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
Controlling Your Anger
We all feel angry sometimes. For many of us, anger is something we latch on to, simply because it's an instinctive and natural response to threat or danger. It can be constructive if we can control it and harness its energy for something positive. For example, if a tactless criticism makes us angry, that anger can be channeled to fuel our determination to improve ourselves.
Unchecked anger, on the other hand, can harm relationships, block careers and disrupt lives. It can cause others to avoid you, frame you, or even seek revenge.
Here are some ways we can learn to control our anger. We won't be able to eliminate it altogether, but with practice, we can avoid letting it hurt us.
Firstly, find out what triggers anger in you. Obnoxious people? When you don't get the result you want? Losing? Running late for a concert because your partner gave you the wrong directions? Learn to view these situations and occurrences from a detached, third-party position. Understand that you become a slave to these triggers the moment you react negatively to them. What's the worst that can happen if you choose to ignore them? Probably not much, or nothing at all. Think about it - would you rather be a little late for a concert that has no bearing on the quality of your life, or unleash your fury on a loved one over an unintentional oversight?
Create a buffer between your triggers and your response to them. Pause and think about the gravity of the situation. Does it warrant frustration and anger? Will any of it matter in a minute, a day, or a week? Anger is an instantly reactive emotion. It prevents you from thinking rationally and in the long term. So either take a deep breath, count to ten, or excuse yourself politely and just leave. Most of the time, you will find that the person or thing that almost made you lost your cool won't bother you at all after a while.
And realise that a lot of the time, obnoxious people want to make you angry. they just want to provoke an outburst or negative reaction. It makes them feel big and powerful. So what's the best way to get even? Forget! Let them know that they have no power over your mood.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Unchecked anger, on the other hand, can harm relationships, block careers and disrupt lives. It can cause others to avoid you, frame you, or even seek revenge.
Here are some ways we can learn to control our anger. We won't be able to eliminate it altogether, but with practice, we can avoid letting it hurt us.
Firstly, find out what triggers anger in you. Obnoxious people? When you don't get the result you want? Losing? Running late for a concert because your partner gave you the wrong directions? Learn to view these situations and occurrences from a detached, third-party position. Understand that you become a slave to these triggers the moment you react negatively to them. What's the worst that can happen if you choose to ignore them? Probably not much, or nothing at all. Think about it - would you rather be a little late for a concert that has no bearing on the quality of your life, or unleash your fury on a loved one over an unintentional oversight?
Create a buffer between your triggers and your response to them. Pause and think about the gravity of the situation. Does it warrant frustration and anger? Will any of it matter in a minute, a day, or a week? Anger is an instantly reactive emotion. It prevents you from thinking rationally and in the long term. So either take a deep breath, count to ten, or excuse yourself politely and just leave. Most of the time, you will find that the person or thing that almost made you lost your cool won't bother you at all after a while.
And realise that a lot of the time, obnoxious people want to make you angry. they just want to provoke an outburst or negative reaction. It makes them feel big and powerful. So what's the best way to get even? Forget! Let them know that they have no power over your mood.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Self Love
We all want greater happiness. And most of us seek it in things like money, fast love, power, respect, adoration and career success. But we ultimately realise that the joy we get from these things does not last.
How then, can we attain lasting happiness? The key is love - both towards yourself and towards others. Eventually, that's all that's going to matter to you.
Many people don't manage to find self-love, and as a natural consequence, genuine love for others. They spend their entire lives searching for happiness in all the wrong things.
Parents play a critical role in helping to instill a healthy sense of self-worth and self-respect in their children. Through the simplest acts of touch, attention to feelings and guidance toward accomplishment, children come to see their own worth reflected in their parents' eyes. They see themselves as worthy of love.
A child who does not receive this kind of love from their parents may grow up to be insecure, dependent and fearful. They might develop a self-loathing attitude - consistently blaming themselves, and feeling that they don't deserve happiness. Or they might embark on an impossible quest for perfection - in themselves and in things like a perfect partner, a perfect job, or a perfect amusement. But the results will always be disappointing. The feeling of disappointment and helplessness may lead to physical or emotional violence or addictions to short-term gratifications like alcohol, drugs and sex.
But a negative relationship with your parents does not mean all is lost. In many ways, your inner voice is like an extra parent. as you grow older, its influence becomes stronger than your parents. What you tell yourself about yourself shapes your life. Happy and successful people talk lovingly and positively to themselves. Nurture your inner voice to speak with love, respect, optimisim and gentleness, and you're on your way to greater happiness.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
How then, can we attain lasting happiness? The key is love - both towards yourself and towards others. Eventually, that's all that's going to matter to you.
Many people don't manage to find self-love, and as a natural consequence, genuine love for others. They spend their entire lives searching for happiness in all the wrong things.
Parents play a critical role in helping to instill a healthy sense of self-worth and self-respect in their children. Through the simplest acts of touch, attention to feelings and guidance toward accomplishment, children come to see their own worth reflected in their parents' eyes. They see themselves as worthy of love.
A child who does not receive this kind of love from their parents may grow up to be insecure, dependent and fearful. They might develop a self-loathing attitude - consistently blaming themselves, and feeling that they don't deserve happiness. Or they might embark on an impossible quest for perfection - in themselves and in things like a perfect partner, a perfect job, or a perfect amusement. But the results will always be disappointing. The feeling of disappointment and helplessness may lead to physical or emotional violence or addictions to short-term gratifications like alcohol, drugs and sex.
But a negative relationship with your parents does not mean all is lost. In many ways, your inner voice is like an extra parent. as you grow older, its influence becomes stronger than your parents. What you tell yourself about yourself shapes your life. Happy and successful people talk lovingly and positively to themselves. Nurture your inner voice to speak with love, respect, optimisim and gentleness, and you're on your way to greater happiness.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Making Great Impressions
Want to nail that job interview? Want to wow the crowd? Want to make friends easily?
Then you've got to make a great impression!
Making great first impressions is important because with casual encounters, like a job interview or a public presentation, most people use that to assess the rest of their contact with you. Of course, over time, as people get to know you better, the effect of that first impression may become much less crucial, but casual encounters occur much more frequently.
Today, let's talk about the key components of making a great impression.
First of all, you have to look the part. This may sound superficial, but visual cues are all people have to work with when they first meet you, and you can be sure that they're sizing you up even before you part your lips. No matter how talented you really are, if you don't look like a professional or leader or successful person, others may not (rightly or wrongly) see you as one. You can get tips simply by observing people whom you deem successful at a glance. Black and blue are "safe" colours, but make you fade into the crowd. Try bolder shades to stand out.
Next, you have to sound the part. Use short, simple sentences, do not hurry, use a lower pitch, and always speak with confidence and without hesitation. Here, the execution of your words might be more important than the words themselves. Even if they are hackneyed or banal, when spoken the right way - with the right rhythm, volume, pauses and emphases - your words can have a positive impact. They can make you sound like you're in control of a situation.
You've heard how certain people seem to alter the very atmosphere the moment they enter the room. Well, your entrances and even exits do matter! Keep your posture upright, your walk deliberate and steady, smile, nod, look straight into people's eyes, shake hands firmly... all this sets you up for success even before you start your pitch.
And your workspace is just a space for work, right? Not when it comes to making the right impression. Like it or not, people interpret your work area as a reflection of your work ethic, character and personality. While sensible use of personal pictures or inspirational posters can show you to be a family person or motivated character, cute screensavers, cuddly toys and an excess of plants can detract from your professionalism. It's not that you should not express yourself, but in the small area of a work space, each item becomes more noticeable, taking on greater significance as a symbol of who you are.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Then you've got to make a great impression!
Making great first impressions is important because with casual encounters, like a job interview or a public presentation, most people use that to assess the rest of their contact with you. Of course, over time, as people get to know you better, the effect of that first impression may become much less crucial, but casual encounters occur much more frequently.
Today, let's talk about the key components of making a great impression.
First of all, you have to look the part. This may sound superficial, but visual cues are all people have to work with when they first meet you, and you can be sure that they're sizing you up even before you part your lips. No matter how talented you really are, if you don't look like a professional or leader or successful person, others may not (rightly or wrongly) see you as one. You can get tips simply by observing people whom you deem successful at a glance. Black and blue are "safe" colours, but make you fade into the crowd. Try bolder shades to stand out.
Next, you have to sound the part. Use short, simple sentences, do not hurry, use a lower pitch, and always speak with confidence and without hesitation. Here, the execution of your words might be more important than the words themselves. Even if they are hackneyed or banal, when spoken the right way - with the right rhythm, volume, pauses and emphases - your words can have a positive impact. They can make you sound like you're in control of a situation.
You've heard how certain people seem to alter the very atmosphere the moment they enter the room. Well, your entrances and even exits do matter! Keep your posture upright, your walk deliberate and steady, smile, nod, look straight into people's eyes, shake hands firmly... all this sets you up for success even before you start your pitch.
And your workspace is just a space for work, right? Not when it comes to making the right impression. Like it or not, people interpret your work area as a reflection of your work ethic, character and personality. While sensible use of personal pictures or inspirational posters can show you to be a family person or motivated character, cute screensavers, cuddly toys and an excess of plants can detract from your professionalism. It's not that you should not express yourself, but in the small area of a work space, each item becomes more noticeable, taking on greater significance as a symbol of who you are.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Why Laughter is Good for You!
Everybody loves a good laugh. We go to the cinema to watch comedies (even if they aren't very good sometimes!), we love unwinding with Kumar, Irene and Hossan at comedy clubs, and we subconsciously seek the company of people who make us laugh.
Laughter is a universal pleasure and we don't need to be told why we love to laugh. But why is laughter good for us?
I'm sure you don't need a doctor to tell you that a good laugh instantly balances any disharmony in your mind and body. Having a good laugh has long been known to be very therapeutic. There is evidence to show that even ancient civilisations held laughter in high regard, incorporating it into their arts and culture, with some claiming that laughter "pierces the hopelessness of any situation or attitude and holds the chemistry of immortality".
Pretty poetry that holds powerful truth... and these days of course, we know precisely how. Laughter opens up your lungs, relieves the tension in your muscles, and gives you a big rush of oxygen. When it does this, it also helps your blood flow more efficiently, lowering your blood pressure. Laughter also lowers the disease-causing chemical cortisol in your body, protecting your immune system from the negative effects of stress.
Laughter is nature's own miracle healer, and its power is at your disposal anytime!
Since laughter helps keep our bodies in tiptop condition, it also maintains our minds in the ideal state for seeking and absorbing knowledge. When we laugh, we breathe harder, our heart beats faster and we get more oxygen to the brain. This stimulates the release of serotonin, leading to feelings of contentment and happiness.
A happy worker is also a good worker.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Laughter is a universal pleasure and we don't need to be told why we love to laugh. But why is laughter good for us?
I'm sure you don't need a doctor to tell you that a good laugh instantly balances any disharmony in your mind and body. Having a good laugh has long been known to be very therapeutic. There is evidence to show that even ancient civilisations held laughter in high regard, incorporating it into their arts and culture, with some claiming that laughter "pierces the hopelessness of any situation or attitude and holds the chemistry of immortality".
Pretty poetry that holds powerful truth... and these days of course, we know precisely how. Laughter opens up your lungs, relieves the tension in your muscles, and gives you a big rush of oxygen. When it does this, it also helps your blood flow more efficiently, lowering your blood pressure. Laughter also lowers the disease-causing chemical cortisol in your body, protecting your immune system from the negative effects of stress.
Laughter is nature's own miracle healer, and its power is at your disposal anytime!
Since laughter helps keep our bodies in tiptop condition, it also maintains our minds in the ideal state for seeking and absorbing knowledge. When we laugh, we breathe harder, our heart beats faster and we get more oxygen to the brain. This stimulates the release of serotonin, leading to feelings of contentment and happiness.
A happy worker is also a good worker.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
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