#93 put into practice three-seven habits for success

Aye! Today was a crazy day at my work my friends. The kiddos were all out of sorts today. It’s always something. Since it was a slightful stressful day at work, I am pulling todays get happy tidbit from the “Put your career on a happy track” chapter. We’ve all heard of the 7 habits of highly effective people, which I will list a little bit further down. It is suggested that we establish three new habits and then expand to seven. The following habits are listed in the book:

• learn to manage your time and not waste it
• be curious and have a desire to always be learning
• practice self-discipline because your motivation and work ethic depend on it
• always follow through and complete what you start
• be of service to others
• do the right thing, show your integrity
• keep your word

And the 7 habits of highly effective people per Stephen Covey?:

• be proactive
• begin with the end in mind
• put first things first
• think win/win
• seek first to understand, then be understood
• synergize
• sharpen the saw

Here are my habits (as of 6:28 pm February 3rd, 2011)

• get work done when it needs to be done (no procrastination)
• be purposeful with my words and actions
• be nicer than necessary
• focus on small positives and not the big negatives of situations

Make your list and post it somewhere (I’m about to write mine in my many journals and planners!)

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. “

~Albert Einstein

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#7 praise yourself

I like to often take the time to praise my friends, family, collegaues, and students. I feel that when someone does something awesome or unexpected, they should recieve the recognition. But, as the author said, I am not one to praise myself. However, here it goes, in a list of ten (because lists are good in 10’s)

1. I am praising myself for working two jobs in college, while maintaining a 3.76 average GPA and graduating with high honors. 🙂
2. As a result of working two jobs, I praise myself for paying for SVC on my own.
3. My best buy card is paid off (from my laptop purchase last year)
4. I usually go to mass every week
5. I created my writing unit plan, which I am pumped about
6. I organized the most recent proficiency data into an excel sheet for all the students in special ed. at school
7. I have big ambitions (hello to my own charter school…one day)
8. Getting accepted by Teach for America is a pretty big deal
9. Accepting the position and remaining committed to it is pretty awesome too
10. Overcoming the fear of cooking at the age of 24 (at last!)

Let me tell, it’s nice to praise yourself and think about things you do daily, weekly, monthly, whenever that others may not appreciate or that you yourself don’t appreciate. Not bragging- just praising yourself…like an unsung hero if you will. So make your list of ten praise-worthy things about you and be happy! Next time you do something awesome, recognize yourself…even if no one else does! 🙂

It’s almost 2011 and that means its time for New Year Resolutions… generally I think it is safe to say that 1 in 3 people will say eating healthy and/or going to the gym will be a resolution. So I am going to think outside that realm and think you should too! I’ll be sure to post my 2-3 resolutions on here. Until next…..

“For everything you have missed, you have gained something else,  and for everything you gain, you lose something else.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

#6 cultivate hope when disaster hits

The disaster above is a picture from the earthquake from last year in Haiti

Hope being cultivated by Red Cross volunteers 🙂

Hope is defined as: the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best (noun) or to believe, desire, or trust (verb). We have all lived through some sort of disaster or tough situation. When a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina or the oil spill or the earthquake in Haiti occurs, the better parts of humanity shine through. People band together and create hope: hope that there are more survivors than thought, hope that they can make a difference. With these disasters, hope is cultivated through volunteers, donations, and prayers.

Thankfully, such disasters are not as prevelant as our own personal disasters are. A lot of times it is easy simply to give up and cave in to the feelings of despair, anger, and frustration. However, we all know that those feelings aren’t beneficial and do not alleviate the situation. In these situations, it is easy to think “why me” and/or “great something else goes wrong in my life”- I know I have done that… but it’s best to hope for the best of the situation… Maybe that minor car accident can lead to you getting a new paint job on your car- or overdrawing your bank account will allow you to really assess where you are spending your money! Like the age old mantra “everything happens for a reason”- even though that is sometimes annoying to think or have other people tell you, I truly think it is true.

“What seems to us are bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.”

-Oscar Wilde

#5 don’t harbor a grudge

grudge: a feeling of illwill or resentment

I would think it’s safe to say that at one point in our lives we have held a grudge against someone…I know I have. Grudges can be held for as short as a few hours, or sadly, can last lifetimes. As today is Christmas (FELIZ NAVIDAD), let go of illwill, anger, resentment, and hostility. What benefit is there to you for harboring these feelings? It will only continue to hurt you mentally, emotionally, and eventually physically too. Who wants that? 

Recognize your feelings and recognize whom they are too…apologize and let it be. You will feel much better, believe me. Or, if you can’t apologize (i.e. you weren’t in the wrong), find a book that relates to you. There are tons of books in the self-help section at a bookstore! Everything from relationships to anger issues to happiness. It’s wonderful to peruse every now and then. 🙂

As it is the holiday season, I hope everyone has had a blessed season thus far.  I have been blessed with two wonderful “material” gifts: a Rachel Ray subscription + a nice digital camera (thanks Mom), but even moreso, I have been blessed to spend time with my friends and family. I hadn’t seen several of my friends for over two years (including my brother Brian) and have had the opportunities to already see them. Until next time! 🙂

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”

–Calvin Coolidge–

#4 change one of your faults

No one is perfect right? Hopefully you are in agreement with me. While it is easy to recognize that first statement is true, it is often much harder to recognize that we ourselves have faults. Even moreso, it is even harder to begin and sustain change with these faults…at least in my opinion.

I think one of my faults is that I sometimes have a quick temper. This is especially true when I am driving. Sometimes this happens with certain kids too, and when it does, I always end up feeling bad about it after. I have been trying to be more patient all around and to be honest, it has taken a lot of stress out of my life. Which has been wonderful 🙂 Another fault is that I try to please everyone all the time- at first one may not think it is a fault, but really it causes one to be overburdened, burnt out, tired, and stressed. Not fun. So one thing I need to practice is saying “No” and planning my time better.

Maybe you don’t have a quick temper or a pleasing personality- maybe you gossip, procrastinate, or blame others. Whatever it is, be honest with yourself…even if you know you aren’t going to like hearing it. If you have a great relationship with someone, you can always ask them too. Whatever you want to change, do it. See the good in you and see the good in others.

“Insist on yourself. Never imitate.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

#1 Choose to think happy thoughts

Welcome back, welcome back. To all my friends, family, and faithful readers…I am switching up the premise of the blog- thanks to my lovely friend Shay!

This past Saturday was a girls potluck with my TFA ladies. I successfully made some baked mac and cheese (courtesy of Target and Archer Farms). Shay had a delicious honeybaked ham; Sade made some homemade spinach dip (my favorite); Cece brought gingerbread cookies; and Amy baked banana bread. We had a delicious meal and watched classics like ELF and holiday episode of Glee. We also made ornaments and had a little gift exchange. In the exchange, I got a wonderful book from Shay: 365 Ways to Live Happy.

(midst of exchange- sade opening her gift -from cece)

My blog is now going to reflect a way to be happy each day.  I need this, you need this, everyone needs this! So here it goes…day one of live happy: Think Happy Thoughts. Don’t worry, I’ll still throw in a good deed blog every now and then too!

If you think about it, it makes sense. If you want to be happy, think happy thoughts. However, we all know that is easier said than done. If we get cut off in traffic, the first thought we think is not a happy thought. If our computer breaks, our first thought is not happy. Research has shown that positive people generally have the following: (1) higher levels of optimism, (2) life satisfaction, and (3) live longer…So, how do we become that positive person? Easy…

• resist the urge to respond with anger…when we respond with anger, our blood pressure increases.
• return rudeness with kindness and respect
• be positive and be intentional with your actions

The more often we choose to be happy, the more our effort will be strengthened. Until tomorrow…

“If happiness is the meaning and purpose of life as the great philosopher Aristotle supposed, then we must be happy for all that comes into our life, for even misfortune blesses us if it builds our character and strengthens our faith in pursuing that which is good and noble.”

#944 take a break from fast food

If you know me, you know I do not like to cook. at all. This is due to the oven catching fire debacle of 9th grade. Let’s take a walk down memory lane shall we…..

It’s near the end of 8th grade and several of my friends decide to take Cooking as an elective. As any teenager, I want to be in my classes with my friends so I sign up. Flashforward to getting out schedules before school begins, and of course I am in 5th period cooking ALL BY MYSELF. This is how my luck goes. So one class day, the meal item is green bean casserole. I put the crunchy noodles in the oven and accidently forget about them. Next thing I know, the oven is ON FIRE…like literally there is a fire in the classroom oven. One of the students runs out yelling “FIRE FIRE ,THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO BURN DOWN.”, as my teacher grabs the fire extinguisher and puts it out. Pure terror and the fear of cooking has been engraved in me since then.

Back to the future…I like eating out and I like microwaveable meals. When Jose would cook for me, he would not let me anywhere near him (“oohhh, be careful” or “lets turn it down from a 9 to a 4 please”) because he would get annoyed with me (fair enough hahaha). Since living on my own, I have become a pro at easy mac (baby steps people, baby steps) and pretty decent at burgers. Real cooking though…using a recipe? Not quite there, but I have the dream.

So today, instead of going to Chiptole (yum) or The Spicy Pickle (delicious sandwiches), I stayed at home and ate. Granted, I didn’t cook- I relied on microwave pasta, pizza, and then a salad for my lunch and dinner, but still I didn’t eat fast food. So try taking a break too, believe me…I know it is more convenient to stop and pick something up, but it’s nice to eat at home. I was able to watch tv, read, and relax.  Until tomorrow!

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

– Buddha