Understanding Your True Self

All of us have different nature and temperament; our individual responses to the same situations are varied. Within our minds, we carry an impression about ourselves just like we carry about others; a variety of traits are attributed to each of us which becomes an integral part of our identity. Whether we seek to be known by those traits or whether these attributed 'traits' ring true to us or not says a lot about how aware we are about our inner self.

However, as many of us may experience, just being aware of our thought patterns and attitude may not be enough. We need sometimes to push ourselves to think harder and gain richer experiences in life just to get to the core of our being.

Life coaches and business coaches give a few tips to improve our quality of life and gain happiness by discovering our true self:

Understanding what you are

What we think about ourselves by and large reflects on what people think about us. Being conscious about 'who we are' helps realize our true potential. All of us have basic set of values which we live by. Identifying these values and living by them helps get through even the most difficult situations in life. By making a mission of discovering our real identity the purpose of our life, the meaning of life will probably be answered in the process. When we feel miserable; the cause of misery is probably not being aware what we really are. With some professional help, it is possible to discover ourselves.

Childhood conditioning

Childhood conditioning plays a major role in our response to things and situations. If we are not conscious of this fact, we might be making choices under the heavy influence of over-bearing parents or friends. However, as we grow and move away from parental influence we tend to think independently and acquire confidence. Even travelling alone helps as it provided solitude for introspection. Getting ourselves out from the mundane routine and exposing ourselves to newer experiences enables us to think differently. Putting ourselves in situations where we are forced to rely on ourselves, we learn to trust ourselves. This is possibly the surest way to becoming who we really are.

Build your self esteem

We all look for our identity as if it is lost in the first place! From a different perspective, by searching for our 'identity' we are really trying to find a solid foundation on which to build our self-esteem. Our urgency and desire to search for a fixed identity may diminish as our core self-esteem grows.
Ignore what people say about you

How can we stop caring what people think about us when we know that it is best for us not to brood over it? We probably need to realize that no matter what people think of us or how they act towards us, it has nothing to do with our real identity, but more to do with how they are feeling at a certain time or place. Not bothering about what people think is actually the best way to open ourselves to the world. It will not only help us take calculated risks but it may help us sense our core self.
Benefits of knowing your true self

Have you ever looked at a colleague and thought: "She really knows who she is, what she believes in and where she's going?" More importantly, can you say this about yourself? Sometimes, getting back to the core of 'who you are' can help your organization create a distinctive position relative to competitors. As you strengthen your foundation, your ability to make decisions and weather life's challenges will be strengthened. You will be free to know, express, develop and integrate your career and personal life.

Darwin's theory of 'Survival of the Fittest' is applicable here as much - in this shrinking world - only the strong and the wise survive. So, it is advisable to take out time to strengthen the 'muscles' of our core identity and pump up our wisdom. Develop the strength to take bold actions, not the strength to suffer.

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What Are Your Strengths And Weaknesses? How Answering These Questions Can Help You Achieve Happiness

Often, especially when we're interviewing for a new job, we are asked "what are your strengths and weaknesses?" Some of us have an easy time figuring out what our strengths are; others have an easier time identifying their weaknesses. Whatever category you fall into, knowing who you are helps us discover our strengths and weaknesses, and how to re-enforce our strengths and mitigate or eliminate our weaknesses.

In order to find out what your strengths truly are, look at your talents. Are you a good chef, or a musician? What about an athlete or a good friend? What we often call as "talents" are actually titles that surround our talents. If we look at these titles you can discover the true underlying talents. For example, what denotes a good friend? Loyalty, compassion, and trustworthiness, are just some of the traits that I would use to define the qualities of a good friend. What makes a good chef? Their creativity, fearlessness, and passion are all things that come to mind when I think of good chefs. These adjectives are all strengths that when combined define the title of our talents.

Our weaknesses can be found in the areas of our life that inhibit us from achieving our goals. One seemingly positive weakness that many people have is that they're people pleasers. They will take on too much work in attempts to please others, which results in our inability to finish our work or an inability to produce the quality of work we typically produce. Another common weakness is procrastination. Many people today suffer from procrastination due to the ease of surfing the internet. There are even shortcuts built into computer systems that allow us to easily maneuver between windows allowing us to quickly hide the fact that we were just online instead of writing a report when our boss walks by.

Now that we know the answer to "what are your strengths and weaknesses?" We can now go about trying to figure out the best way of utilizing our strengths and either eliminating or mitigating our weaknesses. After identifying our strengths, we need to go about finding the best way for them to be utilized in our given profession, or in the various professions we are interested in pursuing. If one of your strengths is actually a trait that would not be accommodating to the job you're applying for or currently working, chances are you're not happy with where your professional life.

To mitigate or eliminate your weaknesses you're going to have to first acknowledge that they are in fact weaknesses, and second be dedicated to either mitigate them or eliminate them completely. For example if you're a people pleaser you're most likely going to want to mitigate this weakness so it doesn't impair the quality of your life or work you produce, but you still want to be able to please your boss or your significant other. Procrastination on the other hand is going to be one of those weaknesses you're going to want to eliminate. If you can't help surfing the internet instead of doing the work expected of you, you need to be disciplined and not even open up the web browser if possible. Eliminating the temptation to procrastinate often helps us in training ourselves how to be productive.

Ultimately in the end we really want to be able to answer the question " what are your strengths and weaknesses?" because it helps us understand who we are and what we should be doing with our lives that will bring us the greatest joy, happiness, and fulfillment. In the end, happiness is really what everyone is looking for, and you can only be happy once you know who you are, and take responsibility for your life by accepting all your strengths and weaknesses.

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How To Land A Top Job Salary

Money can't buy happiness! It's true. But that doesn't mean we don't try to improve our prospects. More money added to your kitty every month guarantees a comfortable life by providing the basic amenities in addition to a few luxuries.

As per the latest stats, physicians, lawyers, IT professionals, product managers, design managers, tax managers and architects are among the highest paying jobs. The median base salary for these positions ranges between $100,000 and $200,000. Hence, we find most people hankering for these positions.

However, it could be a major mistake. You could land a top job salary, but you might not be meant for the job or you might not be interested in the field you choose. The way to get a satisfying, high paying job is to prepare yourself for one, in your area of liking.

Upgrade your education 

An additional degree on your resume could be what you need to get your dream job. A bachelor's degree is the minimum qualification to have if you want a decent job and salary. A master's degree or Ph.D further raises your chances of securing a top job salary.

You can continue to educate yourself even as you work fulltime. There are many colleges offering online courses and part-time programs for working students. Also, enquire if your current employer has an incentive program in place to pay for at least half your education.

Expand your skill set 

With everything moving towards an interdisciplinary approach, cross-training is an asset. In addition to being trained in your area of specialization, you should acquire skills for tasks that are outside the parameters of your job. Why do companies prefer such individuals? Because such individuals are capable of taking up broader responsibilities and serve as backup too.

Develop soft skills 

Soft skills is an umbrella term for personality traits, personal habits, social etiquette and interpersonal skills. Educational qualifications and technical expertise alone will not get you the top job salary; you need to have the right soft skills.

 
Developing your soft skills makes your more visible among the crowd. You can work on your verbal and non-verbal communication, leadership skills, team management and listening skills.


Networking 

Getting a top job salary is also about working your way up the ladder through social contacts. Hence, you need to build a resourceful network both online and offline. You should attend conferences, job fairs and trade associations where you gain a lot of job insight and also get to meet the bigwigs of your industry. You can set up a blog and share your expertise there. Promote yourself by distributing a business card.

Gain experience 

In the bid to get a better salary, many switch jobs in a short span of time. It does not reflect good on your resume as it says a lot about your poor staying power. What employers are looking for are individuals who will be able to contribute to the overall growth of the company.

Hence, avoid hopping from one job to the other. Stay with a company and show progression.
When looking for a top job salary, first evaluate your options. Consider if the high paying jobs fit your interests. Do your research on the company, ask the right questions and put yourself up as the best candidate.

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