Blick über den Tellerrand #7
If you want to, you can easily find tons of reasons to live your life scared and negative. You can use all kinds of logic to justify a bitter, guarded attitude, as if it’s the only way protect yourself from bad things that could happen. The irony is that this is the worst thing that could happen, because it makes the space inside your head persistently painful–and it doesn’t actually prevent pain or misfortune. It’s a self-made prison that you can only escape by choosing to shift your perspective.
(Lori Deschene: On Choosing Optimism)
Is buying a fancy car your dream? Then buy it. But most people need something more than just stuff, to do something worthwhile. The next time you’re about to spend a respectable sum of money, or hours/days of your life, ask yourself: is it going to get you closer to your amazing ambition you want to achieve before you die? Or make you a better person or the world a better place?
(Jessica Dang: Dream-unrelated fluff)
I suspect that if we’re honoring our authentic selves, we will occasionally, and maybe even often, feel rejected. We will sense that some people don’t get, understand, or appreciate us for who we really are. It’s inevitable when we’re being our true selves that some people will dislike what they see and judge. Perhaps the key to accepting ourselves is accepting that it’s perfectly OK if other people have negative opinions. In fact, it’s actually a positive choice to allow other people to think what they will, knowing there are plenty of people who love you, just as you are–and that you are one of those people. Today if you feel tempted to censor yourself for fear of not being accepted, remember: It’s better to be judged for something you are than to be accepted for something you’re not.
(Lori Deschene: On Being Openly You)
My business card doesn’t have any titles or labels. Just my name, e-mail and website. I know myself. And I know I’m constantly evolving as a person. (…) I do not want to be limited by labels. (…) Cut the bullcrap that’s on your business card, your resume, your CV, your e-mails, your papers, your essays, your blog posts, your conversations, your meetings, your projects.
(Nina Yau: Let’s Cut the Bullcrap, Shall We?)
If you live a good life, other people will know it, and maybe they’ll write it down, but the most important thing is that you did your best, and that is something nobody can take away from you.
(Jessica Dang: Greatness and Impermanence)
I know that there’s something you want to do, but you’re scared to. Something or someone is telling you “no” or “you shouldn’t/couldn’t!”. I know this because everybody has a dream being trampled on like that. Even the greatest men and women in history had the same feelings as you. But the difference is that they weren’t scared of getting burned. Are you?
(Jessica Dang: If you play with fire)
Ohne Pflegemittel für Körper, Haut und Haare auskommen. (…) Meine Haare sind ein Traum. Meine Haut auch. Mir fehlt zwar immer noch Nagellack und ein bisschen Lippenstift und ich freue mich schon sehr wenn ich wieder etwas benutzen kann, aber ich weiß nun auch, dass ich Duschgel und Shampoo nur noch brauche, wenn ich wirklich dreckig bin (also z.B. mit Schmierfetten wie Ruß oder Öl in Kontakt gekommen bin).
(Frau Ding Dong: Das Mai-Experiment)
People often mistakenly think that to be a minimalist, you need to live with less than 100 things (or 50 or something crazy like that). That’s not at all true. A minimalist is simply one who questions the necessity of things, and who tries to live with what’s necessary, rather than with consumerism.
(Leo Babauta: Can you live without?)
Die Leere aushalten und hindurchgehen, ohne zu wissen wohin der Weg führt. Das ist wahres Zen. Minimalismus habe ich oft auch als eine praktische Form des Zen verstanden. Schließlich ging es ja auch um’s Loslassen, um Freiheit, um die Besinnung auf das Wesentliche.
(think minimal: Was kommt nach dem Minimalismus? — offline)
Blick über den Tellerrand #6
Last Saturday I spent the day with Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger and Bill Gates (and a few other pretty successful guys). I wish I could say it was just us but there were about 41,000 others in the same room. (…) There’s a lot you can learn from spending 7 hrs in possibly the most powerful, smart and wealthy room in the world.
(25 Unmissable Lessons from My Weekend with Warren Buffett)
Erstens: Minimalismus definiert sich nicht durch die Zahl an Dingen, die man besitzt! Zweitens: Beim Minimalismus geht es um viel mehr als bloßes “Wegwerfen & Aufräumen”! (…) Minimalismus ist ein Weg zu einem erfüllteren Leben, dass selbst-definiert und von eigenen Idealen geprägt ist. Es schafft den Platz und die Zeit, die wir brauchen um uns selbst zu definieren, uns über Wünsche und Träume klar zu werden und diese dann auszuleben und umzusetzen.
(Sebastian Michel: Die wichtige Wahrheit über Minimalismus)
Das schlimme ist nicht, dass wir bloß immer mehr “brauchen” – sondern wir vergessen darüber hinaus oftmals, dass zu schätzen, was wir haben. Teilweise erkennen wir nicht einmal, in was für einem Luxus wir leben. Oder lassen uns von unserem Besitz einengen. Angetrieben von Gesellschaft und Werbung “brauchen” wir ständig mehr.
(Sebastian Michel: Brauchen vs. Wollen)
Real travelling isn’t running away, it’s running towards something – something new, different, mind-blowing and world-rocking, things that challenge the way we think people are or should be. Travellers may not have much, but what they gain is invaluable, even if you can’t see it.
(Jessica Dang: ‘No’ the difference…)
Now, imagine for a moment that everything is perfect right now, just as it is. Imagine that, miraculously, all your dreams have come true and all your challenges overcome. You have arrived. Look around. Notice your body. Listen.
(Samovarlife: One Cup at a Time)
Spending time alone can look a little suspect. In a world gone wild for wikis and interdisciplinary collaboration, those who prefer solitude and private noodling are seen as eccentric at best and defective at worst, and are often presumed to be suffering from social anxiety, boredom, and alienation.
(The power of lonely – What we do better without other people around)
The power of slow says time is your friend, not your foe. When you embrace time with an abundant attitude, you actually have more of it. You can expand your experience of time itself simply through your mindset. Time savoring raises your awareness of what you have in the here and now. By enjoying the moment, you make decisions informed by that abundance. Time abundance, much like time starvation, is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
(Psychology Today: You are more productive when you go slowly)
You’re not alone in shunning center stage—shyness and social anxiety are as natural as breathing. But doing advance prep for a party or taking small social risks can lead to breakthroughs in confidence.
(Psychology Today: How to overcome social anxiety)
In a time when connections can seem like commodities and online interactions can become casually inauthentic, mindfulness is not just a matter of fostering increased awareness. It’s about relating meaningfully to other people and ourselves. With this goal in mind, I’ve compiled a list of 10 tips for using social media mindfully.
(Tricycle: 10 Mindful Ways to Use Social Media)
Sie tun sich schwer damit, sich lange auf eine Sache zu konzentrieren, Prioritäten zu setzen und leiden unter einem latent schlechten Gewissen, weil sie nicht schaffen, was sie sich vornehmen, was wiederum permanent an ihrem Selbstwertgefühl nagt. Also streben sie nach schnellen Erfolgserlebnissen. Bei zu großen Aufgaben liegen diese jedoch subjektiv zu weit entfernt, Folge: Die Prokrastinierer ziehen kurzfristige kleinere Aufgaben vor, wie aufräumen, abwaschen, beschäftigt aussehen.
(Jochen Mai: So besiegen Sie die Aufschieberitis)
Think about soap in the bath. If you grip it very tightly, it pops right out of your hand. If we’re really desperate for something, we’re less likely to receive it. This happens in lots of different ways. A couple of years ago, I came out of a long-term relationship and started dating. I joined an online dating agency and started getting in touch with different prospective dates. I very quickly realized how insecure I felt. As soon as I started a conversation with anyone, I was desperate for them to like me, whether or not I actually liked them!
(Tiny Buddha: How to Stop Obsessing Over Things You Want)
When you become obsessed with a certain idea and you will stop at nothing until that idea has been thoroughly wrung dry of its contents, discoveries and experiences, you reach breakthroughs unimaginable.
(Nina Yau: They Told Me Obsession Was a Disease)
Blick über den Tellerrand #5
Mache einen Unterschied, indem du ehrlich gegenüber anderen deine Motive erläuterst. Du musst deine Schwächen nicht betonen oder hervorheben, doch wenn es zur Sprache kommt, ob du den wichtigen Anruf nicht getätigt hast, weil du durch Krankheit verhindert warst oder weil du Angst hattest, es zu verpatzen – dann sei einfach mal ehrlich. Die meisten Menschen, die mit den Ängsten anderer konfrontiert werden, sind einsichtig.
(Dorothea Kirstein: Weswegen ich nicht mehr so gern Filme schaue)
“Facebook is fun and all, but seems to be a colossal waste of time.” (…) I ask you to consider that you are following the wrong people. They may have been the right people once upon a time but life is dynamic and Facebook has a tendency to remain static. How many of your Facebook friends are people you call or email on a regular basis? Do you even know their phone numbers or email addresses without looking them up on the informational screens of their Facebook profiles? Do you care?
(Ari Herzog: Unfriending Facebook Friends)
So that girl that couldn’t stand you in college because she thought that you thought that you were all that, now knows that you’re no longer as cute as you used to be (cause she’s trolled pictures of you in Facebook) and silently rejoices – and then tries to friend you (cause she’s hot now – and wants you to know it). Even if she never actually tries to friend you, she can sit, eating Bon Bons, taking pleasure in every ‘It’s complicated’ post you publish, relishing personal trials and travails. (…) What’s so disturbing about it, is that you’ll never know your whole life is under the scrutiny of crazies. Most people probably don’t put that much thought into what they post or publish, because they feel like it’s among friends. But in this age of reality TV, TMZ and YouTube, every personal gaffe is potentially fodder for the masses.
(Stephen Chukumba: Mass Social Voyeurism: Cyberstalking on Facebook)
I’m thinking a lot about problems at the moment because having one is integral to writing a good plot in a story. If my main character doesn’t have an obstacle, then what is she going to overcome? What will she achieve despite it? What’s going to make her act? Nothing. She’ll wander about aimlessly on the page and there won’t be any story.
(Sam Russell: Why Problems Matter)
The one upside is I’ve finally figured out what, to me, is the point of blogging. It isn’t subscribers or influence or a trendy ‘new media’ career. It’s friends. It’s sharing stuff with people who care and finding people to care about. It’s making friends you don’t have to compete with or tiptoe around or worry about offending too much.
(Pen vs. Paper: Friends vs. Subscribers)
Popular is almost never a measure of impact, or genius, or art. Popular rarely correlates with guts, hard work or a willingness to lead (and be willing to be wrong along the way). (…) Losing reminds you that the opinion of unaffiliated strangers is worthless. They don’t know you, they’re not interested in what you have to offer and you can discover that their rejection actually means nothing. It will empower you to even bigger things in the future.
(Seth Godin: What’s the point of popular?)
Faced with many options or decisions in your life? This will change the way you look at them. We feel worse when we have too many options.
(The Paradox of Choice – Why More is Less)
Meist denken wir, bei Konsumismus gehe es darum, dass wir uns hartnäckig und verbissen an unseren Wohlstand, unsere Kinkerlitzchen und unsere Spielzeuge klammern. Tatsächlich ist jedoch das Gegenteil der Fall: Konsumismus entsteht, weil wir unsere Dinge ganz und gar nicht lieben. Wir hängen so wenig an unseren materiellen Gütern, dass wir sie regelmäßig und immer häufiger fortwerfen und ersetzen. In diesem Licht betrachtet ist Konsumismus die blindwütige Achtlosigkeit gegenüber unseren physischen Besitztümern.
(Kampf dem Konsumismus: Liebe dein Zeugs!, via)
Blick über den Tellerrand #4
Hermetisches Schreiben bedeutet, eine Mail so zu verfassen, dass die Chance auf eine Rückmail aktiv auf ein absolutes Minimum reduziert wird. Denn die langwierigen Mail-Dialoge sind es, die die Zeit fressen – und nicht die Mailinglistenmails, die man überfliegt oder gar nicht erst beachtet.
(Sascha Lobo: Die Kunst der Mailminimierung)
There’s no such thing as Writer’s Block. (…) Writer’s Block is one of the ways your ego manifests itself to try and stop you writing. It does this as a form of self-protection. Your ego has been genetically programmed to help protect you since homo sapiens started evolving thousands of years ago.
(One Spoon At A Time: How To Avoid Writers Block)
Ein einfacheres Leben bedeutet meist auch ein aufgeräumteres und organisierteres Leben. “Einfach leben” muss dabei aber nichts mit Sparsamkeit oder Askese zu tun haben – im Gegenteil. (…) Freunde von mir verbringen beispielsweise jeden Urlaub in einem kleinen Häuschen, das nur zu Fuß erreichbar ist und weder fließend Wasser noch Strom, dafür aber einen Brunnen vor dem Haus und ein Trockenklo hat. Geheizt und gekocht wird mit Holz. Eben ein richtig einfaches Leben. Gleichzeitig gibt es aber auch teuerste Häuser, die sehr minimalistisch eingerichtet sind. Geschmackvoll, mit viel Platz und sehr kostspielig. Auch das ist ein einfaches Leben: Reduziert auf wenige, aber erlesene und teure Dinge.
(Ivan Blatter: Schritt für Schritt zum Wesentlichen)
A few months ago, I decided to go on a pilgrimage to create a quick and easy-to-see, all-in-one-place list of what does it REALLY take to generate a six-figure income as a service professional — accountant, coach, consultant, and other solopreneurs? Of course, the list is easy to read, but takes conscious awareness and consistency to achieve.
(What Does It Take to Be Making 6-Figures as a Service Professional?)
Minimalism should be a tool, not a cult. I think it’s a good default, too: when in doubt, don’t accept obligations or buy things. But if you’ve really thought something through and want to buy it, even though it might not fall in line with traditional minimalist dogma, go for it.
(Tynan: What’s the Point of Being a Minimalist?)
Believe that you are here for the right reasons and that your participation in life is valuable to those around you.
(10 Ways to Raise Your Self-Esteem)
What recession? Despite the fact that most Americans are still struggling in the worst economy since the Great Depression, a “non-scientific study” from the Wall Street Journal says that U.S. citizens now spend $1.2 trillion annually on nonessential goods. For context, that’s more than 11 percent of overall consumer spending.
(Americans Now Spend $1.2 Trillion a Year on Stuff We Don’t Need)
I have spent almost my whole life – 31 years – caring far too much about offending people, worrying if I’m cool enough for them, or asking myself if they are judging me. I can’t take it anymore. It’s stupid, and it’s not good for my well being. (…) the real problem with Internet haters is that they confirm your paranoid delusion that everyone out there secretly hates you. (…) Next you need to realize that the people who do care about you, and no one else, are those you need to focus on. (…) if you understand that your time is limited and decide to work now; only then will you be able to get to the finish line. Otherwise, you will be dissuaded into living a life you aren’t interested in. (…) You may be in a tough place right now where you feel lonely or like a loser. No worries, we’ve all been there.
(The Complete Guide to Not Giving a Fuck)
Blick über den Tellerrand #3
Becoming skilled at eye contact is a matter of practice. The more you try it and experiment with it the better you’ll get. Locking eyes with someone else does have a certain intensity to it and you may need to work through any fear or uncomfortable feelings that come up.
(Scott Kostolni: All About The Eyes)
Unlucky people miss chance opportunities because they are too focused on looking for something else. They go to parties intent on finding their perfect partner, and so miss opportunities to make good friends. They look through the newspaper determined to find certain job advertisements and, as a result, miss other types of jobs. Lucky people are more relaxed and open, and therefore see what is there, rather than just what they are looking for.
(Jonathan Fields: What Lucky People Do Different)
Bist du immer ehrlich zu dir selbst? Vertraust du dir? Bist du dir sicher, was du willst? Wofür stehst du ein? Weißt du, warum du dich so verhältst, wie du es immer in bestimmten Situationen tust? (…) Ich denke, es wäre viel einfacher, wenn man sich ein Herz fassen und aufhören, sich gegenseitig anzuschwindeln, anzuschmieren, die Wahrheit vertuschen und die Hucke vollzulügen. So viele verniedlichende Worte gibt es für so einen Akt, der leider nur davon zeugt, dass man seinem Gegenüber keinen Respekt zollt oder man selbst Unzulänglichkeiten verbirgt.
(Dorothea Kirstein: Mal ehrlich…)
Je weniger ich andere Menschen bewerte und verurteile, desto mehr mag ich mich selbst leiden. Umgekehrt funktioniert es genauso: Wenn ich mich dabei erwische, wie ich schlecht über jemanden denke, dann ist das oft ein Zeichen dafür, dass ich irgendwie aus der Balance geraten bin. Und dann werde ich auch ungeduldig und hart mit mir selbst.
(Zeit zu leben: 3 Gedanken, um mitfühlender mit anderen Menschen umzugehen)
There are times in life when we need to go with what feels right. Ignore all the critics, the naysayers, and those who will judge us by their own definition of truth. Create your own path, forge your own destiny, and make all the mistakes and dead-end turns necessary to arrive alive. Sometimes what we need cannot be put into the context of right or wrong but must be defined and acted upon by the compass of our soul.
(Raam Dev: Go with what feels right)