Sometimes we find it so very hard to simply like ourselves. We try too hard to pretend to be someone other than our true selves, and we even try to convince ourselves that we are somebody else. We put up layers of defenses, and strongly need to be seen in a certain way. We feel that we cannot afford others to see our real selves. We fear that we may turn out to be inadequate in some way. We feel very vulnerable.

Sometimes we resort to bullying, or boasting, or shying away, or aggressiveness, or cunningness or mistrust in order to cover up the fact that we don't dare to show our true selves to anyone. This comes from a very deep-rooted lack of confidence in oneself, an inability to like ourselves just as we are.

It is very important to look in the mirror each day and tell ourselves that we are okay. Sometimes we forget to do this, sometimes we cannot truly believe it. We often let other people tell us that we are not okay. We don't remember that everyone, at some point or the other, had to face experiences that involved others telling or implying that they were inadequate. Yet, the happy ones knew that it didn't matter. They knew that they were okay - their past, their looks, their achievements, their relatives, their possessions, their ambitions, their education, their talents were all secondary things that didn't matter. Only we matter, only our values matter.

So how can we truly learn to like ourselves? How can we get past decades of learning that tells us that we need to do, be or have something in order to be lovable? How can we look into our inner self, the one that we had ever since we were babies, and accept it as it is? Here are five tips to try. Read the full article here.
 
 
We all need goals to keep our lives meaningful and fulfilling. Working towards our dreams is in itself a rewarding process. But despite so many people having so many dreams, few ever get realized. Why?

The obvious way to find an answer to that question is to look at the lives of those who do live their dreams, and those who don’t. By observing the difference, we can also learn how to make our dreams come true.

If you read any successful person's biography, you will be able to find a common thread. They have all found success in essentially the same way - by following a three-step plan. These three simple steps can virtually guarantee the achievement of any goal you may have. Many a time the reason why so many people failed to achieve their dreams is because they neglected any or all of these three steps. Let us see what each step is. Read the full article here.
 
 

Do you listen to your spouse, kids, colleagues and friends? And by this, I do not mean pretend to listen, I mean give them your 100% and really hear what they have to say.

Listening is not a skill everyone possesses. Yet, it is a skill that can be developed if we are sincere in trying. Mastering this skill can rejuvenate our relationships, provide us with more knowledge and insight, and even earn us a reputation as a good conversationalist.

Since it is such a key element in our social life and yet so rare, being a good listener can open doors for us that we didn't even know existed. It is one of the skills that can make our company really enjoyable to others.

In this article, I am sharing six tips that can help us be master listeners. Read the full article here.
 
 
Much of our happiness depends on the quality of our relationships with others. In family and in workplace, it is important to have healthy relationships in order to get the best out of life.

Even though we spend almost all of our lives with others, many of us still have problems in having smooth and balanced relationships. The schools and colleges don't teach us people skills. We are often left to fend for ourselves when it comes to maintaining social relations. And we often stumble.

So what makes a healthy relationship? There are a few common elements in any good relation, be it marital, friendly or official. Once these elements are in place, we understand people better and relate to them more effectively. It helps us have smooth sailing in the rough waters of interpersonal relationships.

In this article, we discuss 6 of such keys to healthy relationships. Each key is followed by a short description, and a question to ponder over. If we are honest with ourselves, we can find the way to improve our relationships through the answer to these questions. Ready to begin? Let's go. Read the full article here:
 
 
Your kitchen sink is a mess. Your 9-5 job leaves you stressed out. You have no energy left. Your relationship with your family seems to be deteriorating. You keep putting off things.

Does any of this sound like you? If this is your life, have you ever wondered where personal growth fits in? Have you felt like your current life situation is just not right for self-development? If this rings a chord with you, then this article is for you.

I have often had trouble focusing on my dreams when my everyday life is not on track. Often, I have had to do a cleansing process to get my spirit back. This cleansing process involved pulling the weeds from my physical environment and creating order from chaos.

In order to have an atmosphere where you feel at your best, the changes should start with you. When it comes to your life situation, the buck stops with you. How your day goes has nothing to do with your family, your boss or your colleagues. It is totally in your power to control your life.

A lot of us have trouble accepting this power, and the responsibility that comes with it. It is just so much easier to blame our problems on somebody else. But the moment you decide some outside factor has control on your life, you lose the power to turn your life around.

Once you establish in your own mind that you are in the driver's seat, it is much easier to move forward. That attitude is important to make lasting changes in your life. Because if you keep doing what you do now, you will keep getting what you get now.

If you are ready to take the responsibility for your life and make the necessary changes, then read on. Read the full article here.
 
 
There is often a misconception that having a successful and meaningful life would mean a major overhaul of your current living situations. People tend to think that achievers are all workaholics who sacrifice pleasure and relationships to stay at the top. Well, think again.

We do need to make every moment productive in order to get the best out of life. But not in the way one might think. The key to success does not lie in impossible work hours or a distraught family life. It lies in a simple word - "celebration".

The "celebrate principle" is an innovative approach to time management. It is not about how best to divide your time for career advancement. It is not about your "day job". It is about the bigger things in life, which are also ironically the simpler things. It is about how best we can utilize our time to get the best results, for life. Its key difference from all other time management principles is that it takes an entirely different view of productivity. It is practical, and it is stylish. It is something you can do, and would enjoy doing. It doesn't involve time tables or clock watching. It is just a way of life.

Here is how to apply the celebrate principle to life, and continue do what we are doing, with slight adjustments to get the best out of them. The important thing to remember here is that we are going to keep things simple, enjoy our life, and let success follow. It is just some things we can remember to do each day, every day, to make life better. If we can manage our time so that all these fits into our schedule, we are winning the game of life. Let's see how. Read the full article here.
 
 
Have you ever felt that something is missing from you? May be you feel that your communication is poor. May be you find that people don't take you seriously. Or maybe you feel empty from within.

There are several problems people feel when it comes to their personality. It always boils down to one or more of the key areas of personality development. In order to effectively address all such issues, we need to know which areas of our personality need improvement. Only when we know this, can we focus our attention on imbibing more knowledge about those particular areas. This is the key to holistic personality development.

What is holistic personality development? It is all about developing yourself into the very best you can be. In order to truly achieve that, we need to identify our strengths and weaknesses in the different areas of personality development. Because, without knowing ourselves, we can never improve ourselves.

All-round personality development is about giving equal attention to all aspects of your personality. First, we need to take stock of the true state of affairs in each aspect of our personality. We can then figure out what is lacking, and work on it.

In this article, let me share with your four areas of all-round personality development. Once you have read this, you can honestly evaluate your standing in each area, and start working on improving the weaker aspects. Read the full article here.
 
 
Right from the appealing cover design, this book cries out "professional" at every turn. I found the book "Thirty Days to change your life" by Michael Miles just that - a book that has the potential to change your life.

This book is presented in a simple and straight-forward manner, never attempting at patronizing. The tone is friendly. The words are effective. The ideas are priceless.

The book applies the "dripping tap" principle from its concept to its execution. It is all about changing your life, one small step at a time.

The chapters are short and sweet, holding stories, ideas, quotes etc, all emphasizing a key idea. Each one gently tries to shift our mindset, and create a climate for change. We can in fact read from any chapter - and re-read any when we need some inspiration. But, when you get started, it is better to stick to the thirty day plan, and read each of 30 chapters, one in a day.

There is a soothing flow to this book, which makes it a pleasure to read. You are not going to need a whole lot of time to finish reading a chapter either. It is designed to suit our busy lives fully, even those who are hard-pressed for time can use this book as recommended. I found that reading a chapter early in the morning and letting it sink in for the rest of the day worked really well for me.

Reading the book felt like attending a workshop. Only, this workshop costs significantly lesser than the others out there, and the material is available for a life-time. Another great feature of the book is that it even adds value by listing a bunch of helpful books for further reading.

I don't want to spoil the suspense by elaborating the contents of this amazing book - but I can guarantee that it is one you won't regret buying. To get your copy, head to http://effortlessabundance.com.

And don't forget to write in with your own experiences of the book!
 
 
The byline says it all - "An uncommon guide to living on your own terms". The book delivers exactly what it promises - a total guidebook on living life deliberately and having fun while at it. The book "Reclaim your dreams" by Jonathan Mead is one of the most inspiring and innovative books I have read in recent times.

The book is written in a unique and inimitable style - a unique interlocking of almost poetic beauty and disarming simplicity. There is a subtle vein of humor running through out too, which makes it all the more enjoyable.

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a rut, or just plain tired of getting through life from day to day? Do you feel that you have lost your passion and zing? Do you feel that you have lived enough of life to see that there is no alternative? Then this book will do wonders for you.

It really doesn't matter what sort of a mind or life you bring to the table when you start reading this book. It is one that understands that changes need to be made at the grass root level, for any permanent effect to occur. So, it gives you a mindset makeover.

There are two parts to this book. The parts are best explained in the author's own words: "Part 1 was about pulling the weeds and making room for your dreams, Part 2 is about figuring out what you want to plant there and giving you the tools to make those dreams grow and thrive." The first part helps us to create an attitude conducive to absorbing the second part fully. There are three chapters in the first part, and five in the second.

Each chapter contains three parts: the idea, one or more exercises for practical application and some key points to meditate on. This format is adopted throughout the book.

The book contains a lot of bold statements and almost disturbing questions. If you would only take a moment to think of those, they would suddenly transform themselves into obvious truths you never noticed before, and you have an "Aha!" moment. I had many such moments while reading this book; and each gave me fresh perspective and insight. I felt it worthwhile to have a small book ready while reading this, to note down all these key statements and ideas. When I am in need of some quick motivation, a cup of coffee plus a small dose of these pointers prove a potent combination.

The exercises in this book require special mention - there are simple and powerful ones in there which don't even take up too much time. Just as an example, in a single chapter you learn to create your personal manifesto, your dream sanctuary, your value list, your mind map... and more!

The book also lists and draws from some great resources, the links to which are provided throughout. This makes for fun and informative further reading.

One of the best things about the book is that it has its feet firmly planted in reality, and doesn't paint rosy pictures. It is a very practical book, and understands and takes into consideration all the myriad pitfalls and problems of everyday life. It is not an idealist's dream book, it is a realist's workbook.

And a word about the conclusion... It is an absolutely beautiful chapter, something you may want to print out and stick to your wall for your daily dose of inspiration. It sums up the book beautifully, and makes you feel you have the wings to fly.

This value for money book can be purchased here: http://www.illuminatedmind.net/reclaim-your-dreams/

Don't forget to write in with your experiences of the book!
 
 

If you were to die right now, would you be able to confidently say that you have lived a life with purpose and conviction, and had fun while at it? Would you have fulfilled all your dreams, or would you never have started? Or, would you have tried and quit living your dreams?

Give it a moment's honest thought, and tell yourself what the answer is. If you had another chance to live, would you do everything the way you are doing them now, or would you live your life differently? In that answer lies the key to living your dreams. Each of us is blessed with unique creativity and intelligence, so if we really try, we can always find a way to live our dreams in this life itself.

It doesn't matter what you have to start with. The great men and women in history never had greatness handed to them on a plate. They all had to fight for and earn what they became. And so can you.

What is it that you would love to become, what is your dream life? And what is holding you back from living it right away?

Below, I am sharing eight tips to start living your dreams right now. Read the full article here.