See the big picture

Have you ever been so worried about a problem that you seemed to dig deeper and deeper and still couldn’t find the solution? If your answer is YES, then this post might be just what you needed.

When you face this kind of situation when you can’t possibly find any opportunity or, on the contrary, you face too many alternatives, it is recommended that you start thinking outside the box in order to have a broader perspective on the matter.

Why is that so? Because your mind is stuck in a point where it cannot go further. So you take a step back and review your actions. Was there anything you could have done better or different? If there is something like that, improve NOW and see what happens.

Seeing the larger view can make you think of new ways of solving problems, and most of the times, the best one is among them. Don’t let you mind get stuck within a limited area of action. Think further, think outside the box, think different. Dare to see things from another point of view and you will watch the whole situation change in front of your eyes!

Conflict management

When we interact with other people, it is impossible for conflicts not to appear every once in a while. That’s because we are different and often stubborn in sustaining our opinions. We tend to disregard the points of view of those with whom we communicate, especially when we are self confident and individualists. What is the solution to these unfortunate events?

I can sum it up in one simple word: EMPATHY.

We cannot possibly resolve conflicts if we don’t try to understand others first. Putting yourself into other people’s shoes can offer you a broader perspective on the problem. Most of the times, the source of the conflict is a different understanding of the events by the people who are involved.

I believe that trying to understand the opinions of those involved can really help you to manage the conflict. Even if you continue to sustain your reasons, you will have the benefit of a better understanding on the matter.

Conflicts don’t actually exist. Things are what they are. The only aspect that differs is people’s approaches and understandings on the existing facts. You may not have all the information or you may have misinterpreted it, so now you feel upset and request justice. Think about it for a while: do you have all the information for a complete image of what is happening? If not, be sure to look it up. After finishing this process, you will often find you that what you perceived as a lack of respect towards you or a selfish and mean attitude was in fact something completely different.

Don’t start judging, but try to understand first. Things will get much easier!

 

Stones & Mind like water

“Time is not money, time is inexhaustible”

“Time is not money, time is inexhaustible”

Speed has become more important than the destination. You have to do so many things in this life and you don’t have enough time. If you stay some minutes to do nothing, is seems a wastage. You don’t have time to meditate. You don’t have time to spend with yourself, you can’t accept yourself. It’s a wastage. You have to do something with your time. Enjoy each moment of your life, transform each moment into celebration. Transform your life into a song. Be present! Don’t live in the past or future. LIVE NOW! Live life! Die joyously! “Unless you can welcome death one thing is certain: you have not lived!”

 

Waking up early

I know what you are saying to yourself right now: „Huh?! Has she gone crazy?”

Well … I have, but that’s another story

Today I am going to talk about the benefits of being an early riser. I recently started doing this and I am still experiencing some sleep deprivation, but I am happy with what I am doing. I prefer giving up a little more sleeping time so that I can have enough time to do what I really adore doing.

As I recently begun my second year at the university, I think that, at the amount of various activities I’m in, a 48-hour day couldn’t be enough for me. So, along with the time very efficient time management system I’m implementing, I also started to wake up earlier than I did last year, and this really helped.

What are the benefits of it?

- Mornings are silent. Silence is very important for somebody who shares the room with three other people. So I try to benefit as much as I can from it.

- You have time to do something only for yourself. Read that book you never had time for, exercise, prepare a healthy breakfast, write in your journal, read your favorite blogs or, if you’re like me, write an article for your own blog :>

- By waking up early, your day is longer and you can do a lot of things that really matter. I recommend you to write down you schedule for the day and keep it near for reviews. It works great for me.

- Create a morning routine: this is a great practice if you have time for it. Doing a series of activities in the same order at the beginning of every day and at the end of it (this should be your evening routine) inspires you and gives you a feeling of peacefulness  throughout chaotic days.

 

If you are more productive as a „night owl”, I recommend you to keep up with that if it makes you feel good. As far as I am concerned, I always tried to stay up late doing things I needed to do, having a low productivity and waking up late the next thay, thus wasting my favourite and most productive part of the day. It depends on what king of person you are. Do what is best for you.

WARNING

You will notice that waking up early implies going to bed…early. So don’t stay up late(like I often tend to do), because you will mess up your sleeping pattern. It is important to have energy and motivation at the beginning of each day.

These being said, I wish you good luck in implementing this habits. I invite you to report your progress on the blog

I also recommend you to read Leo Babauta’s blog post, “How I became an early riser” if you want to know more on the subject:  http://zenhabits.net/how-i-became-early-riser/

Shade & Friendship

Balance your life

We have all experienced a feeling of discontentment at least once in our lives. Sometimes I tried to analyze myself so as to see what’s wrong, but nothing seem to be bothering me except that vague sensation that something was missing. It was after a lot of self analysis that I discovered what that was: THE LACK OF BALANCE.

We all want everything to be great in our lives, but it’s really hard to make it work on all plans. Have you seen people so happy with their professional life but completely unaware of what was happening to their family and personal life. I bet you did. You have also seen people who had a spectacular private life, but a disastrous career. I bet none of you wishes to reach any of these low points.

So what is to be done?

It all begins with a proper implementation of an efficient time management system, of which I will be talking in my next post. YOU WANT to have time for all the things you really desire to do. If you don’t have it, make it! Have you ever imagined how much time could you spare by not watching TV so much? Or by skipping coffee breaks at work or navigating less on the internet? You could make time for a lot of other activities by just trying these three suggestions above. And I assure you that there are much more to be mentioned!

Secondly, try not to set goals for only a part of you activities. Work hard for all the things you want to obtain whether they are related to you personal or professional life. Be there when people need you, but don’t forget to think about yourself and WHAT YOU REALLY LOVE TO DO. Keep yourself motivated to do more, to overcome difficulties and developing new skills. Good luck!

 

Faith & Greatness

Marathon of Inspirational Movies(MIM) – part 5

This week, I would like to recommend you a movie that is very close to my soul, as I am a student myself and I often had to put up with the indifference of some teachers or with their unwillingness to help and educate students, not just dictating phrases and giving test papers.

I can affirm that professor John Keating, acted by Robin Williams in “Dead Poets Society” may be the ideal type of teacher, always preoccupied with his students’ freedom, always determining them to want more from life than their parents or the society as a whole has prepared for them.

In a time when parents design their children’s future, not caring about their own wishes, hopes and dreams, this teacher shows them that they have something priceless to fight for, and that is their FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND EXPRESSION.
I can assure you that 128 minutes of the movie are purposefully spent and you will definitely have a lot to learn from it, the main thing being the fact that education doesn’t refer only to grades and profession, but to more spiritual and meaningful things. I truthfully recommend you to watch it!

Be yourself!

Be yourself!

Lately, I met a lot of people and I am grateful. I appreciate each person that I met. I see the essence of each person. Most people want to be followed, and approve its beliefs. Jim Rohn says: Be a student, not a follower. What does it mean? You don’t have to follow somebody, you don’t have to imitate somebody. Just take your lesson, be watchful. Be yourself! Live the LIFE! Learn from your experiences! Many people said to you: “do this, be like, think like, act like..” Bullshit! It’s  your life, not their life! People are afraid of life, afraid to take responsibility for their own lives. Why? Why to live in darkness? Many people are so blind…and if I tell them what is light, they become much blind… Who told you that you are good as you are? Love yourself, accept yourself as you are. Just BE! I see you! I know me through you! Thank you!