7 Essentials For A Happy And Fulfilling Career

I wanted to share with you an article I read on Forbes the other day from their contributor, Kathy Caprino titled 7 Essentials For a Happy And Fulfilling Career

We all are looking for careers that will make us both happy and be fulfilling at the same time. Kathy takes a good approach at looking at these 7 Must-Haves in-order to be fulfilled professionally. 

1. Strong boundaries
The single most important thing we need in life if we’re to be happy is healthy boundaries. Boundaries are the invisible barriers between you and your outside systems, and they regulate the flow of input and information between you and the outside world. When your boundaries are overly diffuse, you’re “enmeshed” with others – unable to discern where you end and others begin. When your boundaries are rigid and impermeable, you’re “disengaged” – lacking healthy and appropriate connection with others or your own life. The key is find balance – to be healthily engaged with others but solid enough in your own skin, with your own thoughts, beliefs and self-worth that you can navigate through life knowing who you are and what you want, and advocating effectively for that without it being a constant struggle. The best way to determine if your boundaries are healthy is to think about your life and career ask yourself, “Am I living someone else’s definition of life and success, or my own?”

2. A healthy money relationship
You can’t be happy in your work if you let money rule you. It’s truly that simple. Money can be viewed as an energy form, and when you give up all your power to it, it will suck you dry. If on the other hand, you can recognize money for what it is, and focus instead on what you’re meant to be doing in this world and how valuable you are, doors will open and great new possibilities will emerge. As the noted scholar Joseph Campbell shared, “Money is congealed energy and releasing it releases life possibilities. Money experienced as life energy is indeed a meditation, and letting it flow out instead of hoarding it is a mode of participation in the life of others.” (For more, see Joseph Campbell’s Reflections on the Art of Living.)

One way to get your focus on the right direction is to ask yourself, “What would I be doing if I were absolutely indifferent to money?” I certainly know that most of my readers are not indifferent to money (nor am I), but asking this question helps you focus – even for a second – on how you want to be living your life and serving others and the world, rather than “what’s the thing that will make the most money?” I’ve found in my 30-year career that the decisions I’ve made that were based solely on money are those I regret the most.

3. A focus on cultivating happiness
In my Forbes interview with positive psychologist Shawn Achor, I learned of his powerful research that validates what I’ve always suspected was true – the greater your access to inner happiness (regardless of what’s going on outside or around you), the greater your experience of success throughout your life. Shawn’s research supports this – finding new ways to access happiness on a continual basis generates more success in our lives. Success does not breed happiness – it’s the other way around.

4. Courage to move away from what’s draining you
It takes courage to say “enough of this!” when “this” is something your ego, fears and hopes are tied up in. People are deathly afraid of making change when they’ve been at a direction long enough that they’ve become overly-attached to the outcome and what it should look like. Some might say, “Just one more year, and something’s got to break!” or “This feels so wrong, but I’ve invested money in this – I can’t change it now.” The problem is, no matter how much you visualize the wrong direction becoming better, wrong is still wrong. If you’re engaged in work that drains, disappoints, and demoralizes you, it’s wrong for you.

5. Gratitude and a vision of what you love
The people I’ve met who have the most rewarding careers are individuals who have developed a habit of experiencing gratitude on a daily basis. Gratitude is a powerful indicator, too, of what you love and want to create more of in your life. The more you take time to acknowledge with appreciation and thanks what you love about your life (even if, in this moment, it’s only a sliver of your full life experience), the more you’ll be able to expand those things that bring you joy. If you don’t ever stop to feel or express gratitude for what is going right in your life and what you relish, you’ll become blind to the new and improved opportunities that are waiting in the wings.

6. Willingness to get in the cage with your fears
Experiencing happiness throughout your life requires flexibility, openness and adaptability. Very few people in this world are happy being and doing the exact same thing every day of their lives. We age, we develop, and we grow. We long to stretch up, grab new experiences, spread our wings and bump against new challenges, and be more of what we love to be. All of that requires walking through fear. The more comfortable you become getting in the cage with your fears and taking them on, the more satisfying your life and career will be.

7. A support circle that empowers you
Finally, the one thing that most people forget about when they’re in the midst of their early career-building is other people. In our 20s and 30s, many of us are intensively self- focused, dedicating massive amounts of time and energy to gaining more responsibility, expanding our skills, and rising to the top. We fail to see that building positive relationships with supportive, empowering, enlivening people (and mentoring those who are emerging) is the best career strategy we can devise. Cultivating a powerful support circle and community now can be the difference between being stuck for years in a miserable situation and having new doors fly open just when you need them to.

These 7 pillars of a successful and happy career won’t just build themselves, but can be readily cultivated and developed with commitment and focus.

Which of these 7 need your attention most today?

To read more of Kathy's articles, go to http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/

Fears - How do you Deal with it?

We all know it. The ugly monster, the one that prevents us from being really us and doing what is expected of us. FEAR.

So what are your fears keeping you from doing? Fear crosses all boundaries of race, culture, religion and generation. We all feel fear. So why do some people appear to be fearless, doing battle with enemies that others cower before? Because they recognize that the greatest enemy they face is the fear itself. The first battle every hero faces is against fear and its weapons of destruction.

So how should we deal with fear? Avoiding it never really makes it go away; we either become paralyzed or defeated. Frantically searching for a quick fix usually just results in unfocused and wasted effort. 

The only way to deal with fear is to face it and overcome it. Dale Carnegie explained it this way: “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

Here are some actions you can take to face and overcome fear:

Discover the foundation of fear. The fact is that most fear is not based on fact. Much of what we fear is based on a feeling. According to an old saying, “Fear and worry are interest paid in advance on something you may never own.” When you acknowledge that the majority of fear is unfounded, you can begin to release yourself from its power. American general George Patton understood this. He said, “I learned very early in life not to take counsel of my fears.”

Admit your fears. One of our biggest misconceptions is that courage equals a lack of fear. In actuality, the opposite is true. Mark Twain explained, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.” By admitting our fear, we can then challenge its accuracy. That’s how General Patton dealt with it: “The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision,” he said. “That’s the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all of your fears and go ahead!”

Accept the frailty and brevity of life. Sometimes our greatest fears are founded on reality. For example, we are all going to die sometime. There’s no denying that. Likewise, life will often be hard and painful. Those things are completely out of our control. By accepting their reality, we can then focus on the things we actually can control. I love what Gertrude Stein wrote about fear: “Considering how dangerous everything is, nothing is really frightening.”

Accept fear as the price of progress. “As long as I continue to push out into the world,” said Susan Jeffers, “as long as I continue to stretch my capabilities, as long as I continue to take risks in making my dreams come true, I am going to experience fear.” To do anything of value, we have to take risks. And with risk comes fear. If we accept it as the price of progress, then we can take appropriate risks that yield great reward.

Develop a burning desire that overcomes fear. Sometimes the best way to fight fear is to focus on our reason for confronting it. Is it bigger than the fear? The firefighter runs into the burning building not because he’s fearless, but because he has a calling that is more important than the fear. The person afraid of flying decides to confront it not because the fear has vanished, but because an encounter with a new grandchild awaits at the end of the flight.

Focus on what you can control. We cannot control the length of our lives; we can’t control many of the circumstances that we face. Accepting those facts allows us to focus on what we can control. Like American basketball coach John Wooden said, “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” As a leader, I often have to deal with the wrong attitudes and actions of the people who follow me. So a long time ago, I decided that…

I can control my attitude, but not others’ actions.

I can control my calendar, but not others’ circumstances.

And it’s not what happens to me, but what happens in me.

Focus on today. Fear tries to make us look at all of our problems at once: those from yesterday, today, and tomorrow. To be courageous, you have to focus only on today. Why? Because it’s the only thing you have any control over. I love what a wise man once said about an ocean liner: “If an ocean liner could think and feel, it would never leave its dock; it would be afraid of the thousands of huge waves it would encounter. It would fear all of its dangers at once, even though it had to meet them only one wave at a time.” By focusing only on what’s right in front of us, we can manage tremendous risk because we know we’ll only have to deal with it one wave at a time.

Put some wins under your belt. Just like fear tends to breed more fear, courage leads to more courage. According to Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” The more we face our fears, the more capable we begin to feel, and the more fears we are willing to face.

Do it now. Often, all it takes to conquer a fear is to change our focus and try some of the above suggestions. As we realize what’s true and focus on what we can control, the fear naturally fades and weakens. But there are other times, when no amount of thinking can overcome the fear. In fact, the more we think in those situations, the more fearful we become. Then, the only solution is action. As W. Clement Stone said, “When thinking won’t cure fear, action will.”

It is the wise person who accepts that fear is a very real part of life, and it must be faced and overcome with courage. By taking action in the face of fear, you can achieve results and become more courageous. Another American president, Harry S. Truman, said it this way: “The worst danger we face is the danger of being paralyzed by doubts and fears. This danger is brought on by those who abandon faith and sneer at hope. It is brought on by those who spread cynicism and distrust and try to blind us to our great chance to do good for all mankind.”

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Personal Finance

So today, I wanted to talk about Personal Finance. I read an article the other day on how people define financial well-being. Most people said that its not about security and freedom - both now and in the future. And those who reported higher levels of financial well being had these habits in common:

They live within their means. First, these consumers feel they have control over their day-to-day and month-to-month finances. They are able to cover their expenses and pay their bills on time, and generally they do not worry about having enough money to get by. This is not just about having money, they told us, it is about managing it better. 

They have a financial cushion. Second, these consumers feel they have the capacity to absorb a financial shock. Whether they get in a car accident or are temporarily laid off from a job, they have a safety net such as savings, insurance, or family to avoid severe financial turmoil. 

They have a plan. Consumers with a higher sense of financial well-being see themselves as on track to meet their financial goals. Whether they have a formal financial plan or not, they are actively working toward goals. Those goals may include saving to buy a car or home, paying off student loans, putting away money for retirement, or just having enough for emergencies. 

They have a sense of financial freedom. Finally, these consumers feel they have the financial freedom to make the choices that allow them to enjoy life, whatever that means to them. Whether that is taking a family vacation, going out to eat, or working less to spend more time with family, these consumers have the financial flexibility to do what they value and what makes them happy.

The main question we face is: How can we better help people achieve these goals and attain financial security and freedom? Right now, research shows that almost half of Americans describe themselves as struggling to pay their bills. 

So my question to you today is, what are you doing to secure your financial future?

Latest travel advice for tourists heading to Greece?

Greece has always been my dream vacation place. I have always wanted to go there but every time I think of going, its so expensive. I read the latest report from CNN on thoughts as to whether you should go or not. So for those thinking of Greece, here are a couple of things to think about. To read more, go to Travel Advice for Tourists to Greece.

"Greece's rejection of Europe's latest bailout offer has raised uncertainty for millions of vacationers planning to head there for their summer break.  But here's what we know at the moment:

Should I go?

On the downside, it's likely that a vacation in Greece will involve added inconvenience, particularly when it comes to financial transactions. 

 This could just mean waiting in line longer at an ATM.

But there are outside risks of visitors being stranded in the event of fuel shortages or logistical woes brought about by the ongoing crisis.

That needs to be weighed against the fact that many people are currently enjoying, and will continue to enjoy, peaceful, trouble-free vacations in Greece.

Greece needs tourism income more than ever now and many in the hospitality industry are working incredibly hard to ensure travelers enjoy their stay without a hitch.

In terms of value, there's probably never been a better time to visit in recent years.

Bookings are in decline and there are bargains to be had in resorts that are now far less busy than usual.

The crisis has dented the strength of the euro, meaning that non-eurozone travelers will enjoy cheaper prices.

These are likely to get cheaper still if Greece crashes out of the euro.

Should I bring cash?

The overwhelming advice appears to be yes, bring as much as you will need.

ATMs in many parts of the country are still working, but there have been accounts of money running dry in others.

Banks have remained shut in Greece for more than a week and limits placed on withdrawals by Greek customers.

There are no extra restrictions on foreign account holders, but an upsurge in demand has resulted in long lines at some ATMs and, in some cases, cash shortages.

For the most part, credit cards will continue to work, but with uncertainty hanging over the future of Greek banking, there could be problems.

Many experts are now advising tourists to bring cash to cover their entire trip.

In response, some insurers have increased their limits on the amount of cash they cover, so it's worth checking your policy.

Are tourism businesses making contingency plans?

Sophia Antoniadou, co-founder of Discover Greek Culture Tours, based in Athens, recently told CNN that travel operators did not foresee emergency scenarios and were confident the fiscal crisis would not seriously impact the travel industry -- at least not this summer.

That said, travelers may again want to consider taking out good insurance to cover themselves in the event of getting stranded.

Is there any danger that credit cards will no longer work?

With Greek banks in jeopardy, it's a real possibility.

Even if they continue to work, many smaller hotels and restaurants may switch to cash only due to the current money controls.

If Greece drops out of the euro, will places still accept euros?

Panagiotis Zarifis, a banking and investments executive based in Athens, says that in the "highly improbable event" that Greece returns to the drachma, the U.S. dollar and the euro will still be accepted.

"It's well known that these strong currencies are always preferred by businesses, in any country, should there be any economic insecurity."

Are there any safety issues? Any danger of unrest, increased crime?

Athens has witnessed several major outbreaks of unrest since its financial crisis began, but while there have been recent demonstrations, locals say any risk from turmoil is small.

"Greece is quiet and peaceful and the people are still as warm and hospitable as ever," Athens resident Georgina Tzevelekou told CNN last month.

"Of course, Greeks are worried about what may happen but that isn't something that will affect or harm the visitors in our country."

Tzevelekou points out that even when Athens or other mainland cities have been the focal point for protest, these have not spread to the prime vacation destinations on Greece's islands.

"The Greek people understand very well that tourists are helping Greece and our economy," she adds. "Furthermore, the Greek islands have always been peaceful and the atmosphere there has never been affected by what happens in the capital."

Will the ferries still be running? Is there any risk of getting stranded?

Many Greek vacations depend on the network of ferries that connect smaller islands to airport destinations.

So will these still run if the crisis reaches breaking point?

"There's no indication there would be such cancellations," says Stephanie Anastasiou, who heads up Ask2Travel Group, Yachts-sailing.com and the Entrada Central Reservation System.

"The most important thing to remember is that tourist businesses are privately-owned companies that have nothing to do with the government and the public sector.

"A business in Greece will not stop operating when there are customers to serve," she says. "Such businesses have proven to be fully operable even in more difficult times during these past crisis years."

Are there likely to be any power cuts or food shortages?

There have been reports of supplies of food staples and basic medicines running out in Athens and some popular tourist islands as importers struggle to pay their bills.

But others say shop shelves remain fully stocked.

Previously, hoteliers and officials have pledged resilience in the face of the crisis, saying that unpredictable fluctuations in supplies are unlikely to impact tourists.

"I run a five-star luxury hotel and I am not concerned about supplies," Theodore Agiostratitis, Managing Director of the upscale Margi Hotel in Athens, told CNN late last month.

"When it comes to this aspect, the tourism industry will be taken care of -- as usual.

"All tourism destinations are well prepared and equipped for the summer period. Tourism is very important to Greece.

"Even if the worst happens, it is going to affect the economy and operations after a number of months not from one day to the next."

Are prices likely to go up or down?

No one wants to find themselves on the wrong side of an exchange rate meltdown, suddenly finding prices surging midway through a vacation.

Doulis Carafil, CEO of private charter company Air Business International, says while Grexit might herald economic turbulence, foreign travelers will win out.

"Should Greece default, prices will drop even more and the tourist experience will only get better," he says.

"This is proven by changes that have taken place as we went through the worst of the crisis over the past few years. "

Given the situation, will Greek people be happy to see tourists?

"We Greeks are famous for our hospitality and we're proud of that," says Yorgos Geniatakis, general manager of the Minos Imperial Luxury Beach Resort in Crete. "Of course Greek people will be happy to see tourists.

"First and foremost because it's our culture dating back to ancient times and no political situation could affect that.

"Secondly, Greece depends on tourism, so tourists will be welcome."

Geniatakis says visitors shouldn't worry about packing extra euros, but should be worrying about packing media-driven anxieties.

"If tourists arrive positive they will leave positive," he adds. "It is the time to enjoy Greece."

Super Soul Sunday - Be Selfish

Super Soul Sunday Family!

Today, I want you to think about this quote, “Put yourself first and do the things that make you happy.”

Remember, You have to be selfish and be okay with being selfish. To do what you love to do, to be bodacious and lead as you dream of leading. To be selfish is to speak up, be heard and be seen. 

Selfish is important for women to learn because it is good for them, their health, their ability to lead and grow their wealth. So today,

                              Be Selfish

 Be...

S

Satisfy. Satisfy your desire to be more and reach for more. It is good for you. It is good for us.

E

Evolve.  Be forward thinking about your life and your career. Expand, search for bigger, even scarier, opportunities. Evolve: it is what selfish, happy people do. 

L 

Love. Love yourself fully, completely and with abandon. Fall in love with yourself every day. 

F

Face the fears.  Eliminate the fears of others. Be a fearless female warrior. Fight for you. Fight for you place, fight for your opportunities, fight for you undeniable right to be a fabulous female. 

I

Independence is yours. You are independent of your family, friends, coworkers, and lovers. What you think of yourself, what you want to for yourself, what you need for yourself is all YOUR decision.  You are liberated. 

S

Serve. Serve with honor. Serve others, give to others, and share with others without ever dishonoring yourself.  Never give so much that you sacrifice yourself. You deserve to honor yourself always. 

H

Hero. Be the heroine in your life. Be the women who overcomes the odds, the superhero. Be the one that masters her world, her life, her influence. 

Be Selfish.  

 So for this SUPER SOUL SUNDAY - 

1. Be confident about your value, your presence, and your influence
2. Own your message and your power.
3. Have the ability to deal with difficult people
4. Know you have influence and know how to use it.
5. Become skilled at changing your perspective so when you start to go down the self-sabotage path, you know how to get off quickly.
6. Be motivated to ask more, request more and expect more of others.
7. Be feisty, fearless, focused, fabulous, free, and fun.

Happy Super Soul Sunday!

Take 60 Seconds to Be Grateful

We all know what is going on around us, news, tragedies, deaths and it makes you cringe and avoid news and headlines.  What is interesting is that a lot of us - the lucky us - the ones who have a good job, health, and plenty of friends - perceive that they, too, have it bad.

You know if you are someone who can pay your rent, feed your family, do your job and still be healthy enough to exercise, yes, You!

Instead of being stressed out that your boss is a jerk, your salary too low, your deadlines too short, blah, blah, blah...

Try stopping for a minute at the end of this article and just being grateful.

I'm not trying to get all touchy feely on you, but let's face it. You're not running for your life. Your home wasn't just destroyed. All that and more happened to many people last week.

Work is nothing. It is not life-threatening. Even your worst day at work is better than any day as a refugee.

And Yes, we know we have bad days and we have a right to be dissatisfied. We can have goals and aspirations, sure, but all the while we are pursuing them we should also be eternally grateful for the blessings we have enjoyed.

As I previously shared on my post  Blessings and Thankful Jar, I want you not to be one of those people who takes blessings for granted. I hope you feel the same way,  and give yourself a 60 Seconds to Be Grateful.

How can you get started on your journey to creating a more positive life?

Am sharing with you a post from LinkedIn that I found really refreshing How to Create More Positive Life. This is because we live in a world where positivity is the only way we can be able to succeed. 

1. You can learn to be more positive by adopting new habits

You are probably a positive person already. If you are, you can still create a more positive life. If you struggle with being positive, take courage because you are not alone. Most people struggle with being positive, particularly when going through difficulties. The good news is that you can learn to be more positive by adopting new habits like the habit of adding more positive words to your vocabulary; by practicing this habit regularly, you will enhance your way of thinking and speaking. Adopting and practicing good and new habits will benefit your overall wellness too.

Keep in mind that making a positive change in your life is not an overnight process. It takes time, effort, and patience. Creating a more positive life is a habit that you can adopt for the rest of your life. It is totally worth it. There is always room for improvement in everyone's life, and the beauty about life is that it is always teaching you new things that you can learn from. You can learn from the good - and the not so good - to continually add more value and meaning to your life.

2. Use more positive words when you talk to yourself and to othersHere are some helpful ones: Abundant, accomplished, active, admirable, amazing, appreciate, attentive, authentic, aware, beautiful, best, blessed, bright, brilliant, capable, competent, confident, considerate, courageous, daring, delightful, determined, diligent, discerning, dynamic, eager, efficient, enhancing, engaging, enthusiastic, excellent, exceptional, exciting, fabulous, fascinating, flourishing, fortunate, friendly, fulfilled, fun, generous, genuine, gifted, good, great, happy, healthy, helpful, honest, ideal, impressive, inspired, intelligent, inviting, kind, lively, loving, marvelous, motivated, nice, nurturing, optimistic, outstanding, persevering, positive, powerful, productive, prosperous, qualified, radiant, reasonable, refreshing, reliable, remarkable, resourceful, respected, rewarding, sensational, sharing, smart, spiritual, strong, successful, talented, thankful, thriving, trusting, truthful, unique, valuable, vibrant, wealthy, well, wise, wonderful, worthy, zest.

3. Pay close attention to your thoughts, words, and actions
If you have less positive thoughts, do not be discouraged. Research has shown that only 30% to 20% of the thoughts a person has in a day are meaningful and positive. The rest, 70% to 80% are nonsense and negative thoughts. What this translates to is that almost every person in the world has to make an effort to become positive if they desire so. Therefore, positive people are mostly made; and some other positive people are naturally born with a disposition to be positive.

When you pay attention to the things you think, the words you say, and the actions you take, you become more aware of who you are; and when you become more aware of who you are, you have greater chances to make positive changes in your life. It all depends on your willingness to do so. If you find that what you think, say, and do are not harmoniously aligned with who you think you are, then you have the opportunity to make things change. Believe that you are bright and smart to do it.

4. Evaluate your personal and professional relationships
Identify the people in your life who bring the best out of you and build you up, and the people who encourage you and support you. Also, identify the people who bring you down, and the people who constantly stress you and frustrate you. You need to establish healthy boundaries in your life. You may need to get closer with certain people - even create new relationships - and distance from others to create a more positive life. Your life will flourish when you start working on this area.
"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world."
Robin WilliamsYou will be surprised to find out that a negative environment and certain people in your life can highly contribute to making you feel negative. It may not be you all the time, and you may not know until you reflect on it.

5. Pay attention to what you watch, listen to, and read.
It is important that you are selective about what you watch on TV, what you listen to on the radio, and what you read because these things can also highly influence your life for good, or for bad. You may consciously choose to watch movies that contain a lot of positive or negative messages. You may not realize that movies that contain negative messages will stick more to you than movies with positive messages. Be aware of this and make an effort to do a quick online search before you decide what movies you will watch. You will thank yourself for this later.

The same is true for shows and songs that you listen to on the radio. You may like a song simply because of its rhythm, and not even pay attention to its lyrics. Many times, the lyrics are not good. Take inventory of what you feed your mind with, and make changes as you consider necessary to help you create a more positive life.

Give yourself permission to create a more positive life, do not wait around for people to give you their approval.

Smile more often, exercise, eat healthy, sleep enough, be generous, ask for help, and listen more. Be kind to yourself and believe that you will succeed. 

What changes have helped you create a more positive life?, Why do you think being positive is important?. Please share in the comments section below.