various related sayings and bits of folk wisdom that imply some of the hazards of not doing this.

Take for example the saying; “when the only tool you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail.” Though this doesn’t precisely make the same point, outright, it implies it by painting a picture of a person who crudely and inappropriately misdiagnosis the various situations he is confronted with, as a result of his bias and narrow framework of understanding.

The idea of using the right tool for the job applies both very literally, and also more abstractly. In a literal sense, the need for specialised equipment, specialised tools, and specialised materials, is precisely why companies such as Clinton Aluminum and Stainless Steel exist and thrive.

In a more abstract sense, you can use this concept as an injunction to stay dynamic, develop a broad range of skills and outlooks, and try to exercise a bit of nuance in your understanding of the world, and your approach to resolving different issues.

This could have implications for everything from your interpersonal interactions, to the way in which you attempt to make a success of your business.

There’s a lot of power in old proverbs and aphorisms – the older and more widely spread there are, the more likely they are to be meaningful

These days, we all generally tend to subscribe to the idea that the ultimate truth and wisdom in how to act, moment by moment, is to be found within the broad world of “science.”

In practice, though, there are many problems with trying to use science as a catch-all insight-generator for how to handle personal and professional issues. For one thing, science generally addresses the “how” of material and rationalistic phenomena, but doesn’t address the “why” of the subjective world, including questions such as which course of action might promote the greatest degree of human flourishing and meaning.

Another issue, is that scientific consensus is often not clearly established in different areas – and even when it is, paradigm shifts may always occur and throw out a previously unshakeable understanding of the world.

Then, there’s the fact that virtually no one who isn’t an academic scientist themselves, has the time, training, or contextual understanding, to really weigh up the body of literature on any given area and make sense of it in something approaching an objective and balanced manner.

For all of these reasons, among others, the author Nassim Nicholas Taleb – writer of such works as “Fooled By Randomness,” and “The Black Swan” – argues that, instead, the best way of orienting yourself in the world is often to turn to ancient proverbs, aphorisms, and traditions.

As a general rule, it makes sense to think that the longer a particular proverb or aphorism has been around – and the more cultures it is dispersed among – the more “true” it is likely to be on some fundamental level that pertains to the human experience. This is true, largely as a matter of a sort of Darwinian process. When an idea has endured for centuries and millennia in popular consciousness, it is heavily implied that this idea provided some adaptive benefit for the people who subscribed to it, whereas ideas that were fundamentally destructive and “out of sync” with reality, would have died off as their adherents died off.

Therefore, when you’re looking for insight into how you should act at any given moment, consider turning to old sayings and bits of folk wisdom.

Always be prepared

Life will often catch you by surprise and throw many strange and unwelcome circumstances your way, and your most effective bulwark against these kinds of woes and unwelcome scenarios, is to always be prepared, to the greatest of your ability, and to directly face whatever eventualities may present themselves.

Whenever you have an intimation of there being some kind of challenge or problem on the horizon, do what you can to plan for it and pre-empt it, today.

This might mean something quite large-scale and dramatic, but it could just as easily be something relatively small-scale that would nonetheless have outsized consequences.

For example, if you have no lunch cooked for tomorrow, and you know that you will likely be tempted to spend money you shouldn’t spend on junk food you shouldn’t eat, you could rather short-circuit the whole process by spending some time tonight cooking for tomorrow.

Preparation, generally speaking, gives you a degree of control over the future that is often extremely valuable.

There is no easy way

As has often been observed over the broad sweep of human history, there is no “easy way.”

Many people preach many systems and doctrines for achieving your dreams and overcoming obstacles with minimal effort, from the Law of Attraction to all sorts of other systems.

Always and everywhere, though, the most reliable standard to keep in mind is that hard work solidifies real results.

It’s Time To Take Charge Of Your Life

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Health/Wellness. There are several aspects to a successful life. Unfortunately, many individuals are only taught to focus on a few pieces and not the entire picture such that our lives become incomplete and even disjointed. The following contributed post is entitled, It’s Time To Take Charge Of Your Life.

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When you’re a kid, it’s easy to feel as though everyone else is in charge of you. You’re told when to eat, when to sleep, who you can see, and where you can go. But when you’re a teenager, you’re right on the cusp of being a real adult, and it starts to feel like you have a lot more freedom over what you do. Now, this can be an amazing thing and something that a lot of teens spend their lives waiting for, but it can also be pretty intimidating. After all, for the first time in your life, you’re faced with the idea of actually having to make your own choices and be responsible for the consequences. It’s enough to make some people want to retreat to their rooms and go back to being a kid. Of course, you can’t go back, so here are some ways in which you can start taking charge of your own life.

Working

Once you’re old enough, there are few things more exciting than the idea of being able to start earning your own money! After all, do you really want to spend your life asking your parents for money every time you want to go to the movies? Of course not! However, finding work when you’re still young can be really tough. There are plenty of places that will hire you; they just might not be your dream job right now. That’s okay. The job that you have now won’t be the one you have forever, and it’s more about being able to enjoy the freedom that earning your own money provides than finding your lifetime career. Don’t put it off either! Get started on applications for things like Barr-Nunn corporate jobs, as well as any other applications! Sure, fast food places, retail stores, or restaurants might not be the most glamorous places in the world, but they help you gain that independence that is so important as you get older.

Studying

When you’re younger, you’ve often got teachers and parents staring down your neck all of the time in order to make sure that you’re pushing yourself as hard as possible and that you’re studying as much as you can. However, you’ll find that once you’re in college, that’s all going to change. When you’re in college, the only person who’s around to hold you accountable is, well, you! This is something that a lot of people struggle with at first because it’s something that they’re really not used to. Because of that, it’s important that you start being more independently motivated by your studies. Sure, you might still have your parents and teachers around right now, but if you can avoid leaning on them and push yourself forward independently then not only are your studies going to improve a lot, but you’re also going to be in a much better position to move onto a more independent stage in your life.

Your relationships

Relationships are hard. That’s something that just about everyone would be able to agree on. When you’re younger it’s all terribly simple but as people mature and become more complicated, so do the relationships between them. One of the hardest things to do when trying to take charge of your life is to avoid falling into toxic or unhealthy friendships whenever you can. This can often be tricky because no one sets out to end up in that kind of relationship but being able to recognise the warning signs is always a good idea. Are the people in your life taking more from you than they’re giving back? Do you feel worse about yourself when you’re around them? All of these things are serious red flags that you should keep an eye on. If you find yourself in this kind of situation then the best thing that you can do is to just walk away altogether.

The reality is that, if you want to do something with your life, you have to be willing to put the work in. Life isn’t going to throw anything into your lap. People who spend their time waiting for the world to hand them the things that they want are almost always sorely disappointed. Fortune favors the bold and you’re never going to get anywhere if you don’t take risks and push yourself to take control wherever you can. You have to get out there and make it happen for yourself.