Month: April 2013

Control Your Anger

Ramona MillsLeave a comment

Losing something of great value or dealing with someone who conspires against you can elicit an angry response. Unfortunately, anger is a dangerous and destructive emotion that always threatens to leap out of control. It pushes you to make hasty decisions that result in bitterness and guilt.

There are times when anger is appropriate, but most often, it is futile. You will face countless opportunities in life to lose your temper, but making a conscious effort to channel your anger constructively is what incites change. When you feel like you’re ready to explode, remember that losing control will not solve the problem. It only fuels the fire.

Lead By Example

Ramona MillsLeave a comment

You can either be part of the problem or part of the solution. Leading by example earns you the right to be heard because your actions reinforce what you speak.

Those closest to you often emulate what you do, so if you desire for someone to behave a certain way, don’t be the double standard.

Francis Bacon once remarked, “He that gives good advice builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example, builds with both; but he that gives good admonition and bad example, builds with one hand and pulls down the other.”

Don’t Assume

Ramona MillsLeave a comment

Wrong assumptions lead to faulty conclusions. As the saying goes, “when you assume, you make an Ass out of U and Me.”

We tend to make assumptions about everything, especially as it pertains to people. That’s why it’s critical to engage in a little fact-finding before concluding. Don’t automatically assume that someone’s motives are wrong, even if it initially draws suspicion.

Assuming the worse about the intentions of another can cause you to overlook the good they may bring into your life. Healthy skepticism is not wrong in itself, but exercising wisdom goes a lot further.

Skeletons In The Closet

Ramona MillsLeave a comment

Sometimes we mistakenly believe we can get away with our wrongdoing if no one witnesses or catches us. But, when a crisis occurs, we soon discover that our misdeeds have been quietly breeding into adverse consequences.

In a world dominated by social media, we can discover more about people in some manner. While all skeletons are not damaging, it is still generally defined as a guilty secret you’d prefer not to share.

It’s better to live each day as if your actions will one day be known to the world.

Fear

Ramona MillsLeave a comment

Fear is a dark shadow that envelops you and ultimately imprisons you within yourself. Fear becomes the expression of doubt and lack of self-confidence that gradually eats away at your motivation and paralyzes you so that you don’t act at all.

When you are fearful, you’ll continually look for visible signs. Signs are unnecessary if they only confirm what you already know to be true. Instead of looking for more confirmation, take action. Getting started is often the most frightening part of the task.

Use Your Natural Talents

Ramona MillsLeave a comment

Everyone is born with his or her unique talents. Don’t minimize your skills because you don’t think your talent measures up to someone else’s. Rather than focusing on the talents of another, make use of the talents already afforded you.

If you have difficulty recognizing your strengths, consider how others describe you. They often see what you overlook or fail to give yourself credit.

Once you understand your talents, you’ll come to realize how easy you were doing something that others find a struggle.

As Mark Twain quoted: “We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.”

Bad Habits

Ramona MillsLeave a comment

There may be a tendency in our lives to allow what we believe to be harmless habits, manifest into dominating forces if left unattended. For example:

  • Mismanaging money can lead you to the poorhouse.
  • Experimenting with mind-altering substances can create dependency.
  • Telling one lie can lead to more lies to cover up the initial lie.
  • Being consistently late in life can lead to missed opportunities.
  • Having a negative outlook can lead to adverse outcomes.
  • Gossiping can lead to lost relationships.
  • Taking shortcuts in life can cheat you in the long run.
  • Consistent misspellings, punctuation, and grammatical errors in your method of communication can make you appear less intelligent.
  • Laziness can lead to poor health and lack of self-development.
  • Speaking without thinking can lead to compromising situations.
  • Lack of manners can lead to the appearance of ungratefulness.
  • Failure to follow directions can lead to disastrous results.
  • Lack of self-confidence can lead to people taking advantage of you.
  • Resisting change can lead to other implications.

Take inventory of your bad habits and work diligently to improve upon them. What may initially appear harmless can have a tremendous effect on your day to day living.