You've probably heard the joke about how men can never ask for directions while driving. You know, how they will drive round in circles, hopelessly lost, yet are maddeningly confident about where they're going - "Don't worry dear, I know it's just after the next turn". How they will sooner eat their foot than admit they are lost and consult a passer-by?
Well, I don't know how true this is - only a woman passenger can know. But I do know that in being afraid of asking questions, one loses out on the opportunity to learn something, to improve oneself, to make things better.
Asking questions is an essential way we all learn - after all, a Chinese proverb goes "He who asks is a fool for a minute. He who doesn't ask is a fool forever". But the power of asking questions goes beyond simply asking other people questions. Asking ourselves the right questions can also have a dramatic impact on our self improvement, success and happiness.
Abha Banerjee (known as the Asian Oprah) was on my talkshow recently and shared the 5 essential questions we all should ask ourselves when trying to work through difficult issues:
1. What is the issue? Is it real or imagined?
2. What action can I take to resolve it?
3. What are the resources I can use (media, internet, people)?
4. What results am I anticipating?
5. Was it so important?
The first and last questions are especially useful because we often make events out of trivial issues. Learn what to deal with and what to forget about and let go.
We all experience events that seem too overwhelming to deal with, and there is a great deal of valuable information available to help in these situations. But in almost any situation, no matter how bad it may seem, there is usually something positive that can be found.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Showing posts with label Problem Solving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Problem Solving. Show all posts
Eliminating Irrational Worry
Worry has a terrible reputation. It's often blamed for disrupting our peace of mind and robbing us of our happiness. But most of the time, worry gets an unfair bum rap.
After all, if worry didn't set off alarm bells every once in a while, we'd be waltzing blindly into dangerous situations.
Worry is an instinctive self-defense mechanism. It exists to help us avoid trouble. Unfortunately, for many of us, we simply allow worry to cripple us. We allow it to grow into an irrational fear without taking positive action. That's when worry becomes harmful - when we allow it to paralyse us; when we do nothing to counter the damaging stress hormones it produces.
The first step towards eliminating irrational worry is simply to do something! Instead of just sitting around fretting, get up and do something about it. You may not be able to solve the problem right away but by doing something, you're forcing your mind to take its focus off the problem and concentrate on something else. Besides giving you some reprieve, this also releases pent-up energy and exposes you to external stimuli that may trigger ideas for a resolution. So hit the gym, spring clean your room, do the laundry, go for a walk, whatever, just do something.
Next, evaluate what's bothering you from a rational, logical standpoint. If this was something to a friend, what would you tell him or her? Write the challenge down and list the possible solutions. There is often plenty you can do to alleviate the problem, even if you can't resolve it immediately.
Very often, doing nothing is what causes the worry to deepen - the wavering between "Yes" and "No". So examine your options and make a decision. Remember, not making a choice is also a choice and often the worst one of all. So make a decision and move on. We all make mistakes but the important thing is to learn from our mistake and move on as better people.
Whether it's a person, thing or even that's fuelling your worry, confront it head on. Very often, our worries are just products of our imagination and confronting the challenge in question will make sure the ghosts are exorcised once and for all.
So make that phone call, meet that person, do what you fear now.
When we're stressed, our body produces a destructive hormone called cortisol. If not regularly manages, cortisol can lead to several major illnesses. So if something is bothering you, breath! Take a deep breath and relax. Take a warm shower, mediate, listen to soothing music, go for a slow walk, read a feelgood book.
So the next time worry's got you in spin, don't let it push you around. Take charge and take action.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
After all, if worry didn't set off alarm bells every once in a while, we'd be waltzing blindly into dangerous situations.
Worry is an instinctive self-defense mechanism. It exists to help us avoid trouble. Unfortunately, for many of us, we simply allow worry to cripple us. We allow it to grow into an irrational fear without taking positive action. That's when worry becomes harmful - when we allow it to paralyse us; when we do nothing to counter the damaging stress hormones it produces.
The first step towards eliminating irrational worry is simply to do something! Instead of just sitting around fretting, get up and do something about it. You may not be able to solve the problem right away but by doing something, you're forcing your mind to take its focus off the problem and concentrate on something else. Besides giving you some reprieve, this also releases pent-up energy and exposes you to external stimuli that may trigger ideas for a resolution. So hit the gym, spring clean your room, do the laundry, go for a walk, whatever, just do something.
Next, evaluate what's bothering you from a rational, logical standpoint. If this was something to a friend, what would you tell him or her? Write the challenge down and list the possible solutions. There is often plenty you can do to alleviate the problem, even if you can't resolve it immediately.
Very often, doing nothing is what causes the worry to deepen - the wavering between "Yes" and "No". So examine your options and make a decision. Remember, not making a choice is also a choice and often the worst one of all. So make a decision and move on. We all make mistakes but the important thing is to learn from our mistake and move on as better people.
Whether it's a person, thing or even that's fuelling your worry, confront it head on. Very often, our worries are just products of our imagination and confronting the challenge in question will make sure the ghosts are exorcised once and for all.
So make that phone call, meet that person, do what you fear now.
When we're stressed, our body produces a destructive hormone called cortisol. If not regularly manages, cortisol can lead to several major illnesses. So if something is bothering you, breath! Take a deep breath and relax. Take a warm shower, mediate, listen to soothing music, go for a slow walk, read a feelgood book.
So the next time worry's got you in spin, don't let it push you around. Take charge and take action.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Asking Questions
You've probably heard the joke about how men can never ask for directions while driving.
You know, how they will drive round in circles, hopelessly lost, yet are maddeningly confident about where they're going - "Don't worry dear, I know it's just after the next turn".
How they will sooner eat their foot than admit they're lost and consult a passer-by?
Well, I don't know how true this is - but I do know that in being afraid of asking questions, one loses out on the opportunity to learn something, to improve oneself, to make things better.
Asking questions is an essential way we all learn - after all, a Chinese proverb goes, "He who asks is a fool for a minute. He who doesn't ask is a fool forever".
But the power of asking questions goes beyond simply asking other people questions. Asking ourselves the right questions can also have dramatic impact on our self improvement, success and happiness.
There are times when we find ourselves in difficult or uncomfortable situations or even in a position where we feel completely overwhelmed.
It can be very easy to say 'what have I done to deserve this?' or 'why does this always happen to me?'
However, these questions are destructive and only serve to prepare us for future disappointments. In fact, they can actually guarantee it! The questions we ask ourselves reflect our state of mind, reinforce our beliefs and have a huge impact on our results.
We all experience events that seem too overwhelming to deal with and there is a great deal of valuable information available to help in these situations.
But in almost any situation, no matter how bad it may seem, there is usually something positive that can be found.
Actually asking the question 'what can I learn from this situation?' is a great starting point, even if you only learn what not to do in the future.
But you can go much further. It has often been said that when one door closes, another opens and that in every setback lies opportunity.
Don't just stare at the closed door - why not try asking yourself what opportunities are now available or what doors have just opened for you?
It will improve your state of mind and may just change your life.
You know, how they will drive round in circles, hopelessly lost, yet are maddeningly confident about where they're going - "Don't worry dear, I know it's just after the next turn".
How they will sooner eat their foot than admit they're lost and consult a passer-by?
Well, I don't know how true this is - but I do know that in being afraid of asking questions, one loses out on the opportunity to learn something, to improve oneself, to make things better.
Asking questions is an essential way we all learn - after all, a Chinese proverb goes, "He who asks is a fool for a minute. He who doesn't ask is a fool forever".
But the power of asking questions goes beyond simply asking other people questions. Asking ourselves the right questions can also have dramatic impact on our self improvement, success and happiness.
There are times when we find ourselves in difficult or uncomfortable situations or even in a position where we feel completely overwhelmed.
It can be very easy to say 'what have I done to deserve this?' or 'why does this always happen to me?'
However, these questions are destructive and only serve to prepare us for future disappointments. In fact, they can actually guarantee it! The questions we ask ourselves reflect our state of mind, reinforce our beliefs and have a huge impact on our results.
We all experience events that seem too overwhelming to deal with and there is a great deal of valuable information available to help in these situations.
But in almost any situation, no matter how bad it may seem, there is usually something positive that can be found.
Actually asking the question 'what can I learn from this situation?' is a great starting point, even if you only learn what not to do in the future.
But you can go much further. It has often been said that when one door closes, another opens and that in every setback lies opportunity.
Don't just stare at the closed door - why not try asking yourself what opportunities are now available or what doors have just opened for you?
It will improve your state of mind and may just change your life.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Trusting Your Instinct
Many decisions in life are not clear-cut. Even with adequate information on hand, there may not be an obviously superior option.
During these times, all we can rely on is our instinct. Most of us though, tend to suppress our instinct as we grow older. Life has perhaps discourages spontaneity and risk-taking in favour of caution and pre-meditation. A prudent safety measure I guess, but have we perhaps become too "safe"?
Professional athletes, musicians, actors, dancers and others in non-academic fields often have keenly-honed instincts. They have learnt to trust and depend on their spontaneity to perform at their best. The rest of us though, have very under-developed instincts because we hardly use them.
A finely-tuned instinct though is very important as, very often in Life, things are not cut-and dried. Information, logic and reason can only take us so far, but there comes a point when they can guide us no more. That is when our gut feel comes into play.
You have probably felt the power of your instinct when meeting someone for the first time, or when having to make a last-minute decision.... often situations in which there is no or limited information available to you. You will discover that as you allow your natural instinct back into your consciousness, you will become more effective as a person, a worker, and a leader. You will be less likely to be caught into limbo. You will be seen as more decisive and more sincere.
To develop your instinct, you have to become more self-aware. Stop ignoring and suppressing your feelings. Embrace them instead. Experiment with your instinct in making small, everyday choices. Stop over-thinking your decisions.
Learn to listen to yourself more attentively. Tune your consciousness to more clearly hear your inner voice. IN your daily interactions with the world, ask yourself "What am I feeling now?", "How do I really feel about this?"
Experts and researchers have estimated that 90% of critical decisions are based on your intuition.
Trust and develop your instinct and it will serve you well.
During these times, all we can rely on is our instinct. Most of us though, tend to suppress our instinct as we grow older. Life has perhaps discourages spontaneity and risk-taking in favour of caution and pre-meditation. A prudent safety measure I guess, but have we perhaps become too "safe"?
Professional athletes, musicians, actors, dancers and others in non-academic fields often have keenly-honed instincts. They have learnt to trust and depend on their spontaneity to perform at their best. The rest of us though, have very under-developed instincts because we hardly use them.
A finely-tuned instinct though is very important as, very often in Life, things are not cut-and dried. Information, logic and reason can only take us so far, but there comes a point when they can guide us no more. That is when our gut feel comes into play.
You have probably felt the power of your instinct when meeting someone for the first time, or when having to make a last-minute decision.... often situations in which there is no or limited information available to you. You will discover that as you allow your natural instinct back into your consciousness, you will become more effective as a person, a worker, and a leader. You will be less likely to be caught into limbo. You will be seen as more decisive and more sincere.
To develop your instinct, you have to become more self-aware. Stop ignoring and suppressing your feelings. Embrace them instead. Experiment with your instinct in making small, everyday choices. Stop over-thinking your decisions.
Learn to listen to yourself more attentively. Tune your consciousness to more clearly hear your inner voice. IN your daily interactions with the world, ask yourself "What am I feeling now?", "How do I really feel about this?"
Experts and researchers have estimated that 90% of critical decisions are based on your intuition.
Trust and develop your instinct and it will serve you well.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Focusing on the Lesson
Problems and challenges exist to make us better people.
Unfortunately, many of us don't understand this principle and so choose to treat problems as something that's at odds with us.
But every crisis or dilemma that comes our way holds a lesson to be learnt. If we could see stop seeing a crisis as a joy-dampening experience; and instead take it as if Life is trying to show us something, we would be much happier.
When misfortune strikes, we sometimes cannot help but give in to our emotions... and by all means, do grieve all you need, but when that is done, try to focus on the lesson. Ask yourself what you are being shown here. It is teaching you something, helping you grow mentally or spiritually, leading you to new emotions, ideas and experiences.
The same philosophy applies to the people you encounter in Life. Everyone has something to teach you. Yes, the least educated, nastiest, most unpleasant and heartless person you know knows things you don't Sometimes, it could be that you could learn something from the experience of knowing that person. Perhaps you could do with more humility and patience. Or maybe look at life and love in a different way.
Once you understand this, you will benefit more from your encounters with people. You won't be held hostage anymore by your emotions. You will understand that there are more people in this world who will make you smile than those who will make you cry.
People behave in certain ways because of various reasons. You can be concerned about it, but it never allow yourself to be influenced by their negative energies. Don't let bitter, resentful individuals cause you to hate the world too.
It is an imperfect world, but there is much promise and goodness to be found in it as well.
So the next time you encounter a problem, or a problematic person, instead of dwelling on the disaster or the bad emotions, focus on the lesson.
Unfortunately, many of us don't understand this principle and so choose to treat problems as something that's at odds with us.
But every crisis or dilemma that comes our way holds a lesson to be learnt. If we could see stop seeing a crisis as a joy-dampening experience; and instead take it as if Life is trying to show us something, we would be much happier.
When misfortune strikes, we sometimes cannot help but give in to our emotions... and by all means, do grieve all you need, but when that is done, try to focus on the lesson. Ask yourself what you are being shown here. It is teaching you something, helping you grow mentally or spiritually, leading you to new emotions, ideas and experiences.
The same philosophy applies to the people you encounter in Life. Everyone has something to teach you. Yes, the least educated, nastiest, most unpleasant and heartless person you know knows things you don't Sometimes, it could be that you could learn something from the experience of knowing that person. Perhaps you could do with more humility and patience. Or maybe look at life and love in a different way.
Once you understand this, you will benefit more from your encounters with people. You won't be held hostage anymore by your emotions. You will understand that there are more people in this world who will make you smile than those who will make you cry.
People behave in certain ways because of various reasons. You can be concerned about it, but it never allow yourself to be influenced by their negative energies. Don't let bitter, resentful individuals cause you to hate the world too.
It is an imperfect world, but there is much promise and goodness to be found in it as well.
So the next time you encounter a problem, or a problematic person, instead of dwelling on the disaster or the bad emotions, focus on the lesson.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
The Good Thing About Problems
It's easy to think of adversity in life as something bad and unnecessary; something that's in conflict with an otherwise wonderful world. But the problems we face and the stress they usually cause are responsible for our personal growth. It's adversity that carves us into the best human beings we can be. It's adversity that teaches us invaluable lessons, and which makes us appreciate the good things in life more keenly.
Challenges and the way we overcome them are the building blocks of a person's mental and physical strength, his store of knowledge, his emotional maturity and depth of feeling. In the same way that we cannot hope to build muscle from inactivity, we cannot raise a strong and responsible adult by shielding him from pain and hard work.
Problems also exist to humble us before the great scheme of Nature and the Universe. Man is inherently self-indulgent as it is; imagine how arrogant and complacent we would become if things went our way all the time? We would lose all respect for life and for the world. We would stop deriving pleasure and joy from previously pleasurable and joyful things. Life would lose its meaning.
a person's personal strength can be assessed by the way he handles problems or challenges. Is he inspired by what he can learn from them and how he can solve them? Or is he intimidated by them?
How can one be "inspired" by problems, you may ask. Well, it's a matter of perspective - start feeling "problems" as "opportunities". If you take problems as challenges that make you stronger each time you surmount one, then the more problem you experience, the stronger you become. Thus problems are really opportunities to make you a stronger, better person. With each triumph comes increased resilience, which makes future problems less and less stressful. So really you are building your capacity for greater peace of mind.
Problems also force us to use our minds in different ways; they stimulate creative thinking, and widen our field of knowledge. In order to solve problems, we learn to draw quickly from our mental resources. So problems make our mind sharp and nimble. Adversity is really a teacher, but only if you allow yourself to learn from it.
Now when we think about problems this way, they cease to be so frightening. Problems help us gain new wisdom, keep our mental faculties fit, and prepare us to more easily tackle other problems in the future. Problems are thus really opportunities to improve ourselves and our lives; in other words, problems encourage our personal growth.
And one of the best things about problems is that the more of them you encounter, the more adept you become at solving them. You can then live your life confidently and fearlessly, knowing that the next time a similar "problem" comes around, you can very quickly and easily solve it without getting stressed out about it.
Challenges and the way we overcome them are the building blocks of a person's mental and physical strength, his store of knowledge, his emotional maturity and depth of feeling. In the same way that we cannot hope to build muscle from inactivity, we cannot raise a strong and responsible adult by shielding him from pain and hard work.
Problems also exist to humble us before the great scheme of Nature and the Universe. Man is inherently self-indulgent as it is; imagine how arrogant and complacent we would become if things went our way all the time? We would lose all respect for life and for the world. We would stop deriving pleasure and joy from previously pleasurable and joyful things. Life would lose its meaning.
a person's personal strength can be assessed by the way he handles problems or challenges. Is he inspired by what he can learn from them and how he can solve them? Or is he intimidated by them?
How can one be "inspired" by problems, you may ask. Well, it's a matter of perspective - start feeling "problems" as "opportunities". If you take problems as challenges that make you stronger each time you surmount one, then the more problem you experience, the stronger you become. Thus problems are really opportunities to make you a stronger, better person. With each triumph comes increased resilience, which makes future problems less and less stressful. So really you are building your capacity for greater peace of mind.
Problems also force us to use our minds in different ways; they stimulate creative thinking, and widen our field of knowledge. In order to solve problems, we learn to draw quickly from our mental resources. So problems make our mind sharp and nimble. Adversity is really a teacher, but only if you allow yourself to learn from it.
Now when we think about problems this way, they cease to be so frightening. Problems help us gain new wisdom, keep our mental faculties fit, and prepare us to more easily tackle other problems in the future. Problems are thus really opportunities to improve ourselves and our lives; in other words, problems encourage our personal growth.
And one of the best things about problems is that the more of them you encounter, the more adept you become at solving them. You can then live your life confidently and fearlessly, knowing that the next time a similar "problem" comes around, you can very quickly and easily solve it without getting stressed out about it.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Effective Conflict Resolution
This world thrives on diversity - our differences allow us to play our own unique roles that sustain the greater scheme of things. Variety also makes life more colourful and vibrant, and inspires limitless possibilities.
But our differences can sometimes foment disagreement and conflict. Disparity in opinion, values and beliefs, in particular, can lead to alienation and hostility, even violence.
With casual acquaintances or strangers, it's sometimes best to avoid confrontation altogether. But with people who have closer links to us - our friends, colleagues, family members or important business associates like our clients or investors - our personal spheres overlap and we have too much invested in each other. Running away from the conflict simply makes things worse.
When approaching such conflicts, keeping a cool head is the first and most important strategy. Anger is such a powerful emotion, it can tear through the conflict, obliterating reason, fairness and lucidity in its path. It can lead to a lot of raised voices and blood pressures, but ultimately solves nothing. We can sometimes end up saying or doing something that further strains the relationship.
So don't make the situation worse than it already is. If you feel your temper rising, take a time-out. When you are feeling calmer and better able to discuss things in a lucid and sensible manner, then return to the issue.
In a conflict, many of us also feel the need to blame the other party. But finger-pointing is a weak and childish act, and you are often the one who ends up looking bad. Nobody likes a blamer... so always aim to be the problem-solver.
We often feel we deserve to express our views and long-simmering frustrations, but ignore the fact that the other party deserves it too. One-sided conflicts never work out... even if they seem resolved, it's only because the other person simply pulled out. This often leads to the issue festering quietly until another incident triggers an even more incendiary outburst
So allow the other person to say what he needs to say. Listen carefully and you might be able to understand his position better. Look for common ground and goals and use them to plan a resolution and better working methods for the future.
The other thing about remaining silent and letting other person gush is that he will be forced to listen to what he's saying. He will often stop talking when he realises that he's said something that's not fair or sensible, even detrimental to his position. When he's done, you can then have your say. He will be less likely interrupt since he's already had his turn.
Conflict is inevitable in life... what's essential is how we manage them to minimise damage and work towards a better future.
But our differences can sometimes foment disagreement and conflict. Disparity in opinion, values and beliefs, in particular, can lead to alienation and hostility, even violence.
With casual acquaintances or strangers, it's sometimes best to avoid confrontation altogether. But with people who have closer links to us - our friends, colleagues, family members or important business associates like our clients or investors - our personal spheres overlap and we have too much invested in each other. Running away from the conflict simply makes things worse.
When approaching such conflicts, keeping a cool head is the first and most important strategy. Anger is such a powerful emotion, it can tear through the conflict, obliterating reason, fairness and lucidity in its path. It can lead to a lot of raised voices and blood pressures, but ultimately solves nothing. We can sometimes end up saying or doing something that further strains the relationship.
So don't make the situation worse than it already is. If you feel your temper rising, take a time-out. When you are feeling calmer and better able to discuss things in a lucid and sensible manner, then return to the issue.
In a conflict, many of us also feel the need to blame the other party. But finger-pointing is a weak and childish act, and you are often the one who ends up looking bad. Nobody likes a blamer... so always aim to be the problem-solver.
We often feel we deserve to express our views and long-simmering frustrations, but ignore the fact that the other party deserves it too. One-sided conflicts never work out... even if they seem resolved, it's only because the other person simply pulled out. This often leads to the issue festering quietly until another incident triggers an even more incendiary outburst
So allow the other person to say what he needs to say. Listen carefully and you might be able to understand his position better. Look for common ground and goals and use them to plan a resolution and better working methods for the future.
The other thing about remaining silent and letting other person gush is that he will be forced to listen to what he's saying. He will often stop talking when he realises that he's said something that's not fair or sensible, even detrimental to his position. When he's done, you can then have your say. He will be less likely interrupt since he's already had his turn.
Conflict is inevitable in life... what's essential is how we manage them to minimise damage and work towards a better future.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Embracing Challenges
None of us can avoid challenges. It is one of the irrefutable truths that life doesn't stay rosy for long. Even for those of us who are blessed with lengthy periods of undisturbed bliss, there will come a time when summer sun must wane, the leaves will fall, and we must prepare to endure a period of cold and darkness.
Challenges are inevitable. Whenever life presents a challenge, do you ignore it? Or do you embrace it? If it is your practice to consistently ignore the challenges that come your way, you can be sure they will emerge again and again, and in more daunting forms.
Consider a case of financial difficulty, for example, which requires a period of belt-tightening and sacrifice. If you choose to ignore the challenge and continue to live on credit, you can be sure that you financial situation will only get worse. But what if you choose to embrace the challenge instead? Come up with a plan to reduce costs, change your habits and lifestyle, monetize one of your skills. You would not only survive the crisis in a stable financial position, you will probably have even more money than before! And because you have a sound financial security infrastructure in place, the next time a financial challenge comes along, you would be better placed to deal with it. This is growth. This is self-improvement.
What about the other challenges in life?
For example, if you fall sick easily or often feel weak and tired, think about what aspects of your lifestyle may be causing it. Could you get into a fitness routine, wean yourself off addictive substances and try to eat more healthy? The beginning will be tough, but all it takes is action and commitment, and believe me, the new you that will emerge from this will not believe why you didn't start sooner! You may have been convinced that your former life was what you needed, but once you let it go, whole new opportunities will open up for you. Once dull and tasteless things will give you new pleasures. You will feel better, be happier and more efficient.
Think of other aspects of your life you can change for the better. What about your fears? Fear of being alone, fear of letting your parents down, fear of switching careers, fear of failure, fear of expressing yourself, fear of putting yourself out there, fear of being the person you really are? How many times has life thrown challenges at you to help you get rid of those fears and you ignored them? How are those fears keeping you trapped in a place you really don't want to be?
Challenges help you grow. They nudge out your weaknesses and force you to turn them into strengths. When overcome, they give you that priceless sense of achievement and confidence; that increasing sense of self-value that will continue to help you attain more fulfillment and success in life.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Challenges are inevitable. Whenever life presents a challenge, do you ignore it? Or do you embrace it? If it is your practice to consistently ignore the challenges that come your way, you can be sure they will emerge again and again, and in more daunting forms.
Consider a case of financial difficulty, for example, which requires a period of belt-tightening and sacrifice. If you choose to ignore the challenge and continue to live on credit, you can be sure that you financial situation will only get worse. But what if you choose to embrace the challenge instead? Come up with a plan to reduce costs, change your habits and lifestyle, monetize one of your skills. You would not only survive the crisis in a stable financial position, you will probably have even more money than before! And because you have a sound financial security infrastructure in place, the next time a financial challenge comes along, you would be better placed to deal with it. This is growth. This is self-improvement.
What about the other challenges in life?
For example, if you fall sick easily or often feel weak and tired, think about what aspects of your lifestyle may be causing it. Could you get into a fitness routine, wean yourself off addictive substances and try to eat more healthy? The beginning will be tough, but all it takes is action and commitment, and believe me, the new you that will emerge from this will not believe why you didn't start sooner! You may have been convinced that your former life was what you needed, but once you let it go, whole new opportunities will open up for you. Once dull and tasteless things will give you new pleasures. You will feel better, be happier and more efficient.
Think of other aspects of your life you can change for the better. What about your fears? Fear of being alone, fear of letting your parents down, fear of switching careers, fear of failure, fear of expressing yourself, fear of putting yourself out there, fear of being the person you really are? How many times has life thrown challenges at you to help you get rid of those fears and you ignored them? How are those fears keeping you trapped in a place you really don't want to be?
Challenges help you grow. They nudge out your weaknesses and force you to turn them into strengths. When overcome, they give you that priceless sense of achievement and confidence; that increasing sense of self-value that will continue to help you attain more fulfillment and success in life.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Dealing With Adversity
Whenever you're in a uncomfortable or challenging situation, you have only three options:
1. Wait for the situation to change
2. Change the situation
3. Change your response to the situation
Let's look at the first option. Now, is the situation likely to change on its own? If not, then clearly this is not an option for you. Some situations, however, are short-term, and the answer may just be to wait them out. While you're waiting for the situation to change though, you might want to think about whether you can go for the second option - change the situation.
The pitfall with this solution is that even if you leave your current situation and go to another, you still take you with you. Are you perhaps part of the problem? Are you habitually trapping yourself in certain difficult situations? If relationships aren't working out for you, how much responsibility should you bear? and of course, most situations are simply out of our hands; there's just nothing we can do to change it.
Which brings us to the third, and most effective and empowering option - change your response to the situation. Now the beauty of this option is that unlike the first two, this one's always open to you. You are the focus. And oddly enough, when you focus on yourself, you have more influence on things outside you. In other words, when you choose to look at things differently, the things you're looking at change (or at least appear different).
We live in a culture which tends to blame external factors for our woes - it's God, it's government, it's our boss, our lazy co-worker, our parents, our society, even our climate. Anything it seems, except ourselves.
In order to stop blaming and start improving your life, you must change the meaning of the situation. Instead of seeing it as something that was "done to you," you can choose to see it as a neutral event that isn't personal, or even a positive experience that you can learn something from. Change your language to reinforce this change of meaning. Instead of asking, "Why did this have to happen to me?" ask yourself "What lesson can I take away from this?"
By changing the meaning you give the situation and changing the language you use, you'll discover that you have the power to respond in any number of ways, not just the knee-jerk reactions you've made in the past. And you'll be able to choose new responses to old problems, breaking habitual patterns that have been limiting your growth and progress.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
1. Wait for the situation to change
2. Change the situation
3. Change your response to the situation
Let's look at the first option. Now, is the situation likely to change on its own? If not, then clearly this is not an option for you. Some situations, however, are short-term, and the answer may just be to wait them out. While you're waiting for the situation to change though, you might want to think about whether you can go for the second option - change the situation.
The pitfall with this solution is that even if you leave your current situation and go to another, you still take you with you. Are you perhaps part of the problem? Are you habitually trapping yourself in certain difficult situations? If relationships aren't working out for you, how much responsibility should you bear? and of course, most situations are simply out of our hands; there's just nothing we can do to change it.
Which brings us to the third, and most effective and empowering option - change your response to the situation. Now the beauty of this option is that unlike the first two, this one's always open to you. You are the focus. And oddly enough, when you focus on yourself, you have more influence on things outside you. In other words, when you choose to look at things differently, the things you're looking at change (or at least appear different).
We live in a culture which tends to blame external factors for our woes - it's God, it's government, it's our boss, our lazy co-worker, our parents, our society, even our climate. Anything it seems, except ourselves.
In order to stop blaming and start improving your life, you must change the meaning of the situation. Instead of seeing it as something that was "done to you," you can choose to see it as a neutral event that isn't personal, or even a positive experience that you can learn something from. Change your language to reinforce this change of meaning. Instead of asking, "Why did this have to happen to me?" ask yourself "What lesson can I take away from this?"
By changing the meaning you give the situation and changing the language you use, you'll discover that you have the power to respond in any number of ways, not just the knee-jerk reactions you've made in the past. And you'll be able to choose new responses to old problems, breaking habitual patterns that have been limiting your growth and progress.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Add Value in the Workplace
We all want to be promoted, get higher salaries, and become more valued at the workplace. But what steps are you taking towards attracting a promotion? Do you have a plan? What are you currently doing that makes you believe that you are deserving of one?
The most miserable people in the world today are those who know what they need to do to create the life they desire, but they refuse to take the actions to do so. So what can you do?
In today's business culture, productivity is the key to promotion. Every employer by reason of economics is forced to look at the bottom line. So here are three steps to increase your productivity, and thus add value in the workplace.
First, assess the desired result.
The clearer the desired outcome, the quicker you can take action. Always be certain you are on the same page as your employer regarding the desired outcome of a task. Don't assume the outcome you desire is the outcome your boss does.
Next, assess what actions must be taken immediately.
You may have ten, fifteen, or even fifty things to do on your plate right now, but do you know what to do next? Identifying the next action takes a matter of minutes, but is often a highly neglected practice. Look over your list of projects and ask yourself, what must I do next? Write it down. After you go through your projects and write out each action step, then determine the highest priority and get to work. You cannot do everything right now. All that matters is what you do right now and what you do next. A great question to ask is, "what action if done will be of the most benefit to you and the company?" or, "what action if not done will be most detrimental to your career success? "
And third, concentrate entirely on the most important task until it is complete.
Quickly solve every problem that comes your way and soon your stock will rise in the eyes of those who are looking for someone to promote. Allow time and your track record to speak on your behalf. Don't force the issue. Your ability to act quickly and get more done than anyone else will cause you to stand out. If you can create a memory in your supervisor's mind that you are person who can get the job done quickly and in excellence, more responsibility and opportunity will be given to you. Getting the job done quickly may mean the difference between you or someone else getting a promotion.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
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