Yoga Flares

“What drives you”—so goes a famous tagline of Caltex. Yes, indeed, have you ever asked that question yourself? In other words, how do you stay motivated? But first and foremost, identify the things that keep you going or the things that personally bring you happiness, or at least help you attain happiness.

Could it be professional success, a sense of achievement, financial independence, the freedom to be different, or to backpack and travel everywhere? You have your own reasons for pursuing those personal wants and aspirations to stay motivated. Try to do more of those things you like and less of those things you dislike.

In reality, when you really like what you’re doing, you’ll be more improved at what you’re doing, since you’re more willing to do it. So, you stay motivated because you want to, and not because you’re being forced into something. Another tip to stay motivated is to constantly challenge yourself.

When you establish a personal challenge for yourself, life becomes more exciting. You have a reason to wake up every day, to welcome a brand new day with a bright smile. Try to be gutsy and do anything once or anything new in your life. It can be as simple as deciding to help a friend design a website, smiling at a stranger, or more complex as cracking (or just trying) the Rubik’s Cube, traveling alone, or trying rock climbing to test your fear of heights.

Break free from the ordinary and see beyond what you thought was impossible for you to attain. When you arrive at your workplace, set a nice working atmosphere to encourage productivity and efficiency. Try to set a clean and comfy environment so that you’ll enjoy every moment of your working hours.

A relaxing and comfortable workspace contributes to a healthy mind ready for working. If you want to stay motivated, you should also never lose sight of your dream and keep visualizing your successes and triumphs, no matter how small they may seem. Don’t define success as what other people perceive it to be, but rather view your success as what it looks like from your own point of view.

In short, don’t compare other people’s accomplishments to your own. Lastly, celebrate your achievements and progress you’ve made as you go through your journey. Reward yourself and let others know about it by treating a friend or your colleagues to dinner to commemorate your triumph and your upcoming successes in the future.

When you dream big, it doesn’t simply mean that you’re wishful thinking. It means that you want to have a purpose in your life, and you want to be fulfilled. They say that if you want to reach the heavens, aim for the stars. Aside from that, you have another great reason to welcome a brand new day with a smile in your heart. If you dream big, it’s a reminder and a motivator of what your raison d’être is in this world.

Come to think about it–it’s because of big dreamers that we have great men in history who contributed all those inventions we now enjoy.

Famous people from all over the world have their own big dreamers–from illustrious artists, enterprising businessmen, great thinkers, musicians, athletes, physicians who invented antidotes for diseases, and legendary philanthropists.

That’s why we have to thank those people who dream big since they are the pioneers who, over time, change the course of history and the world becomes a better place. If you want to leave a legacy and leave a great name in this world, then dream bigger dreams!

Besides, it gives you a sense of rush–an excitement of what life has to offer and embracing all the possibilities of your future, of what the great vast universe can offer.

And why not–it’s because of your vision and firm belief which pushes the envelope farther and your imagination greater. You’ll even create for yourself a role model others will willingly emulate, and that’s setting the bar high.

bar higher, which is simply fabulous.

Questions To Help You Think About How To Start Your Day Right

Sorry, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

That’s the common statement we hear from most people if ever they have a bout with a foul mood and the people around them are at least affected. We all have bad hair days and not-so perfect days, but you don’t want your productivity to be affected just because you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. ‘ Usually, it’s just a matter of conditioning your mind that nothing can spoil your day no matter what.

If you train your mind how to start your day right, then it’s easier to carry out your mornings and it’s all a matter of self-awareness. To do this, you can begin with answering questions like:

What am I grateful for today in my life?

What could I accomplish this day to improve my life?

What makes me feel excited and what do I look forward to this moment?

What am I contented at this stage in my life right now?

How can I be of help to someone today?

What makes me happy in my life right now?

Pondering these questions and answering them helps you start your day right.

These questions make you think about your present conditions, your future goals, and all the motivation you need to make you happier. It helps us keep track of our objectives and remain steadfast in our goals instead of merely reacting to whatever circumstances that we encounter and being affected by them.

A new year is supposed to be a great way to start afresh. It’s not necessarily a clean slate, but it’s clean enough for most people. For a lot of people, a new start is enough of a motivation to begin with, so let’s get back to some basics, shall we?

First off, what have you been doing with your life in the past year? Did you build your own business? Have you tried a new sport? Did you write that novel you’ve always wanted or that tune you’ve always been thinking of? Whatever it is, it’s time to evaluate the things you’ve been doing. If you haven’t had the right motivation to do those things you’ve wanted to do, why not?

One reason why you haven’t found it is probably because you don’t like what you’re doing. It’s an elementary analysis, but true, nonetheless.

You get intrinsic motivation when you do something you like.

When you do something, you like, you don’t really think about how hard it is, but you do think of the challenge ahead of you as something fun. It’s pretty powerful stuff, but what if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing?

In situations like that, you should look ahead. Look into the near future or a place that’s farther away, but basically, you should think about a goal you’ll get to once you reach the end of your labors. After hours of working at the office, you could get yourself that new gadget you wanted. After all that dieting and exercise, you can look forward to a fitter, healthier you.

You can find several ways of rewarding yourself just to get things done. Extrinsic motivation can work in labor that you enjoy, but it matters most when you feel that you don’t like what you’re doing. Besides, what good is it to keep working at something you don’t enjoy and something you won’t get anything out of? When that happens, it’s time to reevaluate your life.

Time for less elementary thoughts on the matter. Motivation will only take you so far, so if you want to achieve success, job, or anything that needs your attention, it needs your patience and dedication. If you’re working on something that takes really long to finish, make a habit out of it and build a routine around it. You don’t have to stick to it forever but make it something that you can get used to so it’s familiar. When you’re familiar with something, it’s just that much easier to do.

Finally, get yourself the appropriate amount of rest and relaxation so you’ll have the energy and motivation to tackle anything ahead of you. The mind is only as strong as the body can carry you. Even if you like what you do, you still get tired. And if you combine the two, you could fool yourself into thinking that you’re doing something tiring and it could lead you to inactivity. Fatigue and boredom are two of your worst enemies. You can get rid of one of them when you eat good food and get good rest.

In my next ebook, “Goldmine to Success“, there’s a chapter about self-motivation. And when it comes to staying healthy, what motivates you to be fit and stay healthy? Is it because of vanity–like looking good so that you’ll look like a model in any clothes that you wear? Or you want to live a long life to be strong enough for your descendants? Or how about being free from worries like sickness and hospital bills?

Well, whatever your reason to stay healthy, I’m sure exercise always plays a huge part in any health and fitness goals. Check out these 4 types of exercises:

1) Flexibility, or simply stretching
Most especially when we age, stretching becomes our most trusted ally. Though stretching is one of the most underrated types of exercise, you can’t underestimate the advantages that come with it. Not only does it improve our posture, but flexibility exercises also reduce muscle tension and promote circulation.

2) Resistance training, a.k.a. strength or weight training
Nowadays, not just men are trying these kinds of exercise–women too! Weightlifters are not just for men alone. But of course, females don’t attain the same muscle mass as males do. This kind of exercise will enhance body metabolism and noticeable changes in body structure if done regularly.

3) Mind-body exercises
Some examples include Pilates, yoga, or tai-chi. These mind-body exercises focus awareness on our breathing and posture movements. Expect some stress-reduction effects, enhanced energy flow and better circulation. You can also try meditation for improved mindfulness.

4) Aerobic exercise
If you want to sustain respiration and elevated heart rate for like, 15-20 minutes, then this activity is for you.

This exercise is also called a cardio workout. There are many advantages to this exercise; you can improve your energy, mood, and digestion. It also enhances the immune system and our lungs and heart, promoting improved circulation as well.

Whatever type of exercise you want to try, choose the one which you can truly benefit from and make sure you also enjoy it in the process. You can even try a combination of these exercises. Ask your fitness professional about it.

Of course, there are those ‘blah-days’ when you believe you awoke on the wrong side of the bed or that today is just not your day. So how can you cope with a bad mood in such a way that it does not ruin your whole day?

1) Be a nature lover once again
Perhaps it’s time to reconnect with Mother Nature again. Be one with nature and perhaps the smoke-filled hustle and bustle of the city life is also causing your foul mood. Try having a picnic in a garden. Lie in the grass of your courtyard and watch birds fly.

2) Mix yourself with shades of orange and yellow
Leatrice Eiseman, author of “More Alive with Color”, explains that these bright and warm hues tend to make people very joyful, probably because they remind us of the sun. No orange or yellow outfits to don? You can pick up flowers with these colors to give you an instant lift.

3) LOL at your PC
Even if you’re stuck in your cubicle or desk, try to amuse yourself from time to time. There are tons of hilarious content on the Internet. Aside from searching on YouTube, you can check out funnyordie.com. Who says you can’t crack up alone?

4) Give your harsh overhead lighting a rest; switch on your desk lamp for a change
A softer and lighter glow could help soothe and relax you. Plus, you don’t have to squint your eyes because of so much brightness.

5) Amp up your mood with your fave tunes
If things go wrong, you can always rely on your music to transcend you to another state… of happiness, that is. If you want to let off steam of irritation and anger without getting lost, you can play heavy and banging tunes. If you want something to relax you, then pick a slower, soothing song.

Choose What Works for You When It Comes To Staying Motivated

When it comes to tons of tips and self-improvement advice (usually online), you may be confused about what to follow, especially when it comes to the motivation genre. Take note that we are all created differently, and what works for me may not work out for you. The best advice for staying motivated? Just stick to whatever works for you. No complications–less are more.

Take all advice with a grain of salt and don’t think twice about discarding advice that doesn’t work for you. People can get motivated differently, and for example, about how to go about your tasks during your workdays. Remember that gurus are not immune to their own personal styles of working techniques which also work for them–but may not be working for you.

Like in this example, should you do easy tasks first, or do difficult tasks first?

Just like working out in the gym, some gurus suggest a little “warm up” of doing easy tasks first.

Usually in the morning, you can choose tasks which don’t really demand a lot of thinking. I know some people who profess that they’re “not a morning person” and they can’t handle “heavy” work early in the morning, since their brains need some warming up before getting into the “main event”–which is the difficult tasks.

On the other hand, there are also experts who suggest finishing difficult projects early in the day, so that you can breathe a sigh of relief soon after, since a large chunk of the “burden” is already done. Yes, this may work for some so that it’s going to be a breeze after it’s over.

In the end, there is still no wrong choice, and you have to figure out what works best for you when it comes to staying motivated when it comes to your working happiness.

Making decisions is a part of life and you want to make sure you’ll never regret it. Here are some suggestions that I gleaned from cosmopolitan.com.

1) Try sleeping on it—but only for one night
Ever wonder why people tell you to “sleep on it” when confronted with major dilemmas? Sleeping may help you evaluate your options and make a choice, according to studies. But don’t linger on your choices for so long–for it may mean you’re not comfy with the choices you got, and you might need to try other options.

2) Ditch people who are pressuring you
Especially when confronted with making decisions, don’t be a victim of being swayed by others who only have self-serving motives and are not really after your best interests.

Be wary of those people (salespeople persuading you to buy high-priced items you can’t afford). Try distancing yourself away from them. If not, act as if you’re seeking advice for a friend to help you to act reasonably.

3) Have a discussion with a small group of individuals
You may need the advice of others, or whomever you trust to contribute their honest opinion, for you know they have your best interests at heart. Hearing others’ viewpoints may enlighten you, especially in areas where you have no expertise or experience.

4) But you don’t have to talk it over with everyone
Seeking out too many opinions, including those from people whom you barely know, could keep you hanging with several disharmonious or unnecessary advice which will only make you more confused.

If you think this person is not in a position to know what’s best for you, better zip it and look for someone else who does. Check character references before seeking advice.

5) Wait till you’re no longer stressed
Wait before you’re no longer distressed or upset when asking decisions. When we act out of anxiety, we tend to make poor choices. That said, you may hold off getting a new haircut right after being fired.

5 Ways on How To Motivate Yourself

There are good days and bad days, and those in-between, wherein it’s neither good nor bad, but simply those ho-hum days that make you feel bored and not want to do anything at all. Well, it’s time to be proactive and start to motivate yourself.

Here are some tips:

1) Instead of thinking or talking about it, DO it! Turn your to-do lists into to-done lists. The best things and goals don’t materialize just by thinking or talking about them. Act on it! And don’t think about those things which you can’t do–you don’t want to attract bad vibes.

2) Though it’s always not easy to do, try your best to stay focused on what you should be doing.

Concentrate on one goal at a time, making them more realistic and attainable. Don’t try to overwhelm yourself with too many tasks in one day.

3) Leave your problems/personal issues at the door. Whatever it is you’re trying to do/achieve within the day, Stop making excuses for why you can’t–try focusing on what you can do right now. You have to do what you can do at the moment.

4) Heard what they say about following your gut feeling? Well, grab that confidence in what you believe feels right and follow it. There must be a reason why you feel strongly about something. And more often than not, they always serve your best purpose.

5) Put a lot of effort into something you truly want to desire and achieve.

Motivate yourself to figure out how to materialize your dreams into reality. Don’t regret or complain about the hard work that goes with pursuing your dream because in the end, you know it’s going to be worth it.