Philosophy and Personal Development Those who have not taken the time to explore the wonderful world of philosophy may consider it as having very little practical value or benefit in the real world. Nothing could be further from the truth. The word philosophy is derived from the Greek words "philo" meaning love and "sophia" meaning wisdom. Therefore it is the love of wisdom and the seeking of knowledge in understanding the nature of the universe, man, and the human condition. How does philosophy contribute to personal development? Studying philosophy and the works of some of the greatest thinkers in the history of the world is invaluable in helping us determine who we are and what we are doing here. William Ralph Inge said: "The object of studying philosophy is to know one's own mind, not other people's". More than just a pursuit of knowledge, philosophy is also an activity; one that teaches us to analyze, assess and reason. For Camus, Sisyphus' fate aptly demonstrates the futility and hopelessness of labor.
Journal to the Self: 13 Tools to Make Journaling Work for You In this post, I present 13 specific journaling tools you can start using immediately, along with a mind map of the book ‘Journal to the Self: Twenty-Two Paths to Personal Growth‘. Journaling is perhaps the most effective and direct way to get a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you. By putting your thoughts in writing, you trigger some unique mental processes that often lead to invaluable new insights. In the book Journal to the Self, Kathleen Adams presents many tools that make the process of journaling much easier and enjoyable, presenting plenty of choices to make journaling work for you. Regardless of your writing style (or even if you see yourself as someone who doesn’t enjoy writing at all), you’ll find tips to make your self-discovery journey more effective and enjoyable. Journaling Tools The Journaling Toolbox is the meat of Journal to the Self. Springboards: These are ready-made phrases that answer the question "What should I write about?". Now to the Full Book
Stages of Learning to Say "No" Your rating: None Average: 4 (1 vote) One of the most important skills we can learn that will help us manage and fulfill our priorities is to say "No." Once we get there, it becomes easier and easier, but initially it can be extremely awkward and unpopular with others. Knowing the stages we’ll go through can help us realize that what’s happening is natural and that its not just that we can’t seem to do it. Stage 1: Identifying Opportunities In this initial stage we have identified our need to learn to say "No" and have made it a goal. Stage 2: Backing Up This next stage of learning and practicing saying "No" is the most difficult. Stage 3: Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time Within this stage, we have arrived at a place where we are able to say no at the right time: immediately. Author's Bio: Donna Birk is a writer, trainer, coach, and Licensed Social Worker.
101 Short Stories that Will Leave You Smiling, Crying and Thinking post written by: Marc Chernoff Email Since its inception eighteen months ago, our sister site Makes Me Think (MMT) has truly evolved into a remarkable online community. Every day, users share their thought-provoking life stories and vote on stories that other users have shared. Some are happy, some are sad, and others twist your emotions, pulling them in several directions at once. As stated on the MMT About page, sometimes the most random everyday encounters force us to stop and rethink the truths and perceptions we have ingrained in our minds. I believe the 101 stories listed below perfectly fulfill that description. What do you think?
Reading Strategies - Learning Skills from MindTools Reading Efficiently by Reading Intelligently Get the most from your reading. © iStockphoto/mammamaart Whether they're project documents, trade journals, blogs, business books or ebooks, most of us read regularly as part of our jobs, and to develop our skills and knowledge. But do you ever read what should be a useful document, yet fail to gain any helpful information from it? In this article, we're looking at strategies that will help you read more effectively. Think About What You Want to Know Before you start reading anything, ask yourself why you're reading it. Once you know your purpose, you can examine the resource to see whether it's going to help you. For example, with a book, an easy way of doing this is to look at the introduction and the chapter headings. Ask yourself whether the resource meets your needs, and try to work out if it will give you the right amount of knowledge. Know How Deeply to Study the Material Read Actively Tip: Know How to Study Different Types of Material Tip 1:
The Power of Saying, "No" Your rating: None Average: 4.7 (6 votes) ======================= "No" is such a simple word.... ======================= only two letters. Yet saying "No" out loud is harder for most people than saying, "I'll be glad to..." (eleven letters)or "When do you need me to..." Most of us said, "No!" Many of us grow up to be people pleasers. ======================= The unassertive "No" ======================= is accompanied by weak excuses and rationalizations. You might even make up an excuse to support your "No." ======================= The aggressive "No" ======================= is done with contempt. Sometimes the aggressive "No" includes an attack on the person making the request. ======================= The assertive "No" ======================= is simple and direct. ======================= Strategies to make the assertive "No" easier ======================= 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Make it a project to say, "No," to something every day.
29 Semi-Productive Things I Do Online When I’m Trying to Avoid Real Work You don’t always have to work hard to be productive. Productivity can simply be the side effect of doing the right things. So here’s a list of 29 semi-productive things I do online when my mind is set on avoiding ‘real work.’ Check delicious popular tags like ‘useful,’ ‘tutorials,’ ‘tips,’ ‘howto,’ ‘advice,’ ‘entrepreneurship,’ etc. for interesting, educational articles to read.Watch one of the thousands of educational videos streaming at TED.com, Academic Earth and Teacher Tube.Read an online book list and find a new book to grab next time I’m at the library. Here’s another list. And another. Oh, and ever since I bought my new (super sexy) Apple iPad , I’ve been enjoying all of these sites on the go and catching looks from almost everyone who passes me while I browse. So what kind of semi-productive things do you do online in your off-time? Photo by: Colorblind Picaso Party Casino Related 30 Life-Enhancing Things You Can Do in 30 Minutes or Less April 19, 2012 In "Happiness" October 4, 2010
120 Ways to Boost Your Brain Power Here are 120 things you can do starting today to help you think faster, improve memory, comprehend information better and unleash your brain’s full potential. Solve puzzles and brainteasers.Cultivate ambidexterity. Use your non-dominant hand to brush your teeth, comb your hair or use the mouse. Write with both hands simultaneously. Switch hands for knife and fork.Embrace ambiguity. Readers’ Contributions Dance! Contribute your own tip! There are many, many ways to keep our brains sharp. How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs