Self-Improvement Archives

The 4 Biggest Decision-Making Barriers: Explained

What are the biggest decision-making barriers? Why does expanded choice make decisions even more difficult? In his book The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz asserts that expanded choice comes with four distinct pitfalls: missed opportunities, regret, disappointment, and unfavorable comparison. These decision-making barriers can have many side effects, such as decision paralysis, anxiety, and depression. Here’s a breakdown of the four decision-making barriers that come with expanded choice.

Turn the Negative Into Positive—It’s Within Your Power

How do you get through negative pits in life? Do you try to distract yourself from the negativity or do you look for ways to turn the negative into positive? Most people deal with difficult times by trying to lessen the impact of negative emotions. But hard moments in life have the potential to become positive and beautiful experiences that you’ll look back on fondly. In their book The Power of Moments, Chip and Dan Heath suggest two ways of turning negative pits into positive peaks. Here is how to turn the negative into positive.

A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley: Book Overview

Have you read A Mind for Numbers? What do you know about the book’s author and publication? Because the world is increasingly dependent on technology, being competent in technical subjects such as math and science is beneficial both for your career and life in general. A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley aims to help you learn math and science well enough that they become intuitive. Keep reading to learn about the book’s author, publication, context, and more.

Focused Thinking vs. Diffuse Thinking (+Examples)

How does your brain work? What’s the difference between focused thinking and diffuse thinking? A key theme of the book A Mind for Numbers is that alternating between modes of thinking (focused thinking and diffuse thinking) can help you learn new things and problem-solve effectively. To understand how to do this and why it works, you first need to understand a few things about how your brain works. Keep reading to learn about the two modes of thinking.

Modes of Thinking: How to Switch to Solve Problems

What are the two modes of thinking? Can you deliberately alternate between them? Your brain naturally alternates between two modes of thinking: focused thinking and diffuse thinking. You can learn to switch between these two modes in order to solve problems. Read more to learn when and how to alternate between modes of thinking.

Goals! by Brian Tracy: Overview & Key Takeaways

What is Brian Tracy’s book Goals! about? What is the key message you can take away from the book? In his book Goals!, motivational speaker Brian Tracy shares the mindset and the steps that will help you reach your goals in the shortest amount of time. As we’ll explore, he believes that goal-setting requires changing your mindset, being clear about what you want, using visualization, and keeping track of your progress. Once you have set this foundation, you can start setting and achieving your goals. Here is a brief overview of Goals! by Brian Tracy.

Robert Kiyosaki’s B Quadrant and How to Break Into It

What is the B quadrant? How does one break into Kiyosaki’s B quadrant from the E or S quadrants? According to Kiyosaki, the B quadrant (big business owner) is a far likelier path to wealth than working in the E or S quadrants because you can take advantage of other people’s time to generate wealth. Kiyosaki says you have two choices when trying to establish yourself in the B quadrant: create your own business system, or buy one that already exists. Kiyosaki offers four routes to owning your own system in the B quadrant. Here is how to break into the B

How to Commit to Your Goals: Write Them Down

Do you struggle to stick to your goals and follow through to the end? How do you commit to the goals you set for yourself? Once you have a strong conviction that you can achieve whatever you set out to do, it’s time to commit to your goals on paper. When you write down your goals, you solidify them in your mind, thereby increasing the likelihood that you’ll actually follow through with them. Here is how writing down your goals can help you increase your commitment to them and help you follow through.

How to Anticipate the Obstacles to Achieving Your Goals

What is the current goal you’re working towards? What are the potential obstacles that could get in your way? Once you have a comprehensive view of your goals and when you want to achieve them, the next step is to identify potential challenges. When you know the challenges and potential problems ahead of you, you can be better prepared to face them. Here is how to anticipate and prepare for the obstacles to achieving your goals.

Clarify Your Values Before You Set Your Goals

What are your values in life? In other words, what’s most important to you? Why is it important to define your core personal values? Your values are like a compass—they show you a clear path forward and guide every decision you make as you work toward your goals. If you’re unclear about your values, you won’t be able to make decisions that move you in the right direction, resulting in frustration and a lack of fulfillment. Here’s why it’s important to clarify your values before you embark on a goal.