Friday, January 19, 2018

Nick KnightNick Knight is the groundbreaking fashion...


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight

Nick Knight

Nick Knight is the groundbreaking fashion image-maker, a pioneering fashion artist with the belief that “showing the entire creative process, from conception to completion is beneficial for the artist, the audience, and the art itself.” Knight was one of the first and most high profile image-makers to adopt digital film as a medium for showing fashion.

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Posted by Very Private Art

Nick KnightNick Knight is the groundbreaking fashion... crss


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight


Nick Knight

Nick Knight

Nick Knight is the groundbreaking fashion image-maker, a pioneering fashion artist with the belief that “showing the entire creative process, from conception to completion is beneficial for the artist, the audience, and the art itself.” Knight was one of the first and most high profile image-makers to adopt digital film as a medium for showing fashion.

Check our Facebook for more original art.
Posted by Very Private Art

crss

Birds With ArmsDigital manipulation courtesy of the... crss















Birds With Arms

Digital manipulation courtesy of the Reddit “Birds With Arms”.  See the video.  Thanks to Laughing Squid.


Breath, smile and enjoy - follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Posted by Lisa.

crss

Birds With ArmsDigital manipulation courtesy of the...















Birds With Arms

Digital manipulation courtesy of the Reddit “Birds With Arms”.  See the video.  Thanks to Laughing Squid.


Breath, smile and enjoy - follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Posted by Lisa.

Step Into The Safe And Wonderful World Of North Korea

We’ve been made to believe that North Korea is one hell of a place where human rights are nearly unheard of, and Kim reigns supreme. But as we get to view this beautiful country, through the eyes of an 8-year-old girl, residing in “the land of the rising sun” is a lot more beautiful (ironically). Nobody struggles, poverty is a word in the dictionary, young North Koreans are taught to love their country and its leader, or so it seems.

Fact or fiction? 

“Under the Sun” ideally is two films knitted together – one, a judiciously crafted lie, and the other, something close to what you would expect – truth. First, there’s no doubt Vitaly Mansky, the director’s film is stage-managed to portray how beautiful and prosperous Kim’s personal property (North Korea and its people) is. Also, it seems those who participated in it are comfortable about having a fake, fictitious side of their life shown to the world.

If the director needed any help, after two years of asking the North Korean government to do a movie, he inadvertently got excess of what he may have asked for, ironically though. It was to be a documentary of life in this secretive state, but the authorities chose to go the “My country, my rules” way. He filmed as they supervised, over the course of a year.

The documentary mocks the cheery version that we’re made to believe throughout the film. The fictional construct centers on an 8-year-old, humble and innocent Lee Zin-mi whose mind is corrupted by the authorities’ propaganda right at the eyes of the directors. She, along with her two parents, resides in Pyongyang and is evidently as profound to air-brushed ideals as everyone around. Her dad allegedly works as an engineer at a garment factory!

A film that is perfectly choreographed from start to finish

Zin-mi is a typical 8-year-old, cute and bubbly, yearning for knowledge, perhaps naïve to how her bleak future is. Her parents, perfect Communist laborers, only brought to the posh apartment for the sake of the shoot. As the cameras roll, Mansky does what he intended to do, and even gleefully stresses that the film is choreographed by including his minders’ off-camera directions to the cast, live.

The documentary’s first highlight is when the de facto directors urge the employees at where Zin-mi’s mom works to be “more joyfully!” Another scene is when an aging soldier visits Zin-mi’s class to lecture the young, innocent minds about his travails when Koreans were fighting Americans. We’d expect kids to feel shocked or fascinated, but the class isn’t shocked by his revelations of having hunted down and killed young kids, and we can interpret it to the rot they see or hear every day!

Each stage is choreographed to a tee, particularly at the pragmatic historical dogma a teacher stresses. Scenes at the cold grey cement city are perfectly staged too. One thing they, however, failed to script is Zin-Mi’s emotions. At some stage, she is visibly tired, stressed and fed up playing a demanding fictional lead role and she starts to cry.

But occasionally, we’re shown the unscripted life among citizens cycling back home from work or riding the subway, though each is invariably having the cast members near them. No government figures are interviewed from the start to the end of “Under the Sun” which vividly underscores the gap between the nation’s dominating cult and the hapless citizens.

A safe and homely North Korea

The movie is unrated, but it manages to wittily and skillfully show what North Korea wants us to see – save, homely country. It is in Korean with English subtitles and runs for 1 hour, 47 minutes.

To watch Under the Sun on iTunes, click here.

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Want To Know Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact?

The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Heath and Dan Heath is an amazing book that delves into how small things have large impacts. This booth is all about cherishing moments when they occur, making the most out of them instead of regretting them if they pass by.

Human lives and how we progress

At the same time as human lives are without end variable, our maximum memorable tremendous moments are ruled by way of 4 elements: elevation, perception, pleasure, and connection. If we embody these elements, we are able to conjure extra moments that remember. What if a trainer could lay out a lesson that he knew his college students could keep in mind 20 years later? What if a manager knew how to create and enjoy that could make clients happy? What if you had a higher experience of the way to create recollections that matter in your children?

Don’t risk special moments getting lost

Among the defining moments in our lives are the result of twist of fate or luck—however why could we depart our most significant, memorable moments to risk whilst we can create them? The electricity of Moments shows us how to be the writer of richer studies. Whilst remembering studies, human beings more often than not bear in mind the excessive (or low) factors and the endings. For a discrete time frame inside a larger revel in to become a “memorable moment,” it ought to contain either “elevation” (going past expectancies), “insight” (gaining knowledge of something new approximately oneself), “satisfaction” (feeling non-public fulfilment), or “connection” (sharing the moment with every other character).

How to get the most out of life’s happy moments

This book delves into a few fascinating mysteries of happiness: Why we generally tend to bear in mind the excellent or worst second of an experience, in addition to the ultimate second, and neglect the rest. Why “we experience most secure when things are positive, however we feel most alive after they’re no longer.” And why our maximum cherished recollections are clustered right into a brief duration all through our kids. Readers find out how quick studies can trade lives, together with the test wherein two strangers meet in a room, and 40-50 mins later, they go away as first-class pals. (What takes place in that time?) Or the tale of the world’s youngest female billionaire, who credit her resilience to something her father asked the family at the dinner desk. (What became that simple question?)

Reading duration: 6 hours 36 minutes

Get this amazing book about how you can take the most out of moments and never look back towards them in vein. Get The Power of Moments on Amazon for $15.83

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How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness And Live An Awesome Life

You are a Badass by Jen Sincero is a refreshingly entertaining how-to manual, #1 New York Times Bestselling writer and international-traveling success train, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 chunk-sized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage recommendation, easy exercises, and the occasional swear phrase. if you’re prepared to make some serious modifications round right here, You are a Badass will help you: discover and trade the self-sabotaging ideals and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, blast beyond your fears so you can take big exciting dangers, discern out how to make a few damn cash already, discover ways to love yourself and others, set large goals and reach them.

What you’ll learn reading through the book is much more than self-worth

By the end of You are a Badass, you’ll apprehend why you’re how you are, the way to love what you cannot alternate, a way to change what you don’t love, and the way to use The pressure to kick a few severe ass. In case you’ve ever taken inventory of your life and realised that you aren’t dwelling the life that you want, then that is the book for you. Although profession-focused, you’re a Badass: the way to prevent Doubting Your Greatness and start residing a remarkable existence with the aid of Jen Sincero can be applied to any factor of your existence, inclusive of paintings, marriage, and volunteering. Plenty of what she says isn’t new, but her frank manner packs a punch and could depart you doubled over, simplest to arise straighter and ready to tackle the world.

Help yourself and start changing your image of yourself and things around you

You are a Badass is technically a self-assist e book, offering recommendation for a way to see your lifestyles via sparkling eyes, locate your passion and live the existence you need, however it’s a lot greater than that. She additionally explains why we get stuck inside the ruts we do, grants us a outstanding insight into our dating with (and worry of) money, and essentially kicks all excuses to the decrease. If you’re now not left inspired to make adjustments on your existence, then you definitely didn’t take note of the book and must study it again.

Reading duration: 5 hours 17 minutes

Buy this book and start the process of self-improvement today. Get You are a Badass on Amazon for price $9.59

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How to Drink Caffeine With Strategy to Boost Your Productivity

We have a love-hate relationship with caffeine. We all know consuming too much will lead to a crash, and a headache, but we also know it can be a great energy booster in a pinch. Even if you only have a small serving of caffeine, your body will metabolize it out of your system within 8-14 hours, leading you to feel sluggish and sometimes even sick.[1]

But what if I told you strategically consuming caffeine rather than drinking it habitually could provide an energy reservoir, so to speak, that you could tap into any time you liked?

Drink caffeine strategically

Chris Bailey, the author of The Productivity Project, was also sick of the caffeine hangover, but didn’t want to abandon the stuff. So he decided to try something: he consumed caffeine before doing any number of important things. For instance, he would have caffeine before giving a presentation, writing an important article, or just checking off something big on his to-do list. Regardless of what the task was, he made sure it was one that was important and required plenty of focus and brain energy.

The aim of the experiment was simple: how can you make the most of that caffeinated high before the crash comes? Utilize the period before the caffeine crash.

Caffeine prevents your brain from absorbing a chemical called adenosine. This chemical triggers the flags in your brain that let you know you’re tired. While caffeine blocks your brain from absorbing the chemical, it continues to build up until caffeine eventually lets your brain absorb it. So at that point, you’re going to suddenly feel as though you’ve been hit by a train and all you want to do is sleep.

But if you drink coffee, or any caffeinated beverage strategically, you can make better use of that time when your brain isn’t receiving those signals. In fact, you could even rest intermittently before that crash hits.

What you can’t drink

Before you start stocking up on sugary caffeine drinks or whip out your Starbucks mobile app to grab a caffeinated frappuccino, let’s get some ground rules out of the way. You can’t have sugary or alcoholic caffeinated drinks. These types of beverages come with their own kind of crash, so layering them on is only going to make that hit of adenosine come on harder and faster, ultimately leaving you feeling even worse.

Instead, opt for green tea or matcha. These naturally caffeinated teas are full of antioxidants which can help slow and regulate the caffeine crash.

When to caffeinate

At this point, you might be brewing a cup of coffee already, but be careful not to use caffeine as a band-aid. The goal is to take advantage of the window of productivity, not to continue to consume it until you’ve gotten through your day and need to sleep. Along those same lines, it’s important to avoid caffeine as much as possible if you’re about to work on something creative; it’s been shown to hurt right-brain-related tasks.

If it works for your daily schedule, consume caffeine between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. This is when caffeine will have the greatest impact on your energy, because it’s usually the time of day when you naturally start to feel a little sluggish. And always remember, avoid caffeine less than 8 hours before you go to bed so it doesn’t affect your sleep.

Pro Tip: Because you know a caffeine crash will typically have you falling asleep about 8-12 hours after you drink it, plan to have a big cup of coffee twelve hours before an overnight flight. You’ll sleep like a baby.

Who can caffeinate

Obviously if you want to drink coffee or caffeinated tea, we aren’t trying to stop you. But it is helpful to note that it does affect certain people differently.

Caffeine has been shown to make introverts perform poorer on tasks that are quantitative and done under time pressure because introverts are more stimulated by their environment; that extra bit of stimulation provided by caffeine can push an introvert over the edge.[2]

Interestingly enough, it’s been found to have the exact opposite effect for extroverts. If you’re a very outgoing and social person, caffeine before a big task could be perfect for you.

For ambiverts, or those who fall somewhere in the middle, strategically consuming caffeine will be your best bet.

What works best for you?

Some of the strategy involves experimenting. You may find your 6am cup of java gets you to 10am only, but that’s when you typically have some kind of protein to get you through. Others may discover they should drink coffee later – perhaps 9:30am when their cortisol is naturally lower – and it changes their whole day. Regardless of what you discover works best for you, the goal is to time your crash.

Personally, I like to go to bed around 10:30p.m. I like to make sure to have my caffeine 12 hours earlier so I can hop into bed and fall asleep. Once you figure out what schedule works best for you, you’ll be amazed at the difference a cup can make.

Reference

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Now You Can Serve Fresh Draft Beer Instantly At Home With This

Christmas drink

You could be a skillful bartender, professional in every aspect of your trade and perfect serving every pint. But without a well-built draft beer system, you will look more like a newbie, serving booze for the very first time.

Looking to buy a top quality beer dispenser, kegerator, conversion kit or any draft beer equipment of unsurpassed quality? 

Fizzics Waytap – better than that used at the pub! 

Fizzics Waytap is not that regular device. It is engineered using the best of Fizzics Technology and unlocks that innate taste of natural draft beer and revives it aroma, thus giving you a beer with the best flavor. The patented Fizzics Micro-Foam Technology turns the drink’s natural carbonation into compact bubbles for an enhanced taste.

You Don’t Need To Go To Pubs Anymore

It is a perfect choice, mainly because it is made for all beer styles – P Hotel Industry & Disability ilsners, Lagers, Brown Ales, IPAs, Porters, Stouts, etc.It’s also very easy to use, it is compatible with all 12-25oz cans and 12oz bottles and will never let you down. Very durable!

It is lightweight and portable that you can actually carry it along with you to your friend’s party. You just have to choose your favorite from the four different types available.

Well, Fizzics Waytap beer dispenser is that one product beer aficionados would delight using. It is compact and lightweight, designed using Fizzics Technology and can be carried from place to place. You do not have to worry about what type of beer you will buy, it is universal and accepts all booze types.

And it seems you aren’t the only one who will fall in love with it. Kim got one from Amazon and here’s what he said,

My father loved this. He did a taste test with several different canned/bottled beers and totally noticed the difference between the regular beer and the Fizzics enhanced one.

Get yours from Amazon for just $130!

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Walking 2 Dogs or More has Never Been Easier With This Smart Leash

As much as there is a lot of fun involved for both the dog owner/trainer and the dog when it comes to walking a dog, it can be a really stressful experience. Controlling the dog and preventing it from wondering about is your sole responsibility. For this reason, it is important that you ensure that the leash you are using is capable enough to help you hold the dog.

Say goodbye to tangled leash

Manufactured by Wigzi, the Wigzi Dual Doggie features two non-tangling, highly durable retractable leash to help hold your dogs in place while strolling around. The device features an in-built untangling mechanism that helps maintain an individual control of each of the dogs.

In addition, the device features color-coded leads and brake buttons that helps indicate the exact dog being controlled. With the Wigzi Dual Doggie, you can enjoy your walk without any need to stop to untangle the dog leash.

Dog-Walking Just Got Easier and More Interesting

Holding your four legged friends with a single leash which untangles automatically takes the stress off one of your hands. With only one hand needed to hold/control the device, you can use the free hand to carry your bag, hold an umbrella, open doors, etc.

Asides that, the leash provides enough freedom for your pets to move up to ten feet in any direction. The dogs can also be stopped one at a time. The Wigzi Dual Doggie is here to save you from struggling to hold two leashes and keeping them untangled.

I have 2 rambunctious fur babies both about 40 lbs. We walk at least an hour every day. So far this double retractable dog leash had been amazing! It is so nice being able to have one-handed control. I always put Lucy on the right and Suzy on the left. It makes it easy to remember which button to push. Now I want custom colors to match their harness!” – Just Jo

Get For Your Dogs Today!

Are you a dog owner with two or more dogs? Do you find it stressful to walk both dogs? Get the Wigzi Dual Doggie today! Start taking your dogs with you during your evening walks. With the Wigzi Dual Doggie, walking two dogs just got easier, stress-free, and more interesting.

Get yours here.

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Never Put Your Happiness in Others' Hands, Take Back Your Own Control

The process is always more important than the result. If you have planted the seed, cared for it every day, and watched it grow, the satisfaction you get is a lot larger than when people hand you the results. If you can do it, why rely on someone else?

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As You Look Back On Life at 80, Will What You've Said And Done Matter?

One day we’ll all be dead and none of this will matter by Scaachi Koul is an influential book about a woman of color living in Canada. Full of witty humor as well as vivid tales of casual racism in the country that is close to reality. This book portrays topics such as bullying, racism, racial prejudice, “trolling”, harassment and a lot more.

What is it like being a woman of colour?

Scaachi deploys her razor-sharp humor to percentage her fears, outrages and mortifying stories as an outsider growing up in Canada. Her subjects range from shaving her knuckles in grade college, to a buying experience long past horribly awry, to dealing with net trolls, to feeling out of vicinity at an Indian wedding ceremony (as an Indian lady), to parsing the trajectory of fears and anxieties that pressed upon her immigrant mother and father and bled down a technology.

Along these non-public tales are pointed observations about lifestyles as a woman of color, wherein every component of her look is open for critique, derision or outright scorn. In which strict gender policies bind in each Western and Indian cultures, forcing her to confront questions about gender dynamics, racial tensions, ethnic stereotypes and her father’s creeping mortality–all as she attempts to locate her foot in the world.

Immigration and being a woman in a foreign country

The author’s memories of lifestyles developing up in Canada – “a land of ice and informal racism” – and coping with internet bullies in a virtual age are ones any millennial may be in a position to narrate to – however a whole lot of Koul’s brilliance lies in her potential to artfully deconstruct the consequences of immigration and the realities of dwelling as a woman – and as a girl of color – in the twenty first century. Writing about her cousin, Sweetu, who plans to move from India to Appalachia with her husband days after their wedding Koul writes: “That’s where the portions of the own family get fragmented once more. That’s in which her kids will lose this language finally, wherein their kids will not even make sure wherein their grandmother changed into from. That’s in which India will become a place she changed into from and no longer a place she lives. That’s in which her roots get pulled out.”

Reading duration: 5 hours 17 minutes

An amazing book that not only depicts reality wholeheartedly but also has a great spin on how people of color are treated in western countries. Get One day we’ll all be dead and none of this will matter from Amazon at $9.28

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The Tougher the Challenge You Can Take, The Better The Result You Can Get

This Movie Will Show You That Miracles Do Happen, With The Help Of Social Media

How would you feel if, one random day, out there browsing the web, you come across someone who looks a lot like you, is of your age and resides in a faraway continent? And upon researching deeper, you finally discover the doppelgänger is actually your blood sibling?

The power of social media 

Well, crazy as it may appear, that’s precisely what happened to Samantha Futerman, a talented actress and Hollywood hopeful from New Jersey. Samantha had stints in TV and feature films that include Memoirs of a Geisha, 21 & Over, Man Up and more recently, the Kroll Show. “Twinsters” is a real-life movie done by her and co-directed by her friend Ryan Miyamoto and tells a heartwarming tale of how social media truly connects!

One day while ‘Facebooking,’ Samantha got a friend request from Anais Bordier. What follows would adeptly shape into a moving tale of two twins separated 25 years earlier, but in a brink of reunion. “Twinsters” was so charming that it won the 2015 SXSW special jury award.

Separated at birth

Futerman’s story starts when she’s born in Busan, South Korea before getting adopted by a Caucasian couple who hailed from New Jersey. After relocating to Los Angeles to advance her acting career, she meets a rising YouTuber called Kevin Wu – KevJumba.

Half a world away in Europe in 2013, a French university student called Anais Bordier who is an ardent follower of KevJumba was catching up with the latest of “High School Virgin” episodes. She noted a particular girl who looked a lot like her. With zeal and the hunger to know more about the little beauty, Anais decided to research more and what she discovered was moving.

Like herself, her newly found doppelganger was born in Busan, South Korea – interestingly on the same day. She decided to friend request her on Facebook. Sooner, endless messaging, Skyping, and exchange of life histories followed. DNA was the last test to certify that indeed they were separated by adoption.

A twist to the twins?

Twinsters” makes the whole story very emotional, especially during their first meeting. After Futerman’s maiden visit in London and the celebratory reunion parties, what follows threatens to kill off the charm and bliss built earlier. The adoption agency’s response saying their mom denies having given birth to twins elicits killer suspense.

The best part of the movie though is when their Kickstarter campaign garners immense contributions, elicits earth-shaking discussions and unites over 200,000 South Korean children. “Twinsters” is shot by Futerman along with Ryan Miyamoto and there’s nothing more compelling about it than the women’s ecstatic reunion back in South Korea. The priceless familial moments when Anaïs is the link between her mom and Sam is heart-warming!

Naturally unaltered content

Technically, it is a modest piece owing to Futerman and Miyamoto’s skill level. But the storyline is natural and unaltered, with the use of social media and emoji-filled texts heightening the adventure even more. But in any case, “Twinsters” is a 1 hour, 29 minutes fun-filled ride and you’ll watch it again, again and again!

To watch Twinsters on iTunes, click here.

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Entitled Kids Are Parents' Biggest Enemies

An old Proverb says “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labor shall increase.” It is good advice. We probably have applied this to our own lives already. We believe that nothing good or worthwhile comes easily, so we work hard to earn what we want. Unfortunately, kids these days seem to be missing that message. They are growing up feeling and acting as though their mere existence entitles them to money, the newest smart phone, TVs, designer clothes, and more. The entitlement attitude is pervasive in our culture and it starts with what we are teaching our children.

If we don’t want our culture to be entitled, we need to start preventing entitlement in our own homes. That way, 20 years from now, you won’t have a 30 year old living in your guest suite using your credit card for their needs because they have no desire to go out and earn it for themselves.

How entitlement begins

None of us wants to think that we are making our children feel entitled. However, it happens easily to all of us, especially to good parents. Parents who try hard to give their children a good, happy, and full childhood easily fall into the entitlement parenting trap. It’s because of a parent’s desire to make their child happy that they give too much. Their child grows up without any wanting. Needs and desires are met by the parent and thus the child not only feels, but knows that their parent is there to provide for them.

Needs are essential to be met by parents, but what about all those wants? Is a phone a want or a need? What kind of clothing becomes a want instead of a need? You as a parent need to start differentiating between needs and wants in order to properly parent in a manner that works to diminish entitlement attitudes.

We want our children to feel happy and loved, but our efforts can be undermining them mentally. We may be feeding into the development of their entitlement attitude by doing and giving too much. Psychology Today examines children’s sense of entitlement and states,[1]

Yet, when children receive everything they want, we feed into their sense of entitlement—and feelings of gratitude fall by the wayside. It’s what Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions, believes is a “Me, Me, Me” epidemic brought on by parents doing everything they can to insure their children’s happiness.

Good parents who are trying very hard unfortunately are feeding into the entitlement epidemic when they give their kids too much. Wanting your children to be happy is wonderful, but there are ways to help develop their character so that the entitlement attitude does not seep into your household.

How to know if your child is acting entitled

There are some indicators with your child’s behavior that will show you whether or not they have or are developing an attitude of entitlement. These are just some examples:

  • They do not handle losing well.
  • They do not congratulate winning opponents (whether it be in sports, a board game, or simply a race on the playground).
  • They do not cope well with being told “no”.
  • They do not make an effort to help around the household.
  • When asked to help, they whine and complain, as though they should not be expected to help in the household.
  • They often think the rules apply to other people and not to them.
  • If they have a problem in school or life, they expect you as the parent to take care of the problem for them.
  • They expect to be rewarded for good behavior with toys or treats, rather than good behavior being expected from the parents and does not require rewards. This is especially true in public places such as going to the market.
  • They do not care about the feelings, needs, or desires of others. Act selfish and self centered in general.
  • They do not accept responsibility for the behavior or things that have gone wrong that are their fault. Make excuses or passes the blame to others.
  • Things are never enough for them. They always want more, bigger, or better of whatever it may be that they currently have or are doing.
  • They do not express genuine gratitude when appropriate, such as getting a gift or a compliment. You as a parent are always having to prompt them to say “thank you”.
  • If their friend has something, the expectation is that they should have it too.
  • If they request a list of items for a birthday or holiday, then they expect that they will receive all of the items on their list. If they do not get all of the requested items, they will be disappointed, rather than grateful for what they did get.
  • They always seek to be the first and are upset or greatly disappointed when they are not the first (i.e. first in line, first to get a task completed, first to finish an exercise).

How to prevent entitlement

Preventing entitlement starts with the parent. It can start today. You have the power to say “yes” and to say “no” to your child. You, as parent, are the rule maker and can help pave the way to making your kids grateful rather than entitled. Below are some tips to pave the way with your family to preventing entitlement.

Stop doing

Stop doing everything for your child. Allow them to do things that they can do for themselves. If they are able to handle a complex video game, then they are more than capable of doing the dishes, raking leaves, making their bed, and more.

We don’t give our kids enough credit. They are far more capable then we recognize. Kids at the age of 5 are out on street corners selling candy and goods to tourists in third world countries. They make change for buyers, interact with their buyers, and work all day to help provide income for their family. Therefore, we can certainly expect our own 5 year-olds to make their bed, unload the dishwasher, and clean up their toys.

Children are smart, capable, and hard working when properly motivated. If the expectation is that they can complete a task then they will be able to do it. If the expectation is that they cannot do something, then they won’t be able to do it. You, the parent, are the agent to empower them to do things by asking, providing them with directions, and then setting the expectation that they will complete the task at hand.

Empower your children by doing less for them. If they are capable of doing something, then let them do it!

Teach them to be good losers

Your child will not win at everything. Therefore, they need to learn the art of being a gracious loser. From a young age, they should be taught to congratulate the winner and to shake their opponent’s hand. Talk to your child about winning and losing. Let them know it is ok to lose. It is an opportunity to learn and become better. They should congratulate the winner because someday they may be the winner and it will be nice to have others providing the congratulatory messages to them.

The world is a better place if we can be happy for the successes of others, especially if those people are friends and family. When playing games as a family or with friends, teach them by example. Congratulate the winners whole-heartedly and make the winner feel good about their achievement, even it if is just Chutes and Ladders.

For the losers, you say “better luck next time” and give them a genuine smile. Teach your child that these are the ways we show kindness to others, especially when we lose. This is a harder lesson for younger children to grasp, but be consistent with your own behavior and your insistence that they act the same way when they do not win. Eventually your hard work should pay off and you will have a child who has genuinely learned to be happy for others because they know what it is like to be a winner and a loser and they cannot win at all times.

Use the opportunity of failure or losing to explain to your child about some of the greats in this world that did not at first succeed. Oprah did not get her first TV job she interviewed for and Tom Hanks dropped out of college and was a bellhop before he became famous. You can also use the opportunity to discuss what they did well in their game or whatever it was that they just lost. Point out the good and then ask them what they think they could improve upon. Let them think introspectively on this, rather than you pointing it out. Otherwise, you will just come across as the critical parent, which is insult to injury following a loss.

Talk about responsibility for their actions

We all have encountered that adult in life who constantly blames other people for the bad things that happen in their life. It is never their own fault. It is always someone else that has caused their demise. These adults were once children. This behavior likely started in childhood and they never overcame this attitude. They don’t know how to accept responsibility for their actions.

Parents must teach their children from a young age to take responsibility for their wrong doings. If they make a mistake they own up to it. Instead of belittling the child for their wrong doing, use it as a learning opportunity. Engage them in a discussion about what happened and why. Allow them to take responsibility and ownership of their role in the situation, yet follow it up with discussion on how it is an opportunity for the child to learn and grow. They can have a different course of action the next time something similar happens. Help them determine a better action for handling the situation, so the next time it arises, they are better equipped mentally and emotionally to take on the event, person, or circumstance.

“I am sorry” is a powerful phrase. Adults that fail to apologize, were not properly taught as kids to use this phrase. Teach your children to use it now and use it often. For the big mistakes and the little mistakes. When they apologize, they should be taught to be specific with their apology. “I am sorry for (fill in the blank)”. Taking responsibility means a heartfelt apology. Often they need to understand how their actions hurt the other person in order to provide a heartfelt apology. If they don’t understand how the other person is feeling, it is hard to feel sorry for the action. Therefore, a parent who can take the time to help the child understand how the hurt party is feeling will better equip your child with empathy and compassion.

For example, if your child stole their best friend’s new ball cap, then sit down and have a conversation with your child before you take them to their friend’s home to return the hat and apologize. You ask your child, “how would you feel if you had the hat stolen and it was something you worked hard for doing chores to raise the money to purchase the hat or it was a gift from a relative you love greatly?” Help them empathize with the loss that their friend may be feeling. Rather than yell at them for their wrong doing, use it as an opportunity to learn from their mistake and become better. Having to return the hat and apologize will be a punishment in itself.

Talk about the value of a dollar

It is important to talk about money from a young age. Children need to learn about the value of money and its essential nature in our lives. Talking about money and cost of living should be an on-going conversation in your household. They need to understand that food, a home, transportation, and clothing all require money. Money comes from working. They should also see that there are times when you too can’t have something you desire. Talk openly about a budget, so that one day when you say “it is not in the budget”, they understand what you mean.

It is difficult for a child to understand the value of a dollar if they have never had to earn one. One of the best ways for a child to learn to appreciate the value of a dollar is for them to earn money. If they are too young to be employed, they can still earn cash in the neighborhood shoveling driveways, babysitting, dog walking, pet sitting, and working for friends and neighbors. They can also begin doing household chores and be provided an allowance for the chores that they complete. If you already have chores and they are required as a part of being a member of the family or household, then provide extra jobs over and above the regular chores that they can then earn money for completing. The point is for them to earn it themselves. They do the work and they earn a fair wage.

Don’t be indulgent and over pay your child for the chores they complete or you are undermining your efforts to teach them the value of a dollar. Make a list of the chores and the amount of money they will earn for completing the jobs. This way they know what is exactly expected and how much money they can earn. Then when it comes time for the next special toy or technology they come asking for, you can help them earn it rather than give it to them.

Just say no and make them work for it

You are the parent. You can say “no”. You should say “no”. Have you ever met a child who has never been told “no” by their parents? If you have, you know that child is the most spoiled kid in need of a serious attitude adjustment. When parents are quick to say yes all the time, then kids grow up thinking that the world will say “yes” to their every whim and desire. That’s not the real world though.

Our kids will experience rejection, heartache, and being told no many times in the course of their life. If they can experience it in the home and learn how to handle the “no” and deal with it, they are better off in the long run. They will be better equipped to handle a no in the real world, because you have said no enough times that they can emotionally handle the disappointment. They also know the alternatives. For example, if its a new video game that they want, you tell them no, you must earn it. From there the child goes to look at the chart and calculates which and how many of the chores they must complete in order to earn the video game. They will also learn other valuable skills in this process, such as time management, because they will need to set aside time every day for a number of days or weeks to complete all the tasks to earn the amount of money they need.

Saying “no” and providing alternatives for your child to earn what they want is empowering. You are teaching them to fish. An old proverb says,

“if you give a man a fish he will eat for a day, if you teach a man to fish he will eat for a lifetime”.

Teach your child how to earn for themselves so they can be better equipped for a lifetime.

Delayed gratification is also powerful. When children learn that they can earn something for themselves that they truly want, then when they do finally earn it they feel empowered. They worked hard and they made their goal happen. They earned it themselves. This is a powerful agent to help increase self esteem. Keep the chore list going, so that your child has the opportunity to grow their self worth by completing tasks and earning the things that they want in life.

Help them find gratitude

Much like teaching your children the art of being a good loser and how to apologize, teaching gratitude is an ongoing lesson. There is a saying,

“Gratitude begins where my sense of entitlement ends.”

Children learn to be grateful first when they do not get everything they desire. What happens when they get everything they want and ask for is that they expect everything they ask for. You set the expectation by saying “yes” too often. Allow for them to want. Not for basic necessities of course, but for things above and beyond the essentials in life. They will become grateful for the things that they do get when they are not handed everything they ask for.

Teach them to say thank you. Talk about how when someone gives them a nice gift that person (or their Mom or Dad) had to go to work to earn the money to buy that gift. Talk about how it is nice to have generous friends and family because not everyone has that in their life. Make them responsible for thanking others, both verbally and in writing. When your child receives a gift have them write a thank you note in return. It does not need to be long and eloquent. Just the practice of taking the time to write thank you and that the gift is appreciated helps them practice gratitude. They can carry this valuable skill into adulthood.

Grateful people are also happier people, so help your child see that they should be grateful for the blessings, big and small, in their life.

Help them practice giving back to other

Find opportunities for you and your child to give back to others. It can be through material things, but even more valuable when your time is given. Giving your time with your child to others is of great value and a great life lesson. Your child being exposed to others less fortunate is helpful in curbing entitlement.

Kids Giving Back supports families getting into their community to give back. They state,

We strongly believe that when young people volunteer they develop respect, resilience, and leadership skills, as well as the ability and opportunity to positively engage in the wider community. Our philosophy embraces volunteering as a two-way street, giving children and their families an opportunity to change lives, including their own.

Teaching your child to give back to others is empowering to them on so many levels from creating leadership skills, problem solving skills, and self esteem from the experience of helping others in need. Teaching kids that there are others in the world that have so much less than them will help them become more grateful. Having them serve others also makes them more service oriented and creates an awareness of the need to help others in this world.

Entitlement attitudes fall by the wayside when a child has learned the value and importance of helping others and giving to others in need.

Featured photo credit: Picjumbo via picjumbo.com

Reference

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The Voice Inside Your Head Is Playing with You

When LeBron James talked about his decision to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat back in 2010, he was met with a barge of negativity. People burned his jersey. Longtime fans turned on him.

Leborn was able to create distance from the situation simply by changing how he talked about the situation,[1]

I wanted to do what was best for LeBron James, and what LeBron James was going to do to make him happy.

He was facing a negative situation and the negative reactions of fans, but he was able to use positive words to explain his decision. If he would have responded to the negativity directly by saying, “yes I’m sad that people burned my jersey, it makes me feel unappreciated and vulnerable”, the situation and the negativity would have grown worse.

The critical voice inside our head

Most don’t realize it, but as we go about our daily lives, we are subconsciously interpreting every situation that arises–both big and small. We have an internal voice inside our mind that shapes our perception about what we are experiencing.

Some of our internal conversations can be negative, unrealistic, self-defeating and self-deprecating. We say things like, ‘I’m going to fail for sure’, or ‘I didn’t do well. I’m hopeless. I’m useless.’

Negative self-talk can come from:

  • A bad mood that stirs up negative thoughts.
  • The habit of being overly critical which may stem from your childhood.
  • Pessimism and always expecting the worst.
  • Negative past experiences and the persistent belief that history repeats itself.
  • Fear, anxiety, worries, depression and the different kinds of psychological problems that feed and perpetuate negative thinking.

The consequences of negative self-talk builds over time. Each time you engage in negative self-talk, you shoot yourself an arrow. Each arrow by itself is fairly insignificant. But over time, it can break you. Repeatedly berating yourself and believing the worse slowly sabotages you.

Thinking of yourself as clumsy, a loser, ugly , stupid, insignificant or worthless is an indicator that your self-talk is negative and you may be slowly orchestrating your own demise. Internal negativity makes you see yourself as irreparably flawed, inadequate or incompetent and as a result your self confidence is diminished.

Seeing yourself as hopeless, blaming yourself whenever something goes wrong or dwelling on worst-case scenarios are all examples of exaggerated, negative thought patterns. And this kind of distorted thinking can cause you to spiral downward until you’re so far down you are unable to see or imagine anything positive.

Negative self-talk reinforces any irrational ideas you already have. Each time you mentally rehearse negative phrases, you strengthen those irrational beliefs and perceptions. And with time, your negativity gathers the strength to cripple–and in some cases– even kill you.

Ridding yourself of negative self-talk

Replacing a negative mindset with a positive one requires slow and methodical effort. Here are a few steps that can help you recognize, stop and replace negative thoughts with positive ones:

  1. Identify the times negative self-talk arises.
  2. Identify what triggered those thoughts.
  3. Counter your negative thoughts with positive–factual ones.
  4. Create yourself a script that you can use to counter negative thoughts as soon as they arise.

When thoughts such as “I am worthless” arise, counter them with more realistic thoughts such as “my kids need me” or “my colleague values my work.” Each time you counter negative statements with positive facts, your negative thoughts lose power.

Try to view each situation objectively, like an outsider looking in and then try to determine what is best for that person (you) in that situation, similar to what Lebron James did.

Repeating this cycle over and over trains your mind to seek out and focus on the positive. And slowly positive thoughts will become your default. You have power over how you precieve life and how you interact with it. The first step in being fulfilled and achieving your goals begins by training that small voice in your head to speak positivity.

Featured photo credit: pixabay via pixabay.com

Reference

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If You Want an Invincible Team, Make Them Feel Safe

If you are a team leader, it is possible you may have come across one or more of the following problems:

  • Members of your team rarely attend meetings, and if they do seem to be uninspired or lacking in energy. This can render meeting utterly useless.
  • You may find that your team has trouble coming up with any new, interesting, or alternative ideas or solutions. There may be a real lack of critical thinking in your team.
    This can kill productivity.
  • During meetings or discussions, some members may remain quiet, or if they do speak may allude to there being a problem somewhere,but never specify what it is.
    This may mean serious issues in your team may go unresolved, massively affecting the functioning of your team.
  • If you want to see if your team agrees to something, you might feel that some are merely agreeing for the sake of agreement. This could be a real problem as these people might have great ideas.

Any one of these can prove extremely problematic, more than one of these can be potentially disastrous.

All is not lost however, these issues, and more, often stem from the same issue, and with that issue identified, it can be resolved.
The issue is this, the team suffers from a lack of Psychological safety.

What is psychological safety?

Psychological safety is the (often shared) belief that the team is an environment where it is safe to take risks. To share ideas and speak openly without fear of criticism or ridicule.

Years ago, Google began Project Aristotle,[1] a project to determine how to engineer the most effective team possible. Google spent years studying 180 different teams in detail. Their research was so detailed that they even kept track of how often the team members ate together. In this project Google learned a great deal about how effective teams function. One thing that they noticed, is that key to almost all successful teams, is that they were environments of psychological safety.

As each team member felt free to contribute and speak up, they became hotbeds of ideas, team members were much less likely to leave, and ultimately, were more successful. All because of psychological safety.

Benefits of psychological safety

The key benefit of psychological safety is that it fosters and encourages collaboration and interaction in the team.

It can often be difficult to tell at first if an idea you have is any good. Someone may have a fantastic idea but might not speak up about it out of fear that they will be embarrassed. If your team is in an environment that people feel comfortable to speak freely in, they will naturally begin to produce ideas. Some ideas will be better than others of course (but even bad ones may be improved in an effective team). Ten bad or mediocre ideas are better than no ideas at all.

In psychologically safe teams, people won’t fear making mistakes so much, and with this, even if they make mistakes, they’ll be more likely to learn from them, increasing their future effectiveness.

Consider brainstorming, (or even improv comedy!), the reason why it’s so popular, is because they foster psychologically safe environments. Think about it, in an effective brainstorming session, every member of the team is contributing, soon you might have dozens of ideas and plans made where before you only had a handful. Sure not all of these ideas may be workable, but their sheer existence demonstrates that each member of the team feels they can contribute, they feel included.

However, if before one person came up with a bad idea that was shot down and overly criticized, they may be less likely to speak up in the future, even if they have a potentially groundbreaking idea. As such, it’s difficult to go wrong with a psychologically safe team.

All that is needed is for people to feel that they can speak up, even voice criticisms if they have them. People will engage in a team more if they feel a part of it, and that they are shaping it, and who knows, maybe in their critique is an idea that will massively increase the effectiveness, and with it, the success of your team.

But where do you start?

It all starts with you.

Psychological safety is not something that can appear organically by itself out of nowhere. If the team environment is not psychologically safe, then the team leader must work hard to make it a safe environment. Here are some tips to get you on your way:

  • Lead by example. Become a model of what you think the ideal team member should be, if nobody else speaks, ask people things, keep encouraging people to interact with the group. Make sure this is done in a friendly way though, otherwise people might only say what they think you want them to say.
    Essentially, ask a lot of questions.
  • Don’t cut off conversation. If someone is speaking, or a few people have a good conversation going, let it flow naturally.
    To cut off the conversation will give the impression that people are not allowed to speak freely, and thus you’ll be back at square one.
  • If speak following something, make sure to summarize it in your own words, and if you think you misunderstood what some one says, ask for clarification. This will demonstrate that you are listening and care about what they have to say.
  • Never respond judgmentally. If someone feels that you are critical of their opinion, they will no longer give it, and thus the environment will once again become a psychologically unsafe one.
  • Don’t be an overlord. It is important to come across as someone who makes mistakes, someone human. Even something as simple as saying, “sorry, I might have missed something” will help build a stronger connection with your team members than if you just used your authority.
    It’s game over if your team members begin to resent working too.

With these tips you should be well on your way to making your team a more effective, dynamic, and more successful than it has ever been.

Reference

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Smart Phone is The Workplace Terrorist

Smart phones have slowly taken over various aspects of our lives including the running of businesses, monetary transactions, and even social interactions. People have invested too much time and energy into these devices, including their laptops and PCs. Recent studies have shown that some people rate their smart phones as more important in comparison to their close friends and some even though that it rated higher in comparison to their parents.

Smart phones have been known to lead to depression, anxiety, and even stress. Additionally, these devices could lead to behavioral changes.

This read will help you understand why the Smartphone is extremely dangerous to their users and how to minimize or prevent the effects of this device from taking place.

Why Are Smart phones Dangerous?

Most people have become slaves to their phones. This is through the invention and use of social media sites such as Instagram Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest, among others. Performance increases with an increased distance between an owner and his or her phone.

This behavioral change reduces the concentration perform, thus making people underperform in the society. This greatly affects all aspects of a person’s life including their future salary payment and even their creativity. Reduce this danger by indulging in the following actions:

  • Turn off your notifications with the exception of calls and messages
  • Restrict the use of your phone to making calls, sending messages, taking pictures and videos.
  • Leave all WhatsApp group chats that are irrelevant
  • Use it to build and grow your brand by using it to read books listen to audio books, listen to music, watch relevant YouTube videos, and even listen to podcasts.

The Result of Minimizing the Danger

Reducing Smartphone use leads to the fulfillment of goal and visions. This is because it frees up time and allows the user to focus on relevant issues and relationships. It boosts your attention span and helps you create an environment that supports your creative flow.

Strive to improve your life by working out, rekindling old relationships, thinking of business plans, spending more time with your family, or reading books. You do not have to maximize your productivity by changing your entire routine. Analyze your routine and change or alter the most unimportant thing. This small step might be the key to increasing your productivity.

Maximize the Result of Your Productivity

Once you gain back your productivity, take advantage of it by maximizing its potential. Use your free time to formulate new ideas and become more effective and efficient. Plan your day and learn the peak productivity points of it. This will help you establish the appropriate time to work or rest. Some people are more productive during the day, while others thrive at night. Learn to avoid situations that direct you to reduce your productivity by increasing the time that you spend on your phone. This includes those marketers who try to convince other people to that working form their phone is convenient. The truth is that it is convenient for them and not for the Smartphone user.

It is clear that the cons of Smart phones outweigh their pros. To read the full article, click here.

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Let This "5 Minute Journal" be Your Kids' First Ever Mindfulness Journal

kids

How are you inspiring your kids to develop positive attitudes? When it comes to understanding positive thinking, children get better at it as they grow older. However, by carefully nurturing it, positive thinking can be a powerful resource for the child. It helps in building resilience in such a child. The child can develop enough strength to help deal with the challenges of life. The Five Minute Journal for Kids is here to help model your kids and develop positive thinking in their lives.

Guide Your Kids to Mindfulness

The Five Minute Journal for Kids is an incredible journal designed to help teach your little ones the act of gratitude, thankfulness, and mindfulness. The journal makes use of daily guided questions to help your kids focus more on the good things life has to offer.

The Five Minute Journal for Kids features 5 daily interesting, easy-to-understand questions for your kids. These questions have been divided into morning and night sections.

In addition to that, the journal also features daily inspirational quotes to help inspire your kids. It features words of the day to help develop and improve your child’s grammar and vocabulary. There are also weekly challenges to help instill and inspire kindness and greater confidence in your child.

Perfect First Journal to Instill Gratitude and Mindfulness, & Preserve Positive Memories

Gratitude is an important component of mindfulness which helps improve the concentration levels of kids. It helps them in making better decisions. The Five Minute Journal for Kids remains the perfect first journal to instill gratitude and mindfulness in your little ones.

Apart from helping them learn and grow, it also helps your kids in preserving positive memories for years to come. In just five minutes a day, you can inspire daily reflection and help your kids in developing a positive attitude.

My 6 yr old was inspired when I read him mine – and he insists on doing his every day and night too!! This is great to focus and be mindful of every day and see every day as a gift and with opportunities” – Amazon Customer.

Get For Your Child Today!

If you want your kids to start practicing positive habits at a very young age, The Five Minute Journal for Kids is the perfect way to get it done. Get for your child today, as you help increase their self-confidence as they grow, handle the challenges of life with greater ease. Get it here.

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