4 Reasons to Life Live with More Intensity

If you’re like most people, you were taught to live carefully, not to take risks, and to aim for security. Leaping into the unknown can feel reckless, even dangerous. But living a safe life, staying low-key is necessarily limiting. How can you reach your true potential and live a full life if you live in monochrome?

 

Diving into intensity can be its own reward, but there are other good reasons to dial up the excitement in your life. 

 

1. Finding Your True Self

 

A life lived on your own terms means you get to find out so much more about who you are and what you’re capable of.  Not many people break out of their comfortable social mold. Shucking off other people’s expectations means you are free to be whatever you want. 

 

2. You Can Be Your Full Self

 

Living in the modern world often means closing off part of yourself. It’s not easy to work a regular job and be the next great novelist or Olympic athlete. Modern life forces you to choose, and often your true desires suffer as part of that trade-off. How many people have walked away from their dream job to do something that was expected of them, something perhaps more lucrative or respectable? 

 

Choosing to live intensely means you can blossom into your whole self. You can live your best, most authentic life. 

 

3. Intensity Inoculates You Against Fear

 

Living intensely requires you to feel the fear and do it anyway. You can still feel fear, but it doesn’t control you. The skydiver feels fear before they jump, but they still jump!

 

Perhaps most importantly, choosing a life with more intensity will free you from the fear of failure. Failure shrinks down to being part of your risk assessment, and not something to stop you from doing anything fun. 

 

4. You Will Be Completely Free

 

Once you’ve chosen intensity, you will learn what true freedom feels like. You’re free from worrying about what other people think, you’re free to choose your own path. You’re free to succeed at whatever you want to do. 

 

Your comfort zone is suddenly limitless! You can let go of rules and restrictions and leap into the opportunities that are all around you.  Instead of putting off your dreams into some distant future when you have enough money, or the kids have gone to college, you can go for it right now!

 

Suddenly you’re in a world of possibilities. It’s up to you to be open and ready to make the most of them. 

5 Secrets to Living an Intense Life

Think of the most successful people you know. Some of the big names who have made it in their field, whether it’s politics, business or even Hollywood. The thing that has fueled their success is intensity. A complete focus on their commitment, their goal. Even at times, a perfectionism. 

 

So how can you harness that same intensity to improve your life? Here are some expert tips for living an intense life. 

 

1. Find Your Thing

 

Whatever your Thing is, it must be something you believe in with your whole heart. You can’t be intense about a product or goal you don’t believe in. So dive deep and see what really matters to you. Chances are it’s not just making money or having a secure job, it’s something that really speaks to your heart. 

 

2. Be Passionate About It

 

To live intensely means to throw yourself into your Thing, heart, and soul. Live it, breathe it, do the best you can and then some.

 

3. Be Focused

 

No matter how intensely you believe in and work on your Thing, there are still only twenty-four hours in a day, and you still have only a certain amount of energy. You’re not superhuman, so make sure you don’t spread your resources too thin or get distracted. Stay focused on what you really want. And that means learning to say no sometimes, even to opportunities that seem irresistible. 

 

4. Stay in the Real World

 

Intensity needs to stay side by side with realism, or you risk getting derailed. Learn to live with good enough sometimes, and to adapt to changing circumstances.  A clever person learns to be flexible as well as passionate. Intensity can be single-minded, but it doesn’t mean being pig-headed.

 

5. Stay Balanced

 

The goal of work/life balance has become commonplace, but if you’re living intensely, it can be easy to lose sight of what’s essential. And self-care and relationships are just as important as your goal. There is such a thing as being too intense. 

 

Plenty of entrepreneurs have gotten so focused on their project that their relationships suffer. Being too intense can mean that you hurt people, and can even burn some pretty important bridges. 

 

You can live an intense life and achieve what you want out of life while still living a full, rounded life. Stay connected with people and reality, and you can make sure that there’s room for happiness and fulfillment too. 

6 Ways to Add Intensity to Your Life

You know that high energy, positivity, and enthusiasm are the things that will propel you towards success, right? But how do you keep your intensity levels high day in, day out? What can you do to stay motivated and get yourself the life you want?

 

Here are 6 ways you can add intensity to your life right now. 

 

1. Choose Intensity

 

One of the most powerful things you can do is to act enthusiastically, even if you’re not feeling it. Choose to live intensely, behave as if you had that level of intensity, and before you know it your energy is high, your enthusiasm is infectious, and you’re doing it!

 

2. Make Time for Your Passion

 

It’s easy to let the days go by thinking you don’t have time to improve your running or your drawing or learn that language. But if you make the commitment to focus on your passion for just fifteen or twenty minutes a day, you’ll find your enthusiasm rising. You’ll be enjoying life intensely. 

 

3. Take Care of Yourself

 

Proper self-care is vital if you want to increase the intensity in your life. Keeping your energy and motivation high is easier if you’re eating well, making sure you get enough sleep and getting some regular exercise. 

 

Prioritize you and see how it affects your energy levels. 

 

4. Be Kind to Yourself

 

Learning to practice self-compassion is key for adding intensity to your life. Being kind to yourself means noticing how you feel, it means cutting yourself some slack and pulling back on the judging. Notice your self-talk and see if it’s sapping or building your intensity. 

 

5. Practice Meditation

 

Intensity and meditation might seem like odd bedfellows, but think about it. Research has shown that meditation and mindfulness practice help to increase brain function. Regular meditation practice, even if it’s only for ten or fifteen minutes a day, has been shown in increase grey matter in your brain. Think of the potential for those extra brain cells!

 

Meditation will also help lower your stress levels and increase your self-compassion. You’ll be more resilient, have more energy, and more enthusiasm. 

 

6. Notice the Good Things

 

Noticing and appreciating the good things in your life helps to rewire your mindset from negative to positive. If you see the good around you, you’ll come to expect that things will go well, and more good things will flow to you. 

 

Focusing on success and what is going well in your life helps to keep that intensity level high!

Stuck for ideas? Here are Some Ideas to Unstick You!

Take a Shower 

 

You may laugh - but most entrepreneurs find that taking a shower (or running) help them come up with new ideas. 

 

When we focus intently on a task at hand we tend to see only one part of the big, sprawling picture in front of us. It's when we get away from the chore of idea generation, that our brains start to work with associations. 

 

You may find that when you run or cycle, you begin to see common ground. It happens all the time that you see bloggers who write posts such as "10 things marketing departments need to learn from triathletes" or "How to do business like Richard Branson by thinking like Arnold Schwarzenegger". 

 

These ideas come from associations we have - but then the shower afterwards engulfs us in a field of negative ions. The pleasurable response to these ions injects dopamine into our systems, and dopamine, combined with a positive state of mind helps encourage the flow of positive ideas. 

 

Mentally Model Yourself After Someone Else 

 

Ever hear the expression "What would MacGyver do if he were here now?" It's mentally associating yourself with someone who you believe would have the answer. It doubles your creative workload, because it also breaks down barriers that you might otherwise believe existed to prevent you from finding the right solution. 

 

If, in the TV program, MacGyver could use a matchstick to escape jail, then if you think like him, you should at least be able to find a way to get out of your locked bathroom without resorting to the embarrassment of shouting out the window to your next door neighbour. 

 

Get Out of the House 

 

Another reason running and travel work so well to stimulate ideas is that by getting out of the house we move and take in more oxygen. Increased oxygen helps boost brain function, and a change of setting helps the brain start react in different ways to wards different stimuli. 

 

Accept Your Bad Ideas 

 

Yes, there's a dark side to this super power of awesome ideas. It's the really stupid, impulsive ideas that come with them. 

 

In reality, there are no really stupid ideas. There is only the stupidity of acting on bad ideas without giving them enough forethought. Don't get down on yourself for having a bad idea - it's all part of the process. Just accept that - after examining the idea - it was a bad one. Ditch it and move on. 

The Essential Role of Self-Discipline in Overcoming Obstacles

Life is full of barriers. Sometimes, the impediments you encounter on your journey seem impossible to overcome. Usually, though, there is a solution to life's problems. Make the following considerations when you require discipline to overcome a hardship.

 

Take The First Step

 

Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher in the 6th century BCE. As with most philosophers during this early age of enlightened thinking, he had several views on living that still apply today. Here's a quote credited to him that can help you improve your discipline: "Beginning is half of every action."

 

It's only natural to stop dead when you have a big obstacle in front of you. It makes sense. You have to judge how this impediment to your progress can be overcome. The key is to avoid getting stuck in this assessment process.

 

Discipline means taking action. It's like courage in a lot of ways. You act even though you are uncertain about the outcome. When roadblocks appear without warning, take some time to formulate an action plan. Then act. The key to finishing is starting, so don't let life's obstacles keep you from progressing to a great outcome.

 

Become Your Hero

 

Do you have a favorite movie star? There may be a leader in finance, politics, or some other field that you look up to. You are their biggest fan. One way to develop rock-solid self-confidence is to model that person.

 

What would they do if they were going through the same situation you are encountering? How would they react? Certainly, they would succeed. That's one of the things you respect about them: their ability to reach new levels of achievement reliably. When it's tough to push on, be the person you admire in your mind. This can give you the discipline to keep going.

 

Answer This Simple Question

 

Life gets difficult at times. You've already encountered this natural law. You wouldn't be here now if you weren't a survivor, someone who has overcome difficulties in the past.

 

There have been times you had to practice incredible self-control. Even though you have succeeded in these situations, it might be tough to see yourself getting past some difficulty now. Answer this simple question when self-doubt threatens to keep you from creating the reality you deserve.

 

What am I willing to do to change my life?

 

Will you confidently take a step today to overcome an obstacle when you prefer to wait until tomorrow? Discipline is about choosing to do something you'd rather not do right now to improve your life. Answering that question fills you with the energy and confidence needed to push forward and gives you the first action you need to take to create change.

 

Remember that you can't control everything that happens in your life. The only thing you can control is your response. Choosing not to react when life gets hard will change your situation. Disciplining yourself to take action when obstacles appear is its own reward.

Give Yourself Permission For Self-Care

The practice of self-care means taking care of your physical and mental health and being aware that you must take care of yourself as the highest priority. Self-care increases stamina, reduces stress, and decreases the risk of illness, so we must treat ourselves as number one to thrive and be strong.

 

Still, we may think putting ourselves first is selfish or egotistical. Others are challenged with low self-esteem, making them feel like they don’t deserve to be first. Some people think they must do everything for everybody and will put aside their goals to assist others. These scenarios impact our self-esteem, keep us from pursuing our goals, and foster self-care neglect.

 

We must understand that if we don’t care for ourselves, we won’t be able to help anyone else, we may feel stressed, and our health suffers. When our mental or physical health is poor, we lose motivation and energy, and our quality-of-life decreases.

 

How can we treat ourselves compassionately and make self-care a part of our daily routine? 

 

About Self-Care

 

The World Health Organization explains that self-care is “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker.”

 

The National Library of Medicine published a study on the role of self-care related to stress and mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. A tool, the Self-Care Activities Screening Scale (SASS-14), was used to evaluate the study participants. Four main areas were considered:

 

• Health consciousness

• Nutrition and physical activity

• Sleep quality

• Interpersonal and intrapersonal coping strategies

 

The result of the study is that self-care significantly improves our well-being. However, the higher a person’s perceived stress level, the more challenging it is to practice self-care.

 

Self-Care Basics

 

Reduction of perceived stress is essential for self-care. The following are basic strategies to help you cope with stress and lead you to a healthy lifestyle.

 

Embrace Healthy Foods: Nutritious meals can improve your energy and brain power. Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish and seafood, nuts and seeds, beans, low-fat dairy products, and unsaturated oils, such as olive oil. Avoid fried foods, salt, sugar, fast foods, cakes and pies, and too much caffeine. 

 

Sleep Well: The Sleep Health Foundation recommends that adults aged 18-64 sleep 7 - 9 hours and adults over 64 sleep 7 – 8 hours nightly. Avoid actions that might keep you awake at night, such as caffeine in the afternoon, using electronics before bedtime, and taking long naps during the day. You can foster a good night’s sleep by exercising during the day, going to sleep and waking up at the same time daily, and ensuring that your bedroom is quiet. 

 

Every Workout Counts: Exercise helps to relieve stress and make you stronger mentally and physically. Choose an activity that you enjoy, such as a brisk walk, and strive to exercise at least 30 minutes daily.

 

Stay Connected: Among many benefits, having good friends can relieve stress and promote happiness. The Mayo Clinic reports that friends help you cope with traumas, improve self-confidence, and reduce your risk of health problems.

 

Time Management and Boundaries: The night before, create a to-do list for the next day and prioritize each item. This “roadmap” for the day will help you focus on the tasks that must be completed. Work through your goals and tasks in priority order. Also, consider setting boundaries to prevent interruptions to your plan. For example, if you block out 3 hours to focus on a task, let those who need to know that you aren’t available during that time. 

 

Conclusion

Taking care of yourself is essential to reduce stress and reap the benefits of good health and happiness. In our busy lives, we may feel we don’t have time for self-care, thus impacting our health and energy and limiting our capacity to help others. Remember that you are not being selfish by treating yourself as number one and setting boundaries is not rude. These are necessary concepts to help you cope with stress and boost your well-being.

 

References

 

https://www.who.int/health-topics/self-care#tab=tab_1

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8678542/

 

https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/sleep-topics/how-much-sleep-do-you-really-need

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/friendships/art-20044860

 

Breaking Bad Habits: A Practical Guide To Positive Change

Why is it so difficult to overcome bad habits when we know we may harm ourselves or others? For example, we know about the health risks associated with smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol excessively, and overeating. 

 

Our families, friends, and others are impacted by secondhand smoke and the effects of alcoholism. We want to give up our bad habits, but the short-term pleasure makes quitting or changing habits challenging. This article will explore the psychology that causes us to form habits and how to make positive changes to break bad habits.

 

About Habits

Our repetitive actions become habitual and are a normal part of the human state. Habits can be beneficial, such as taking a shower or exercising. On the other hand, regular use of illegal drugs, for example, can become a bad habit. Habits can also form when pleasurable things prompt the brain’s “reward” center, leading to unhealthy routines like gambling or overeating.

 

Eventually, the habit becomes an automatic behavior without consciously thinking about it, and it can be difficult to stop. Developing new habits is challenging since the brain retains automatic behavior. 

 

Still, you can eliminate bad habits with patience and commitment by trying the following practical strategies for positive change.

 

Identify Your Bad Habits and Triggers: List the habits you want to change to improve your well-being. Don’t try to change all your habits at once. Instead, choose the highest priority habit that you want to change and focus on it. This will increase your chances of success.

 

Think about what triggers the habit and explore options for avoiding it. For example, assume that you are stressed after work each day and find that drinking alcohol helps you to relax. However, you’ve gotten into the habit of drinking excessively and are concerned about your health. 

 

In that case, you can learn techniques such as meditation to help you relax. Ensure that you take short breaks during the workday to practice meditation. This will help you to cope with stress better. After work, when you feel the urge for a drink, substitute it with exercise, such as a brisk walk to help you unwind.

 

Your goal is to reduce or remove the trigger and substitute the bad habit with a good one.

 

Accept Discomfort: Changing habits is complex and can make you anxious and agitated. Recognize that these are normal feelings; they are temporary and will diminish with time. If you feel discomfort, do something that relaxes you; it’s a distraction and will help you to feel better. Consider going for a walk, reading, playing a game, or taking a short nap.

 

Adopt a Positive Mindset: We all have an inner voice and unconsciously have negative thoughts at times that are discouraging or detrimental to our well-being. You may think, “I can’t do this,” or “I’ll never kick this habit.” Be aware of these thoughts and replace them with positive self-talk such as “I can do this” or “I will do this.”

 

Be Kind to Yourself: You’re human; it’s essential to forgive yourself if you backslide while trying to break a habit. Give yourself credit for your efforts thus far. Rather than give up or put yourself down with negative self-talk, you can pick up where you left off and get back on track. Remember to be aware of scenarios that trigger the habit and either avoid or substitute the behavior with something positive.

 

Conclusion

When we repetitively practice behaviors, good or bad, those behaviors become habits. The habits that are bad for us are challenging to overcome. However, we can learn how to identify the triggers that make us indulge in our detrimental routines and then avoid the trigger or substitute it with positive behaviors such as exercise or enjoying a stroll in the park. 

 

Along the way, if we backslide, we must remain positive and persistent and keep trying. In the long run, by trying the preceding tips, you are taking a practical approach to making positive changes in your life.

References

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2012/01/breaking-bad-habits

 

https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/breaking-bad-habits

 

https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/mind/2021/the-science-habits