ApexTemple
Registered Member
- Dec 11, 2016
- 78
- 12
There’s a famous anecdote about a man and his boiler that says a lot about where we’re at these days regarding self help.
The man’s boiler is broken and he spends weeks trying to fix it.
Finally he gives in and calls the engineer, who comes the next day, taps it on the side and presto — it starts running again.
Face with the bill, the man complains that he shouldn’t have to pay for a fix that took the enigneer a few seconds. “Well,” says the engineer, “you’re not paying for the fix, but for the years of training it took to know exactly where to tap.”
The point is, you don’t have to spends tens of years or thousands of dollars to fix most problems.
Tip #1: Be more likeable
Studies have shown there is one factor that trumps all others when it comes to landing a job: Likeability.
What made others more likeable?
Some spoke about interesting topics that were unrelated to the job, others maintained a genuine smile and some spoke highly of the organization they were applying to.
As you see, where all humans and everbody needs friends, love and all the benefits that our lives here on earth, have.
Tip #2: Motivate yourself without useless fantasies
In recent years, everyone in the self-help industry seems to be getting on the visualization bandwagon. It’s touted as the way to achieve your goals:
Simply picture yourself getting into those jeans and voilà
But several scientific studies tell us that visualization isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
In one study, students were asked to imagine, for a couple moments each day, that they’d received a high grade and how good this made them feel. Another group of students were not asked to do anything. After recording how many hours the students studied each day, the results showed that the visualization students studied less and had lower exam grades than the other group.
Researches postulated that those who fanatize about a great life don’t prepare for setbacks and so lack the mettle required to achieve their goals.
People don’t tend to wander around and then suddenly find themselves at the top of Mount Everest.
— Zig Ziglar
Tip #3: Skip your brainstorming
In the 1940’s, advertising executive Alex Osborn claimed that working in a group could yield twice as many ideas.
A large body of research, though, suggests that brainstorming causes us to repress, rather than form, creative ideas.
This happens because when we work in groups, responsibility becomes diffused. When we’re alone, however, our success or failure is ours alone.
But apart from working independently, how else can you be more innovative and creative? Try looking to your subconscious mind.
It’s no news to most people that our subconscious mind is capable of incredible things. But we do need to learn how not to oppress it with our conscious mind.
So when you need to solve a problem, turn your attention to a puzzle or something that’ll distract your mind from the issue at hand.
Tip #4: Inspire creative thoughts by priming
Our environment shapes our mind, which in turn influences our reactions. Being shaped by your environment is called priming, and it happens even when you’re not consciously aware of it.
So for example, if you add a subtle scent of cleaning spray to the air, people in that atmosphere are primed to clean up more carefully.
Tip #5: Focus on benefits
Whether it’s a breakup, illness or just daily stress, everyone experiences events that make us anxious, unhappy or even depressed.
In such situations, people seek distraction, but this solution is only momentarily effective. Instead, you should opt for a benefit finding solution.
That is, try to single out positive aspects of the hurtful event.
I already shared the story on Medium and Reddit, share some love and share it with your friends, there'll be coming more content everday!
The man’s boiler is broken and he spends weeks trying to fix it.
Finally he gives in and calls the engineer, who comes the next day, taps it on the side and presto — it starts running again.
Face with the bill, the man complains that he shouldn’t have to pay for a fix that took the enigneer a few seconds. “Well,” says the engineer, “you’re not paying for the fix, but for the years of training it took to know exactly where to tap.”
The point is, you don’t have to spends tens of years or thousands of dollars to fix most problems.
Tip #1: Be more likeable
Studies have shown there is one factor that trumps all others when it comes to landing a job: Likeability.
What made others more likeable?
Some spoke about interesting topics that were unrelated to the job, others maintained a genuine smile and some spoke highly of the organization they were applying to.
As you see, where all humans and everbody needs friends, love and all the benefits that our lives here on earth, have.
Tip #2: Motivate yourself without useless fantasies
In recent years, everyone in the self-help industry seems to be getting on the visualization bandwagon. It’s touted as the way to achieve your goals:
Simply picture yourself getting into those jeans and voilà
But several scientific studies tell us that visualization isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
In one study, students were asked to imagine, for a couple moments each day, that they’d received a high grade and how good this made them feel. Another group of students were not asked to do anything. After recording how many hours the students studied each day, the results showed that the visualization students studied less and had lower exam grades than the other group.
Researches postulated that those who fanatize about a great life don’t prepare for setbacks and so lack the mettle required to achieve their goals.
People don’t tend to wander around and then suddenly find themselves at the top of Mount Everest.
— Zig Ziglar
Tip #3: Skip your brainstorming
In the 1940’s, advertising executive Alex Osborn claimed that working in a group could yield twice as many ideas.
A large body of research, though, suggests that brainstorming causes us to repress, rather than form, creative ideas.
This happens because when we work in groups, responsibility becomes diffused. When we’re alone, however, our success or failure is ours alone.
But apart from working independently, how else can you be more innovative and creative? Try looking to your subconscious mind.
It’s no news to most people that our subconscious mind is capable of incredible things. But we do need to learn how not to oppress it with our conscious mind.
So when you need to solve a problem, turn your attention to a puzzle or something that’ll distract your mind from the issue at hand.
Tip #4: Inspire creative thoughts by priming
Our environment shapes our mind, which in turn influences our reactions. Being shaped by your environment is called priming, and it happens even when you’re not consciously aware of it.
So for example, if you add a subtle scent of cleaning spray to the air, people in that atmosphere are primed to clean up more carefully.
Tip #5: Focus on benefits
Whether it’s a breakup, illness or just daily stress, everyone experiences events that make us anxious, unhappy or even depressed.
In such situations, people seek distraction, but this solution is only momentarily effective. Instead, you should opt for a benefit finding solution.
That is, try to single out positive aspects of the hurtful event.
I already shared the story on Medium and Reddit, share some love and share it with your friends, there'll be coming more content everday!
