Self-Improvement Archives

How to Recenter Yourself: 4 Simple Tips From a Tribe of Mentors

What do you do when you find it hard to focus? How successful are you at changing your attitude when you should? Sometimes, you feel too tired or scattered to focus and do what you need to do or even want to do. This happens to everyone. Tim Ferriss, in his book Tribe of Mentors, shares how several successful people put themselves back into a positive, productive frame of mind when they get off track. Read on for advice on how to recenter yourself and return to the task at hand.

The Importance of Positive Relationships for a Good Life

Do relationships often seem to come second in your life? How would things change if you prioritized positive relationships? The Good Life by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz argues that positive relationships are what make life worth living. But, many people tend to put their relationships on the back burner and don’t even realize the effect it has on their life. Keep reading to understand the importance of positive relationships if you want to live the good life.

Tips for Memorizing a Speech Without Sounding Scripted

How can you remember what you want to say—but avoid stiffly reciting it word-for-word? Is it possible to speak extemporaneously—but not aimlessly? Dale Carnegie says that, when you know your speech well enough, you can deliver it with conviction, feeling, and authenticity. Knowing it well enough, though, doesn’t mean memorizing every word. He shares three strategies for leveraging your memory for effective public speaking. Read more to learn his three tips for memorizing a speech in a way that allows you to speak naturally.

Tribe of Mentors: Tim Ferriss Gets Advice From World-Class Experts

Where do you go for advice? What if you had a tribe of mentors to consult about your life and career? In Tribe of Mentors, Tim Ferriss distills advice from more than 130 world-class experts such as actor Ben Stiller, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, and media mogul Ariana Huffington. Ferriss reached out to these experts and compiled their advice when he was seeking direction in his own life. Continue reading for an overview of this book that can help you, too, find direction.

How to Practice Zen Buddhism: Keys to Everyday Awakening

Have you ever experienced Zen? Where’s the place to start? How is the Zen practice of meditation different from other methods? Alan Watts says that there’s more to Zen than just a set of philosophical principles or a chronology of religious movements that you can understand on an intellectual level. Zen is also something that you can practice in your own life, at the level of your embodied experiences in the world. Continue reading to learn how to practice Zen Buddhism according to The Way of Zen.

What Is the Goal of Meditation? Sam Harris on Enlightenment

Apotheosis—The Hero's Journey Leads to Nirvana

What is the goal of meditation? Can meditation be practiced, and its goal achieved, outside of religion? Sam Harris explains that seeking transcendental states of mind has historically been the domain of religion. But, he argues, the contemplative aspects of faith traditions can be practiced in a secular context. Thus, the contentment that results can be enjoyed by anyone. Continue reading to learn what meditation and spiritual enlightenment look like from Harris’s secular worldview.

How to Be a Better Partner in a Relationship: 3 Simple Tips

Do you have a “secure base” relationship? Do you share everything with your partner? Even if a relationship is going well, there’s always room for improvement. Rather than pointing the finger outward, consider what you can do. Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz share some practical tips in their book The Good Life. Keep reading to learn their advice on how to be a better partner in a relationship that you can put into practice starting today.

How to Improve Cognitive Skills: The 4 Best Activities

Why are you so susceptible to interference and distractions? What are activities that help improve cognitive skills? Technology and information overload cause interference in the brain because of cognitive control limitations. The Distracted Mind by Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen claims that this interference can be improved with certain activities that help brain function. Keep reading to learn how to improve cognitive skills.

How to Go Easy on Yourself on the Difficult Path to Success

Where’s that sweet spot between pushing yourself to achieve and being too hard on yourself? How might you bring more lightheartedness into your self-discipline? In Tribe of Mentors, Tim Ferriss shares advice from scores of experts in various fields on how to identify what matters most to you, how to navigate non-traditional career paths, how to appreciate failure, and more. Some of the counsel is about being kind to yourself in the process of pursuing your goals. Read more for advice on how to go easy on yourself and stop worrying that you’re not smashing all expectations perfectly.

The Meditation Journey: Why Distractedness Is Progress

Are you fairly new to meditation, or are you considering getting started? Do you get discouraged and wonder whether you should be experiencing more results sooner? If you’ve started on your meditation journey or you’re thinking of taking the first step, Sam Harris has some advice for you. In Waking Up, he shares some insights that will help you know what to expect from this spiritual practice. Read more to find encouragement for your meditation journey.