Sometimes the greatest freedom comes from forgiving someone. ~ Jay Wren When I hold onto grudges, I essentially allow the past to control my peace of mind. Reliving anger leads to anxiety, depression, and strained relationships. Forgiveness, on the other hand, is a conscious decision I make to release the clutter of negative emotions and…… Continue reading The Liberating Power of Forgiving Someone
Category: The Power of a Positive Mind
Emotional Intelligence: 12 Steps to Empowering Your Mind
Emotional Intelligence: Learning how to manage emotions is part of growing up. However, becoming aware that our feelings are making us dumber is not always easy. How do successful people deal with emotions to make better decisions? Developing Emotional Intelligence Although it is normal to have emotional highs and lows, successful people separate their emotions…… Continue reading Emotional Intelligence: 12 Steps to Empowering Your Mind
The Power of Choosing what to Think About
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another” is a quote by psychologist and philosopher William James (1842-1910). The Process of Choosing One Thought Over Another Choosing one thought over another is not always so simple as thinking about something else. Sometimes, I have to relax with mindful breathing.…… Continue reading The Power of Choosing what to Think About
Walk Outside and Clear Your Mind
Walk Outside and Clear Your Mind If I stay alone in my office or alone in my home, I begin to believe my own thinking without question. The mind is a dangerous place to go alone. I heard a person say one time that people should never go into their mind alone. “They do drive-by shootings…… Continue reading Walk Outside and Clear Your Mind
The Echo Chamber Effect: Why We Believe What We Want to Believe
The Echo Chamber Effect is a phenomenon where people are exposed only to information and opinions that reinforce their existing beliefs. This phenomenon happens because individuals tend to seek out and surround themselves with like-minded people and sources of information, creating a “chamber” where dissenting views are rarely encountered. As a result, their beliefs are…… Continue reading The Echo Chamber Effect: Why We Believe What We Want to Believe
How Locked-In Beliefs Close Our Minds to Opportunities for a Better Life
Intelligence, Common Sense, and Locked-In Beliefs: Understanding the Difference In our daily lives, we often hear the terms “intelligence” and “common sense” used interchangeably. However, these two concepts, while related, are distinct in several important ways. Understanding the difference between them can help us appreciate the unique contributions each makes to our decision-making and problem-solving…… Continue reading How Locked-In Beliefs Close Our Minds to Opportunities for a Better Life
“What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” -Mark Twain
Raging over Politics is Not Healthy
If you are immersed in following politics on social media, radio talks shows, and cable news and you are feeling angry all the time, stop following politics on social media, radio talk shows, and cable news, unless, of course, you enjoy feeling angry. ~ Jay Wren A constant stream of angry political content is pointless.…… Continue reading Raging over Politics is Not Healthy
The Power of Patience
The Power of Patience: Why Waiting Until You’re Calm Can Transform Disagreements into Better Relationships. Disagreements are an inevitable part of life. Whether it’s a minor misunderstanding with a friend or a significant conflict at work, how we handle these moments can significantly impact our relationships and personal well-being? One of the most effective strategies…… Continue reading The Power of Patience
Tell Your Brain Good Things About Yourself and Your Life
Our brains filter information in a way that confirms our beliefs, whether those beliefs are positive or negative. By consciously shifting our mindset to focus on positive outcomes, we can start to see more of the good things happening around us. ~ Jay Wren Reading, hearing, or seeing things that confirm our beliefs makes us…… Continue reading Tell Your Brain Good Things About Yourself and Your Life
The Doorway Effect: An Opportunity to Change the Way We Think and Feel
As we walk through every door we have an opportunity to change the way we see the world. Jay Wren Have you ever walked into a room only to forget why you went there in the first place? This common experience is known as the “doorway effect,” a fascinating psychological phenomenon that highlights the quirks…… Continue reading The Doorway Effect: An Opportunity to Change the Way We Think and Feel
The Power of Taking a Break to Breathe
The Power of Breathing: Techniques for a Healthier Life Breathing is something we do every moment of our lives, often without giving it much thought. Yet, the way we breathe can have a profound impact on our physical and mental well-being. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of proper breathing techniques and how…… Continue reading The Power of Taking a Break to Breathe
Why Do We Hang On to Misinformation?
“It’s easier to fool people than it is to convince them they’ve been fooled.” – Mark Twain The persistence of misinformation in our society can be attributed to a variety of psychological and social factors. People often cling to misinformation because it aligns with their pre-existing beliefs or social identity, a phenomenon known as confirmation…… Continue reading Why Do We Hang On to Misinformation?
The Power of Emotional Autonomy
The power of emotional autonomy: Never give anyone the power to control how you feel or what you think. ~ Jay Wren Emotional autonomy is a vital aspect of personal development and well-being. It refers to the ability to maintain control over one’s own emotional state, rather than allowing external circumstances or the actions of…… Continue reading The Power of Emotional Autonomy
The Quality of Your Thoughts
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” Marcus Aurelius. How do you direct your mind for better thoughts? A gratitude list is a good place to start. Photo by Mona Eendra on Unsplash
Positive Coaching
“If you’re growing a garden, you need to pull out the weeds, but flowers will die if all you do is pick weeds. They need sunshine and water. People are the same.” From “The Score Takes Care of Itself” by Bill Walsh on the importance of Positive Coaching Photo by Jean Lucas Camilo on Unsplash
Don’t Worry About What Other People Think
“You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt I don’t worry about what other people think. I can’t control what people carry around in their minds. The mental obsession over what other people think doesn’t improve how people see me. Additionally, I…… Continue reading Don’t Worry About What Other People Think
Create a New Day
“Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life.” Mark Twain I decide every day what kind of day I am going to have. I can either dread it or stay in the present movement and only think about things as they happen. Depending on what was going on the…… Continue reading Create a New Day
Decide to Be in a Good Mood
The best way to change your life today is to decide to be in a good mood. Jay Wren Photo by J Lee on Unsplash
Happiness Comes from How I Respond to How People Treat Me
Everyone on the planet has people who have been unkind to them. Happiness comes from how I respond to how people treat me. Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
Regret Nothing
Life is too short to worry about little things. Have fun. Regret nothing.
Blessings
It is your responsibility to stop thinking negative thoughts about yourself before they become fixed in your mind as beliefs. Smile. Say something nice about yourself. Make a list of your blessings. Smile There are many things that you can do to calm your jitters. Perhaps the most overlooked way is simply to smile. People…… Continue reading Blessings
Why Intelligent People Say Stupid Things on the Internet
Wouldn’t it be great if you could make everyone on the Internet either agree with you or shut the heck up? You betcha. I’ve tried. But they don’t shut up. They just come back and post more stuff to tick you off. I can either embrace them or avoid them. Emotions and Critical Thinking Beliefs…… Continue reading Why Intelligent People Say Stupid Things on the Internet
Uniquely Great
Great leaders have things in common. They also have different ways to find their individual greatness. Here are eight ways you can find your own individual greatness. Find the beat of your own drum and march to it. It is so easy for me to get distracted and off course when I look at what…… Continue reading Uniquely Great
Self Wins
Changing my attitude creates self-wins. Sometimes I believe that I need to negotiate better conditions at work. A good place to start those negotiations is with that voice between my ears. Jay Wren Photo by Luke Chesser on Unsplash
Gratitude
There’s no better time than right now to feel grateful. ~Jay Wren Photo by NEOM on Unsplash
10 Ways Winners Become Winners
All those things I learned as a child about healthy living are by coincidence the same things that adults do to become winners. ~ Jay Wren 10 Ways Winners Become Winners There are countless ways to become a winner. Here are ten things I see winners doing that help me. Winners own their mistakes. They…… Continue reading 10 Ways Winners Become Winners
Five Steps for Reducing Stress and Increasing Happiness
Six steps to reducing stress and increasing happiness. Live in the Present Moment. Living in the present moment means being fully aware of what is happening right now, without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It is a state of mind that can bring many benefits, such as: Reducing stress and anxiety…… Continue reading Five Steps for Reducing Stress and Increasing Happiness
Why People Believe Political Lies
Why People Believe Political Lies Politics is a domain where lying seems to be rampant and pervasive. From false claims about one’s opponents, to exaggerated promises about one’s policies, to outright denial of facts and evidence, political lies are everywhere. But why do people believe them? What makes us susceptible to deception by those who…… Continue reading Why People Believe Political Lies
The Power of Information
The Power of Information If your friends, social media, and daily news make you fearful, hateful, and angry, you need better sources of information. Spend time with people, social media, and daily news that give you hope, joy, and solutions that lead to success in your life. ~ Jay Wren Photo by Luke Chesser on Unsplash
What Are You Most Worried About?
What are you most worried about for the future? This is a question that many people ask themselves, especially in times of uncertainty and change. Some of the common worries that people have are related to their health, their finances, their relationships, their environment, and their purpose. These worries can cause stress, anxiety, and depression…… Continue reading What Are You Most Worried About?
How the Best Leaders Manage in a Crisis
Difficult managers use crisis as a management tool. Everything is serious. Everything is urgent. They shake everybody up. https://www.jaywren.com/the-power-and-failings-of-leadership/ https://www.jaywren.com/leadership-so-when-does-the-crisis-start/
Life Challenges
Life’s challenges create pressure. I cannot always eliminate these challenges, but I can be smart about how I respond to them. Action I feel stressed when I put things off. To overcome procrastination, I simply agree to do one small thing. A common example is to go for a walk, I lace up my shoes.…… Continue reading Life Challenges
The Personal Benefits of Helping Others
Helping Others is Rewarding Some of the best things I have done for myself involved helping other people. Giving my time to help other people in turn benefited me mentally and emotionally. Helping other people increased my self-esteem as a person of value. I had activities to plan and anticipate. I got to know as many…… Continue reading The Personal Benefits of Helping Others
Take Breaks
Take breaks: I can become so absorbed in my work that I don’t realize that I am too tired to be effective. However, not stopping to rest is counterproductive. When I am pushing myself mentally and physically, I may complete less work. Moreover, I may deal with situations poorly. Not taking breaks can lead to…… Continue reading Take Breaks
Happiness and Joy: Steps for Finding Happiness Now
Don’t Wait for Success to Find Happiness. Happiness and Joy don’t happen in the past or the future. Everything can only exist here and now. Becoming happy and finding joy today gives us energy and brings joy to our lives. The past and the future are just thoughts. They are only as real as we…… Continue reading Happiness and Joy: Steps for Finding Happiness Now
Toxic Personalities: A Poison in the Workplace
Toxic personalities create stress that spreads throughout an organization. What are the skills that you can develop to survive and even change toxic people? Know What You Can Control If you have the authority to act on the people with toxic personalities, it is your responsibility to change the behavior of these people or remove…… Continue reading Toxic Personalities: A Poison in the Workplace
Getting Discovered: How Powerful People Find Great Jobs
Getting Discovered: You have all the skills, the talent, intelligence, charisma, and emotional intelligence for success. But what does it matter if no one knows? Spread the Word Retailers, manufacturers, and service providers have resources for putting their name out there. They run ads in print, radio, television, social media, and billboards. Furthermore, they sponsor…… Continue reading Getting Discovered: How Powerful People Find Great Jobs
Habits: Giving Up the Behavior that Weakens Our Careers
Habits: The things we don’t do are as important as the things we do to be a winner in the workplace. Here are eight things to avoid as you work to build a successful career and become a leader among your peers. Often, it’s the things that we don’t do that count the most. ~…… Continue reading Habits: Giving Up the Behavior that Weakens Our Careers
Fate and Luck: Playing Comes Before Winning
Fate and Luck: Luck comes to those who act. Fate decides who wins. But acting often and acting smarter increases our odds of turning fate in our favor. In life or in cards, we can’t win without playing. ~ www.jaywren.com Fate and Luck I have had good luck and bad luck. But without work, I…… Continue reading Fate and Luck: Playing Comes Before Winning
Network Event Anxiety: Tools and Skills for Success
Network Event Anxiety: becoming effective at networking events may require that you step outside of your comfort zone. Meeting new people, especially for introverts is never easy. At times, extroverts feel awkward when networking. Feeling uncertain in new situations is common, perhaps even normal. Preparation for Overcoming Network Event Anxiety Talking with strangers is easy…… Continue reading Network Event Anxiety: Tools and Skills for Success
Anger Prevention: How Small Steps Can Help You Decompress
Anger Prevention: Anger is a normal feeling when we have experiences that threaten our beliefs or possessions. We can learn skills that give us a choice in the way we respond to that feeling. Anger Prevention: Different Triggers for Different People We all have individual triggers. I say individual triggers, because different things create different…… Continue reading Anger Prevention: How Small Steps Can Help You Decompress
Stress Reduction for a Clear and Productive Mind
Stress reduction: Life’s challenges create pressure. I can’t always eliminate these challenges, but I can reduce the pressure by being smart about how I respond to them. Action I feel stress when I put things off. To overcome procrastination, I simply agree to do one small thing. A common example is to go for a…… Continue reading Stress Reduction for a Clear and Productive Mind
Poise: Steps to Confidence and Increasing Your Potential
Poise is not always automatic. Nearly everyone feels uncertain and lacks poise from time-to-time. How do successful people restore their confidence and maintain their poise in challenging situations? Poise starts between our ears and spreads through our heart and our gut and then outward through our face and our gestures. ~ www.jaywren.com Situations that Weaken…… Continue reading Poise: Steps to Confidence and Increasing Your Potential
Bias Dictates the Thoughts that Govern Us
Bias dictates to our reason and wisdom, but is it always bad? What role does it play in decision-making and in governing our actions? Knowing that we have bias and learning how to manage our bias empowers us to act intelligently to the world in which we live. The biggest challenge is managing our bias…… Continue reading Bias Dictates the Thoughts that Govern Us
How to Think Clearly
People do many ways to think clearly. Here are five of them. Make lists. For me, having a list of things to do helps me clear my mind. Working with my list, I can think of one thing at a time. I can focus on what I am doing. Write things out. When I am worrying…… Continue reading How to Think Clearly
Workplace Relationships: Accept, Change, or End
Workplace Relationships: Accept, Change, or End (A.C.E.) Sometimes, working with other people becomes difficult. Carrying the problems in my head is stressful. Understanding that I do have options helps me stop worrying and start working on solutions. In dealing with relationship problems, in fact, in dealing with most problems, I can ask myself three questions. Should I accept the…… Continue reading Workplace Relationships: Accept, Change, or End