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Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

Jaclyn Baker
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A change in mindset can transform a negative feeling into a positive one. Every cloud has a silver lining. 

Question Your Thoughts

You have the power to control your thoughts. Every single negative thought can be changed into a positive one.

It does take practice and consistency, but it can be done. 

The next time you notice a negative thought sneaking up on you, stop what you’re doing and take some time to question it.

Why do you think that thought entered your mind in the first place? Did something happen in the past that made you cautious? Or are you experiencing a bad gut feeling?

Just because you think something doesn’t make it true – even if it feels that way right now.

Challenging your thoughts can help you look at events from several different points of view. 

Will This Matter One Month From Now?

Remember, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Just because you can’t see it right now doesn’t mean it isn’t there. 

When something is bothering you, an excellent question to ask yourself is…

“Will this matter a month from now?”

Bringing a little bit of the future into the present can help remind you that even though you may be feeling bad right now, the feeling will pass. 

Practice Positive Thinking

None of us are perfect, and significant lifestyle changes won’t happen overnight. But if you put the work in, anything is possible.

Every small step is one step in the right direction.

Looking at one situation/event a day through a different lens is an amazing place to start.

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Improving And Rebuilding Your Relationships

Jaclyn Baker
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With the hustle and bustle of daily life, finding time for others isn’t always easy. 

Cherishing that connection with the people in our lives is so important. 

If you feel like you’ve been putting your relationships on the back burner lately, now is the time to check back in!

Not sure where to begin? Keep on reading to learn more. 

Schedule Check-In Time 

We get it. At the end of a long work or school day, sometimes all you want to do is eat dinner and go to sleep. We all have those evenings once in a while, and that’s completely okay. 

But here’s the deal – when you do something so often, it can easily become a habit. 

If you feel like you don’t have the time to reach out to friends and family, go ahead and set regular reminders for yourself. 

When that reminder goes off, all you need to do is call or text one friend to check in and say hi.

Create a Routine 

Solo spontaneous outings and adventures can be a lot of fun – but so can routine.

Having a set weekly or even bi-weekly get-together scheduled in your calendar will eliminate the need to text back and forth to figure out logistics.

It may take some planning at first, but it will be worth it. 

Work Towards Common Goals

Goals are very personal and should be done for you and only you.

You should never feel pressured to do something you don’t want to do because you feel like it’ll make your friend happy.

However, if you and a friend share the same goal, you can definitely work towards it together. 

That way, you can experience the journey together and even bounce ideas off one another.

Let’s say you and a friend both want to become fluent in French. Quizzing one another or watching French movies together can help make the overall process a little more fun and even deepen your relationship. 

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Happy & Healthy Relationship Habits

Jaclyn Baker
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Every couple is unique, but when it comes to maintaining a healthy and happy relationship, some factors do overlap.

Letting Conversation Flow

Open communication is an important part of any relationship. It all comes down to feeling comfortable talking about anything and everything.

Being able to openly talk about light and heavy topics can help you learn about one another on a deeper level. 

It’s all about keeping the communication lines open and not holding anything back. 

Laughter

Amongst mutual respect and acceptance, laughter can help make a couple stronger. Many years from now, you may not remember every activity you and your partner did together, but you will remember the laughter. 

Listening

Everyone deserves to feel heard and seen – and your partner is no exception. 

Paying attention to the small details can make the biggest difference. 

Authentically wanting to listen to your partner is one of the many ways you can show them you care. You may not always see eye to eye, and that’s okay. All you can do is listen and be there. 

Creating a Sense of Comfort 

Being able to relax and be yourself around your partner is so important. You should always stay true to who you are and do what makes you happy. There is only one you, and you should never feel like you have to change your interests, ideas or values to please someone else.

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Embracing Change Even When It’s Scary

Jaclyn Baker
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Change can seem scary because of all the unknowns. 

The thing, going out of our way to avoid change will only make it that much harder to grow. 

Mindset Is Key

When something is new, it can be so easy to let our imaginations run wild and immediately jump to waste case scenario thinking. 

Once a seed of doubt is planted, it’s easy to let it bloom in a flurry of anxious thoughts and worries.

You have the power to challenge your worries and change the narrative. Instead of thinking about all the things that may go wrong, think of all the things that may go right. 

Changing your mindset can help put things into perspective. 

Take Control Of The Risks 

Yes, risk-taking can be a little uncomfortable. But it’s part of life. 

With every risk comes reward in any capacity. You either have an excellent experience, or you learned what doesn’t work. It’s a win-win. 

Every new turn is full of opportunity. 

Let Yourself Fall And Get Back Up

Every day may not be smooth sailing, and you may experience a bump or two in the road on your journey. 

It’s okay to fall. You just have to remind yourself to get back up. Every fall has something to teach you. Every setback can also make you stronger and more confident. 

You know what they say. Confidence is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. 

“The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings.” – Kakuzo Okakaura

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Procrastination Can Be Prevented – Here’s How…

Jaclyn Baker
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Even the most well-thought-out projects don’t always turn out as planned, which can bring on anxiety and procrastination. 

It’s interesting. At times just thinking about a task can be more anxiety-provoking than the task itself.

Even though it’s far easier said than done, sometimes the best thing you can do when faced with a difficult task is just jump right in. 

Facing a block in the road doesn’t mean you’ve hit a dead end. All it means is you need to look for a new route.

There Is No Such Thing As a Bad Idea

The next time you’re faced with a challenge, don’t give up. Instead, set some ground rules for yourself. 

Give yourself a time limit to brainstorm as many potential game plans as possible. You can even set a timer if that helps. 

During that time, you can put all your energy into brainstorming instead of worrying.

Once the time is up, you should have a pretty long list of ideas in front of you. 

Now, not every idea on your list may be appropriate for the given situation.

But just because an idea wouldn’t work today doesn’t mean it may not work in the future. 

So often, the initial fear of beginning a project can prolong procrastination. Having a long list of potential game plans can help make starting a little less scary.

Take Short Frequent Breaks

No matter what you’re working on, it’s very important to take breaks. Frequent short breaks can help prevent burnout and keep you motivated.

However, it’s key to ensure that your breaks aren’t too long. Sometimes after a long break, it can be difficult to get back into your creative flow.

Even if you don’t have many ideas at the time, just do what you can. 

“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” – Roger Crawford

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Ready to Become a Better Listener?

Jaclyn Baker
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Active listening isn’t always easy – but the good news is, it can be learned. 

Don’t Be a Driver, Be a Passenger

When a friend wants to talk, let them vent. 

In certain situations, the best thing you can do for your friend is be there and listen. 

Instead of driving the conversation, let them take the wheel and say what’s on their mind. 

Hear Between the Lines

Let us know if this scenario sounds familiar.

You: Are you okay? You look a little down?

Friend: Yes, I am fine.

You: Are you sure.

Friend: Ya…

When we’re not feeling our best or having one of those days, it’s so easy to dismiss how we really feel. 

Sometimes we can hold our feelings in or deny them without even noticing. Saying everything is fine when it’s not can quickly become a habit.

When we’re having a bad day, little things like burning our toast or losing our keys can be enough to upset us. 

If you feel like your friend is holding back their feelings, you can try asking them some open-ended questions and see where the conversation goes. 

Wait, Wait, Wait, Respond

You may not always agree with your friends, and that is completely okay.

We all have our own opinions, and you should always stay true to who you are. 

Now, just because you don’t agree with what your friend is telling you doesn’t mean you can’t respect their opinion and be there for them.

Even though you may want to jump in and share your 2 cents, let them finish their thought first.

Step Into Their Shoes

Having empathy for friends and family can help you see the world through their eyes.

It can also help us understand them on a deeper level. 

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” – Bryant H. McGill

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Returning to the Present Moment

Jaclyn Baker
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Do you ever catch yourself getting lost in moments that happened weeks, months or even years ago?

Maybe you can’t stop thinking about that job opportunity you turned down…

Or maybe you wish you shared more in-depth feedback during that last meeting…

If we aren’t careful, it’s so easy to get lost in those “should have”, “would have” thoughts. 

Now, our past does play an important role in both our future and present. 

Every single event, both positive and negative, can teach us so many things. The only thing is, when we spend so much time thinking about the past, we can forget to focus on the present.

These tips can help you live in the moment and appreciate every day.

Start Small 

Do you ever catch your mind wondering while doing day-to-day activities such as cooking or cleaning?

If you answered yes, you are not the only one. In fact, it happens to us too!

Now, we all have household chores we don’t love doing, and that’s completely okay. 

But there are plenty of ways you can make those household chores more fun. As time goes on, you may even look forward to them.

It’s all about implementing little things you already love into the activity.

You can play your favorite song on full blast in the background or chat with your best friend on speakerphone.

Add Spontaneity to Your Routine

Ever notice how you always take the same route to work?

Or how you always gravitate towards that blue mug in your cabinet?

When we do the same thing for so long, we often do it without even thinking about it. It’s basically like living on autopilot.

Adding a little spontaneity here and there can encourage creative thinking, boost productivity and help us get out of our own head.

Take a brand new route to work, visit a new grocery store, or read a book by an author you’ve never heard of.

Try it out and see how it goes.

“When you’ve had a life of overthinking, you have the same reaction time and time again.” – Joel Annesley

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4 Techniques To Help Minimize Stress

Jaclyn Baker
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We may not be able to completely avoid stressful events.  But we can minimize its intensity in healthy ways.

Keep on reading to learn more. 

Gratitude Lists

The next time you catch yourself feeling overwhelmed or anxious, hit pause, sit down and say five things out loud you are grateful for.

Don’t take too much time to think about this list. Just say the first 5 things that come to mind. 

Not sure where to begin?

Here are some examples that can help get you started.

1) A beautiful sunny day.

2) That first sip of coffee in the morning.

3) Your best friend.

4) Your favorite comfy socks.

Okay – now it’s your turn! 

Call a Friend

When you’re stressed about something, sometimes the best thing you can do is call a friend to vent or chit-chat. We are all so different and have our own way of looking at things.

Your friend may be able to help you look at what’s bothering you in a new way.

Listen To Your Body

Your stress may be a result of running on a low battery for too long. 

It’s so important to listen to what your body is trying to tell you. 

If you feel like you’ve been working too many hours or feel a sense of unbalance, you may need to change up your routine.

There is nothing wrong with going to bed an hour early or declining an event if you don’t feel up to it. 

Identify Your Stressors

We may not be able to control every stressful event that happens to us.

But if you take some time to identify your main stressors, you may be able to dial down the intensity.

For example, if you find your email inbox overwhelming you can unsubscribe from emails that no longer deliver value or only check emails during business hours.

Give it a try and see what happens!

“No one knows your body like you do. Listen to it. It will tell you what to eat, when to drink, how to sleep and which exercises you need to do. Let your own body be your most trusted personal trainer.” –  Toni Sorenson

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