Category: Life Skills

Learn how to focus on the soft skills, the people skills like good communication, effective leadership, positive motivation, and managing your emotions.

How You Can Take Risks with Confidence and Improve Your Success Rate

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Change Your Life, Fearless Mindset.

“You must accept that you might fail; then, if you do your best and still don’t win, at least you can be satisfied that you’ve tried. If you don’t accept failure as a possibility, you don’t set high goals, you don’t branch out, you don’t try, you don’t take the risk.” ~ Rosalynn Carter

“It’s such a risk!” These words are sure to make your palms sweat and your heart beat faster. In our brains, which are designed to protect us, the word ‘risk’ means DANGER. I, however, like to think of risk as a currency, just as much as money in the bank is currency. It allows us to trade up in life. We decide a new opportunity, experience or choice is worth letting go of something that doesn’t make us as happy any more. We wouldn’t think of taking a risk if it didn’t tempt us with something we want. But how do we get from paralyzing fear to being able to take risks with more comfort and peace of mind?

The Art and Science of Trust — 7 Proven Ways You Can Master It

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Life Skills, Self-Leadership Skills.

“Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.” ~ Stephen R. Covey

Do people trust you? And are you a person who trusts easily? If you’re like most people, you have trust issues, especially if you’ve been abused, lied to or cheated. It hurts! And when it comes to trusting ourselves, we’ve experienced a lifetime of ignoring our inner voices or second-guessing ourselves. More than ever, we need to hone our understanding of the art and science of trust and learn to master it.

Dealing with Disappointment — How to Renew Hope When Expectations Are Crushed

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Handling Change, Self-Leadership Skills.

“Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it.” ~ Eliza Tabor

We are the only living organisms on this planet who build our lives around our hopes and expectations. It’s what makes us human. Without hope or expectation, we would be existing, not living. However, with these highs come the lows of disappointment, because we don’t always realize our expectations. And that makes us sad, angry or even despondent. So how are you dealing with disappointment? Could you use some tips on how to handle it a little bit better?

Whether professionally or personally, when we’re in the realm of hope and expectation, we’re dealing with things far beyond our control. We can work hard and set ourselves up for success the best we’re able, but success isn’t guaranteed. We can’t control how others will react or how situations go awry.

How to Grow As a Person — Get Out of Your Head & Do Your Heart Work!

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Change Your Life, Self-Leadership Skills.

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Think back to third grade, do you remember the papercut on your finger? It was very painful and you vowed to never touch another piece of paper again, right? Of course not! You bandaged the wound, and you kept doing your schoolwork because that’s how you grow as a person. You let it heal and you moved on.

Yet when it comes to emotional hurt, we hold onto it way past its expiration date. We regret being vulnerable and vow, “I’m never going to let myself be hurt like that again.” Whether it’s from a romantic breakup or a painful rejection at work, when we experience emotional pain, we tend to shrink back into our shells. Out of self-protection, we often drift away from our hearts and begin living in our heads. We become more and more shut down and closed off.

Self-Betterment vs. Self-Realization — How to Live Up To and Enjoy Your Full Potential

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Change Your Life, Self-Leadership Skills.

“Your own self-realization is the greatest service you can render the world.” ~ Sri Ramana Maharshi

Don’t you think the term self-betterment is inadequate? I know it’s a common way of expressing your wish for self-improvement. However, the term self-realization is more encompassing, because it conveys the thought of getting to know yourself better and learning to maximize your strengths. Self-betterment seems to be a judgment that you’re not good enough…you need to be better. But you are good enough. And this is how I know that…

I love being a learner. I don’t read or study just to put information in my head. I want to see how it can make my life more satisfying and how I can use it to help others. Does learning make me a better person today than I was yesterday? No. I may have become more skilled in one area. Or I may have more understanding. But my worth as a human being has not become higher. I simply realize that I am capable of so much more and I want to achieve my full potential.

Whether I’m splitting hairs over self-betterment, I’ll let you decide. The main point is that whatever we call it, we are responsible for maximizing our potential, because what we do matters. Our small steps can change the world.

Category: Life Skills

How You Can Take Risks with Confidence and Improve Your Success Rate

The Art and Science of Trust — 7 Proven Ways You Can Master It

Dealing with Disappointment — How to Renew Hope When Expectations Are Crushed

How to Grow As a Person — Get Out of Your Head & Do Your Heart Work!

Self-Betterment vs. Self-Realization — How to Live Up To and Enjoy Your Full Potential

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