Lifestyle

Factors To Consider Before Buying A Pad Lock

by Leo
written by Leo

Theft is a global problem and causes losses for both business and personal homes. When thinking of a way to secure a property or item, the first thing that comes to mind is a pad lock. Rightly so, these security devices are a worthy and inexpensive investment to be made. To prevent vandalism and losses, here are factors you need to consider when buying a padlock.

Construction material

Padlocks are generally made from different materials. It’s hard to pinpoint the best, but whatever the chosen material it has to be strong and durable. The most common materials used are steel and brass-laminated zinc. As you can see, padlocks are made from different materials reinforced in different layers. The three most important properties of a good padlock material is that they must be corrosion-resistant, durable, and strong.

Strike resistance

Since padlocks protect against theft and vandalism, it means any attempt at theft or vandalism would see the intruder trying to damage the padlocks. A good padlock should be able to withdraw any strike or hit. On quality padlocks, rubber panels are introduced to coat the metals. These rubber panels act as cushions and shock absorbers to protect the padlock when struck. So when looking to buy padlocks, look out for these rubber panels or on what shock absorbers are designed to protect the metal casing from physical strikes.

Pins

Padlocks function with pins. The pins behave like tumblers that are raised when the right key is pushed into the lock. Going by this, the more pins that are available in a padlock, the more secured the padlock will be. With this, when you’re looking to buy a padlock with maximum security, go for one with a higher number of pins. If you’re not familiar with how to check for it, you can ask the seller. It’s usually written in the padlock description.

Padlock shackle

What’s a padlock shackle? You know that U-shaped metal on the top of the padlock, the one that pushes out when the padlock is open? That’s a shackle. Although it is made from metal, the density and size of the shackle goes a long way to determine the overall security of the padlock. You want to invest in a padlock whose shackle is made from a heavy-duty material. Always settle for a thick shackle over a thin one.

Keyed alike

This feature is ideal for businesses or individuals who want to install multiple padlocks. This way, you wouldn’t have to bother moving around with different multiple keys. Better put, it comes with a master key that can open all the padlocks. Again, this is important if you are trying not to lose multiple keys.

Conclusion

Padlocks are designed to help protect and secure whatever they’re used on. The quality of a padlock is tested when an intruder tries to gain access into an area secured with the padlock. For this reason, when choosing a padlock, you have to consider some of the most important factors. To help get you started, the post highlights some of them.

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Industry

Grader Machine And Its Uses

by Leo
written by Leo

Alibaba has a huge number of products including grader machine available for the users, right at the tip of our fingers. The user-friendly interface is sufficient to help and guide even the newest of the users who aren’t as tech-savvy to find what they are looking for and buy them. The prices on Alibaba are very pocket friendly and the quality of the material is the best for the price. It is a great site with a huge catalog that helps people to choose what they want within the budget. For anyone interested in being financially independent, one of the business ideas they can consider is to buy a grader machine and start a business with it.

What Is A Grader Machine?

A grader machine is a machine used in construction. It is narrow in size and is used to flatten surfaces during projects. It does so by using a blade attached to a hydraulic motor under the machine that flattens the surface. It helps in a lot of projects and it works rather efficiently. It works faster and it is versatile so by changing the equipment attached to it, one can use it for different purposes. This gives rise to several business opportunities when it comes to this.

Applications Of Grader Machine

1. Surface Levelling

Because of the presence of the moldboard or the blade, the grader machine can flatten and level the surface of the project that is being currently worked on. The fine or medium grain of the leveling is controlled by the hydraulic motor.

2. Earth Moving

By changing the equipment attached to the machine, the grader machine can effectively move the earth and clear out the space just like a bulldozer.

3. Creating Inclines

By moving the angle of the moldboard or the blade, one can create an incline with the help of a grader machine. This moldboard can be moved anywhere from 10 degrees to 45 degrees.

4. Scarifying And Spreading Materials

By adding a scarifier, the grader machine can remove the top layer of soil. Similarly, the grader machine can be used to spread new material over the surface that requires covering. The versatility of the grader machine is huge.

5. Trenching And Ditching

Adding the proper gear is what helps the grader machine do so many different things. It can make trenches and ditches if one attaches the proper equipment, such as a loader bucket can be used to remove the dirt from a particular place, successfully making a trench or a ditch.

Why you should choose a grader machine from Alibaba?

Alibaba with its huge market place is one of the biggest online stores available for us. For someone looking for a grader machine, this site should be their one-stop shop. This online platform has anything and everything one might require to maintain their grader machine. Starting from different parts to maintain the grader machine to the necessary oil and wax for its better keeping. Alibaba has it all and that too for a price that won’t cost an arm and leg. This is why shoppers should consider Alibaba when they consider buying things online.

Start A Business By Renting Your Grader Machine

Entrepreneurship does not only mean a business in the technological field. One can become an entrepreneur just by buying a grader machine. as discussed above, we know that grader machines are very versatile and necessary. It is one of the businesses where there won’t be a loss after investment.

Conclusion

Alibaba being an approachable, user-friendly, and easy-to-use site has been providing the majority of users with whatever they need, whether it is to maintain a lifestyle or to make them their business owners. Alibaba has it all. They support the dream of being financially independent by providing appliances at pocket-friendly prices.

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Industry

The Function and Applications of a Good Pellet Mill

by Leo
written by Leo

Are you looking for a machine to make pellets from powdered materials? Consider buying a pellet mill machine. It is a conventional machine that has retained its relevance over several years. A pellet mill typically consists of a die and rollers. The role of the rollers and die is to force the feedstock through the die holes to create the pellets. This occurs when the rollers and dies rotate. A good pellet mill serves numerous purposes.

The primary function and applications of a pellet mill

It can be confusing to know what this machine can achieve if you are hearing about it for the first time. The primary function of a pellet mill is bringing powdered material particles closer to strengthen the forces acting between the particles. This provides the necessary strength to densify bulk materials into pellets. Now that you understand the essential function of a pellet mill, let’s look at some of its applications;

Manufacturing feed pellets

One of the primary applications of pellet mills is manufacturing feed pellets. Pellet mills designed for this function are called feed pellet machines. Besides animal feed pellets, they also manufacture aquatic feed pellets. You can produce a lot of feed with these machines. You only need to mix the components, shear them, and subject them to heat and pressure prior to being forced through a die. Even when you aim to sell feed to small farmers, you will meet their demand and make good money. Feed pellets are food for various animals like pigs and fish.

Manufacturing pellet fuel

Pellet fuels are biofuels produced from compressed organic matter or biomass. Pellet mills help transform biomass, fuel, industrial wastes, and agricultural residues into fuel pellets. This is one of the most critical applications of pellet mills. Pellet fuel is a renewable energy source; it is a clean and cost-stable alternative to conventional fuel alternatives. Millions of first-worth country homes prefer pellet fuels for heat, freestanding stoves, fireplaces, and furnaces.

Manufacturing fertilizer pellets

Pellet mills help produce animal manure pellets smoothly and successfully. In this case, the raw materials are usually wet. Therefore, the raw materials require drying before being fed to the milling machine. Fertilizer pellets are great for gardens and farms. Based on the fertilizer output you want to achieve, go for a machine that will meet your demand. The specifications will let you know what to expect. Luckily, the machines are natural, safe, and highly effective. Fertilizer pellet manufacturing machines are specially designed to work with manure.

Wood pellet manufacturing 

Pellet mills also make wood pellets. Wood pellets are biofuels made from compressed wood fiber; they are great alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. They are low-carbon and eco-friendly. Many homes now embrace them. Whether you make the wood pellets for use at home or sell them to customers at a small fee, this machine will help you achieve that.

Conclusion

As the world adapts to sustainable practices, pellet mills keep gaining popularity. Pellet mills help produce eco-friendly energy, animal feeds, and fertilizers. Visit Alibaba.com for different types of pellet machines for varying applications.

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Lifestyle

Make Your Fists Stronger With Punching Man Daily

by Leo
written by Leo

A punching man or a ballistic punching dummy is often found at training centers where they train boxers and other martial artists. These dummies are made of silicon and/or rubber that mimic a real human for efficient practice of kicks and punches. These dummies allow the trainee to learn to attack at the desired spots as if hitting a real human. Moreover, some people also use these dummies to train their fists to make them stronger.

Whether you want to train yourself or just remain fit through martial arts practice, a punching man serves great. So, this article will talk about everything you need to know about a punching man, what to look for when buying one, and how it helps in achieving perfect physical fitness.

What To Look While Buying Punching Man

Here’s what exactly you need to look for in a punching man.

1. Material Quality

These punching mans are made of several types of raw materials ranging from soft silicon, rubber, or even sometimes plastic. If you’re out for buying one, always look for the raw materials and its quality because high quality ensures longer and better training sessions.

2. Resistance

Resistance here means how well your dummy can resist water and other stuff. Since you’ll be training, your body will release sweat, which will ultimately get on the dummy as you hit it with your legs and hands. Your dummy must be resistant to liquid and it must not break down easily as you shift force and momentum from your punches and kicks.

3. Weight

The weight decides how hard you can strike on the dummy. Low weight dummy is often avoided since it’ll fly away with a weak kick or punch. A heavy dummy will need to harder strike to make it swing. This will help you train harder and better.

4. Uppercut/Undercut

Some dummies are designed to facilitate undercuts and uppercuts. If you’re up for pro boxing or intense martial arts techniques, you should buy such a dummy with which you can train your undercut and uppercut moves.

How Punching Man Can Benefit Your Physical Fitness

Punching man helps achieve perfect physical fitness. First, it’ll make you strike really hard, which will make your muscles used to of hitting hard. So if you ever fight a tough guy in real life, you’ll be trained for that. Then, your fists and legs will experience increased vibration as you hit hard on a dummy. That will help you hit hard and strong objects such as someone’s shin bones or arms without hurting yourself.

Conclusion

If you’re willing to make a purchase, consider Alibaba.com since it offers punching mans of different types to cater to diverse customer needs. There are products of different qualities, prices, and features. You can also go for silicon or rubber ones with different weight categories. This will help you train better. You can get global shipping and get the product delivered at your doorstep. Alibaba.com also offers trade assurance offers, which will ensure timely delivery of your product under normal circumstances, or else you can get a refund from the manufacturer or the supplier.

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Industry

How Do You Pelletize Biomass Creating Your Sawdust Pellets

by Leo
written by Leo

Biomass palletization is the process of turning material such as sawdust or waste into a uniform and useful product. Biomass briquettes are useful because they burn cleaner than any other type of fuel, can be used in any type of stove, and are available to purchase at many retailers.

However, for the best results, some people choose to make their pellet fuel, whether it be sawdust pellets or other biomass-type pellets. However, you might wonder “how do I make my pellets?” and what do I need to do so?

Using a sawdust pellet machine to make your sawdust pellets, using Biomass, or in a pellet factory is a fairly straightforward process. Just a few steps using simple technology will get you from biomass to sawdust pellets in no time.

The Process of Making Pellets from Biomass

The process of making pellets from biomass is a very simple one.

The raw material is first dried, then crushed, and then pelletized. Drying can be done at a low temperature or in an oven. The drying process is important as it helps in removing moisture content which could lead to spoilage of the biomass.

The next step is crushing which is carried out using a hammer mill. Hammer mills are used in the food industry to crush grains and seeds into powder form. However, they can be used to grind any material that needs to be broken down into smaller pieces without damaging them.

Hammer mills work by using hammers that strike against the material being crushed at high speed. As this happens, friction between these hammers and the material being crushed causes heat production which increases the temperature inside the machine’s chamber. As a result of this increase in temperature, moisture present inside the raw material gets evaporated and this helps in drying it further.

Before pelletizing takes place, the dried material must be separated from any residue that may have formed during crushing or drying processes like dust particles or small pieces of wood, and so on., This separation process can be done manually or mechanically by passing the mixture through screens with different mesh sizes until only

Advantages of Using Biomass Pellet Machine

The main advantage of using a biomass pellet machine is that you can use any type of agricultural waste as fuel for your generator. The most common types of agricultural waste are rice husk and wheat straw.

Another advantage of using this type of energy source is that, unlike coal or oil prices which fluctuate every day, biofuel prices are much more stable because they are based on supply and demand rather than market forces like crude oil prices which can fluctuate dramatically over short periods due to geopolitical factors like wars and other factors.

If you are interested in making your own biomass pellets then you definitely need a biomass pellet machine. Yulong Machinery gives you the chance to own a nice biomass pellet machine. Call Yulong Machinery today for an amazing product.

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Lifestyle

Strongest PSI in Pressure Washers

by Leo
written by Leo

The maximum strength of a pressure washer is the amount of pressure it can reach. This can be expressed in PSI (pounds per square inch), or bars. The higher the PSI, the more powerful your pressure washer will be. The same goes for bar. The larger the bar rating, the more powerful your pressure washer will be.

The most common units used for measuring pressure are PSI and bars. When looking at a pressure washer’s specifications, you’ll see it listed as “2,500 PSI” or “3,000 bar”. Both measurements refer to the same thing: how much force is being applied by the water coming out of your hose.

But what is the strongest PSI in a pressure washer?

The strongest PSI in pressure washers is the most important factor to consider when choosing a pressure washer. For instance, in roof pressure washing, the average household pressure washer has a rating of 1,200 PSI. If you’re looking for something with a little more power, you can find one that goes up to about 3000 PSI.

The most powerful pressure washers are typically used by contractors who need to clean large areas of concrete or asphalt. They’re also used by car enthusiasts who want to clean their vehicles without using any chemicals or detergents.

How Much PSI for Pressure Washing?

The pressure that you choose for your pressure washer will depend on the type of job you’re doing. For instance, when pressure washing:

Wood

If you’re just trying to clean the dirt off your deck, then you’ll want to use a lower pressure setting so you don’t damage the wood.

If you want to remove paint or stain from wood, then you’ll need a higher-pressure setting. This should however, be lower than PSI setting for pressure washing concrete and other hard surfaces because the wood is porous and may absorb water more easily.

You should however, remember wood can be damaged by too much force. So soft woods like Pine and Cedar, 500 to 700 PSI is okay. But for harder woods, you can use up to 1500 PSI.

Concrete

This depends on the type of concrete and its condition. For residential projects, it is best to use between 1,200 and 2,000 PSI. You can use less if you want a light cleaning or more if you want to remove stains or sealer from older concrete.

Bricks

Pressure washing bricks should be done by someone who knows what they’re doing because it can damage them if done improperly.

A good rule of thumb is around 100-125 PSI for most residential homes and 200-250 PSI for commercial buildings like hotels and restaurants. This will allow the water to get into all nooks and crannies where dirt may have collected over time so that everything comes clean at once instead of having to repeat the process multiple times over several days or weeks depending on how dirty your bricks are at the start.

Cars and Trucks

The general rule of thumb when it comes to pressure washing a vehicle is that you want enough water pressure to loosen up any dirt or grime on the surface but not so much that it damages the paint job or other parts of the car.

A good rule of thumb for choosing a pressure washer for car washing is to purchase one with at least 2,000 PSI but no more than 4,000 PSI. This will allow you to use plenty of power without damaging your paint job or stripping off wax coatings that have been applied by hand or machine.

Conclusion

The best PSI pressure washer will depend upon the project that you need to undertake. Before purchasing a pressure washer, consider how much money you are willing to spend and what the specific task will be. That way, you can avoid losing money by purchasing a machine that won’t fulfill your particular needs. Remember, the best gas pressure washers are the most affordable ones if you want better value for your money. And always, always read customer reviews before making any purchase for an important home improvement project like this one.

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Lifestyle

What Perfect Is

by Leo
written by Leo

Do perfect men have big muscles?  Do perfect women have big breasts?  Do perfect couples have lots of children?  Do perfect husbands earn upwards of $100K a year?  Do perfect wives cook delicious meals?

Do perfect people have lots of friends?  Do perfect people have loads of life experience?  Do perfect people ever fail?

Yeah!  You bet they do!  All of this and soooooo much more…

Perfect men are scrawny.  Perfect men struggle with obesity.  Perfect men can barely do one pull-up.  Perfect men have bad backs that prevent them from lifting heavy objects.  Perfect men were only born with one arm.

Perfect women have tiny breasts.  Perfect women have fake breasts.  Perfect women have breast reductions.  Perfect women haven’t finished growing their breasts yet.  Perfect women have lost both breasts to cancer.

Perfect couples have one child.  Perfect couples have ten children.  Perfect couples adopt because, medically, they can’t have their own children.  Perfect couples adopt even when they can have their own.  Perfect couples never have children because they don’t want them.

Perfect husbands are stay-at-home dads.  Perfect husbands own multi-million dollar businesses.  Perfect husbands are migrant farmers.  Perfect husbands switch careers in their mid-50’s.  Perfect husbands have no idea what they want to do for a living.

Perfect wives don’t cook because they’re too tired when they get home from work.  Perfect wives only know how to cook Italian food.  Perfect wives hate cooking even though they’re good at it.  Perfect wives are chefs at fancy restaurants.  Perfect wives make Ramen Noodles.

Perfect people are introverts with two close friends.  Perfect people are extroverts with five hundred Facebook friends they communicate with regularly.  Perfect people hangout with their marching band friends.  Perfect people have famous friends.  Perfect people have a best friend with four legs.

Perfect people have traveled and lived all over the world.  Perfect people have yet to explore beyond their hometown in rural Montana.  Perfect people still live at home with their parents.  Perfect people are happy where they are.  Perfect people haven’t figured out how to get to where they want to go.

Perfect people fail a hundred times and lose hope.  Perfect people succeed on their very first attempt.  Perfect people don’t like to admit when they fail.  Perfect people see failure as an opportunity for growth.  Perfect people never fail because they never stretch themselves beyond their comfort zones.

Perfect people have scars on their faces and perfect complexions.  Perfect people have long brown hair at 60 and short grey hair at 35.  Perfect people wear wigs.  Perfect people have sex with men, women, both or none at all.  Perfect people can barely see over the grocery store counter and sometimes bump their heads at the top of doorways.  Perfect people have waistlines that are infinite in size and geometry.  Perfect people have skin tones as light as vanilla ice-cream and as rich dark chocolate.

Perfect people come from every corner of this beautiful planet and can be seen everywhere – even in the mirror.

Yeah!  That’s right!

Perfect is the way we are born.  Perfect is the way we are now.  Perfect is exclusively unique.

We are what perfect is.

Photo by: Movimente

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Lifestyle

11 Ways To Let Go And Feel Less Stress

by Leo
written by Leo

“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars.  You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.”
— C.S. Lewis

This morning, I received a long email from a reader named Evan who is struggling with letting go of a failed relationship.  In his email he explains, in rather vivid detail, the signs and symptoms of a toxic relationship that has been heading south for many years.  He admits that he needs to let go, but he struggles with it, because doing so means he must finally face reality, which requires him to let go of the idea in his head about how his life and relationship were suppose to be.

One particular line from his email really summed it up well: “I’m learning the hard way that the hardest thing in life is simply letting go of what you thought was real.”

Isn’t that the truth – for all of us, in all walks of life.  We all have an idea in our heads about how things are, or how they’re supposed to be, and sadly this is what often messes us up and stresses us out the most.  Realize this.  Sometimes life doesn’t give you what you WANT because you NEED something else.  And what you need often comes when you’re not looking for it.  You won’t always understand it and that’s OK.  Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does.  And then just when you think it can’t get any better, it does.

The key is detachment – letting go of the life you expected, so you can make the best of the life that’s waiting for you.  It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.  Here are some strategies for making this happen:

  1. Create some healthy space for yourself. – Sometimes you are just too close to the puzzle to see the big picture.  You need to take a few steps back to gain clarity on the situation.  The best way to do this is to simply take a short break – a breather – a vacation – and explore something else for a little while.  Why?  So you can return to where you started and see things with a new set of eyes.  And the people there may see you differently too.  Returning where you started is entirely different than never leaving.
  2. Accept the truth and practice being grateful for what is. – To let go is to be grateful for the experiences that made you laugh, made you cry, and helped you learn and grow.  It’s the acceptance of everything you have, everything you once had, and the possibilities that lie ahead.  It’s all about finding the strength to embrace life’s challenges and changes, to trust your intuition, to learn as you go, to realize that every experience has value, and to continue taking positive steps forward.  (Read The Untethered Soul.)
  3. Say less and breathe more when you’re angry. – Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.  True story.  When you’re infuriated with someone, take a few deep breaths, sit quietly and think for a moment.  Acknowledge the true source of your anger.  Anger always bleeds from the inside out.  Remember that we need to fix ourselves first before we attempt to fix or influence others.  Trying to change others is a common recipe for prolonging the suffering.  Taking responsibility for changing yourself, and how you deal with the actions of others, is a recipe for growth, freedom and happiness.
  4. Forgive with all your heart, as often as necessary. – Forgiveness is a constant attitude of choosing happiness over hurt – acceptance over resistance.  It’s about acknowledging that we’re all mistaken sometimes; sometimes even the best of us do foolish things – things that have severe consequences.  But it doesn’t mean we are evil and unforgiveable, or that we can’t be trusted ever again.  Know this.  Sit with it.  It might take time to forgive, because it takes strength to forgive.  Because when you forgive, you love with all your might.  And when you love like this, a heavenly, healing light shines upon you.  This forgiveness – true forgiveness – brings you to a place where you can sincerely say, “Thank you for that experience,” and mean it with all your heart.
  5. Concentrate only on what can be changed. – Realize that not everything in life is meant to be modified or perfectly understood.  Live, let go, learn what you can and don’t waste energy worrying about the things you can’t change.  Focus exclusively on what you can change.  And if you can’t change something that’s upsetting you, change the way you think about it.  Review your options and then re-frame what you don’t like into a starting point for achieving something different in your life.  (Read Loving What Is.)
  6. Make the NOW your primary focus. – Now is the moment.  The past is just a memory.  The future is a mental projection.  You can choose to dwell back in the past for learning and joyous reflection.  You can choose to dwell in the future for visualization and practical planning.  However, any time your awareness floats away to the past or future frequently for negative purposes, you are suffocating your ability to thrive in the only moment you ever have – the NOW.  Past and future literally do not exist right now; feel the freedom in this truth.
  7. Embrace your quirks, your mistakes, and the fact that life is a lesson. – Life is a ride.  Things change, people change, but you will always be YOU; so stay true to yourself and never sacrifice who you are for anyone or anything.  You have to dare to be yourself, in this moment, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.  It’s about realizing that even on your weakest days you get a little bit stronger, if you’re willing to learn.  Which is why, sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your trouble and hard work isn’t what you get, but who you become.
  8. Nurture your self-worth. – Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is simply believing you’re worthy of the trip.  And you are!  You are worth it.  Tattoo that right onto your brain… Seriously!  The world starts to respond when you believe that about yourself.  It doesn’t always look like you thought it would, but positive shifts begin to take place when you start to recognize and acknowledge your own self-worth.  So watch your thoughts and stop any self-deprecating thoughts dead in their tracks.  Remind yourself that once upon a time, in an unguarded, honest moment, you recognized yourself as a worthy friend.
  9. Pay less attention to people’s judgments. – Most people hasten to judge in a desperate attempt to not be judged themselves.  In other words, their judgments are shallow and based on their own insecurities, and thus not worth worrying about.  And honestly, no one has the right to judge you anyway.  People may have heard your stories, and they may think they know you, but they can’t feel what you are going through; they aren’t living YOUR life.  So forget what they think and say about you.  Let it GO.  Focus on how you feel about yourself, and keep walking the path that feels best under your feet.  (Marc and I discuss this in detail in the “Self-Love” chapter of 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently.)
  10. Do everything with a touch of kindness. – Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is… you guessed it… to be kind.  Whatever can be done, can be done more effectively when you add kindness.  Whatever words are spoken, will always be more compelling when expressed with kindness.  The kind deeds you exert in just one moment can have a positive impact that lasts a lifetime.  Your days will be brighter and your years fuller when you add kindness to your purpose.  Choose to be kind every day, and you’re truly choosing to live in a world with less stress and more happiness.
  11. Savor life’s goodness. – Life is a bowl of fruit; some fruit are rotten while others are good for you.  It’s your duty to sort through it, toss out the rotten ones and forget about them, while you enjoy eating the good ones.  Don’t be confused by others who seem to be doing the exact opposite.  Ultimately you will realize there are two kinds of people in this world: those who choose to disregard the good fruit and wallow in all the rotten ones, and those who, like you, choose to toss out the rotten ones and savor all the good ones.

Afterthoughts

Letting go is not giving up.  Letting go is surrendering any obsessive attachment to particular people, outcomes and situations.  Surrender means showing up every day in your life with the intention to be your best self, and to do the best you know how, without expecting life to go a certain way.  Have goals, have dreams, aspire and take purposeful action and build great relationships, but detach from what life must look like.

The energy of someone aspiring to create something wonderful, teamed with this kind of surrender, is far more powerful and rewarding than someone determined to create outcomes with a desperate ‘must have’ mentality.  Surrender brings inner peace and joy, and lest we forget that our outer lives are a reflection of our inner state of being.

The floor is yours…

What do you need to let go of?  What thoughts, habits and attachments are creating unnecessary stress in your life?  Leave a comment below and let us know what you intend to do about it.

Photo by: Salvatore Iovene

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Lifestyle

8 Things You Should Not Do To Get Ahead

by Leo
written by Leo

“Not all those who wander are lost.”
?J.R.R. Tolkien

Sometimes we find ourselves running in place, struggling to get ahead simply because we confuse effort with achievement.  If you’ve been feeling like you missed a door somewhere and have thus been heading in the wrong direction, it’s likely that you got caught up in this sort of confusion.

The good news is, no matter how long you have traveled in the wrong direction, you always have the choice to turn around.  So make that choice today.  Promise yourself that you will NOT…

1.  Follow a specific life path simply to satisfy others.

Sometimes we try to satisfy our parents, teachers, spouses and peers by walking a particular path in spite of the fact that our own inner GPS advises otherwise.  Then, not surprisingly, we wake up one day and we feel completely lost.  If you’re feeling a little lost now, its time to change course.

Life is too short to spend all your time trying to make everyone else happy.  Besides, it’s impossible to please everyone all the time anyway.  At some point, you’ve got to stop caring about what everyone else wants for you, and start actually living for yourself.

Make choices that take your mind, body, and soul into consideration.  You are the only person who knows what’s best for you.  It’s impossible for anyone else to know.  No matter how much you share with them, they are not connected to your deepest desires, intuition, hopes and dreams.  Always, ALWAYS listen to yourself and what you want first.

2.  Sacrifice all your present happiness for future security.

Do not fool yourself into believing that you must live the same day over and over again for the rest of your life, simply because it’s the responsible thing to do.

So many people live daily with unhappy circumstances, and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation.  They somehow believe that conforming to their current circumstances will eventually lead to a life of comfort, security, and peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to their spirit.

Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design into the present.  The very basic core of the human spirit is a natural passion for exploration and growth.  This growth originates directly from our encounters with new ideas and experiences that intrigue us; and hence there is no greater destination in life than to have an endlessly changing horizon – for each day to have a new and different sun.  (Read Buddha’s Brain.)

3.  Focus intensely on not making mistakes.

Don’t commit to making less mistakes; commit to making more of them.  Fail forward.  Mistakes in life are as certain as sunsets and detours.  So why exert energy avoiding the unavoidable?  Embrace it.  The truth is, you aren’t really free until you give yourself the freedom to make mistakes.  So liberate yourself!  Shift your energy from protecting yourself from failure to squeezing more living out of your life.

Get real comfortable with that uneasy feeling of going against the grain and trying something new.  Doing so will always take you to places you never thought you could go.  Try new things, learn and explore freely.  Your good judgment comes from life experience, and life experience comes from your past bad judgments.  You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes.  Disappointment and defeat are the tools life uses to show you the way.

4.  Spend your entire present trying to fix a broken past.

The past isn’t broken.  It can’t possibly be.  It no longer exists.  There is nothing to fix.  There is, however, a present moment that can be lived with presence and power.

Sometimes life doesn’t give you what you want; not because you don’t deserve it, but because you deserve better.  No matter how many times you break down, there should always be a little voice inside you that says, “NO, you’re not done yet!  Get back up!”  That’s the voice of presence and power, which can only speak for you in the present moment.  What you need to realize is, life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel; but you are well equipped for it as long as you tap into your inner strength in the present, and allow it to flourish forward.  (Read The Power of Now.)

5.  Resist life’s realities that don’t align with your expectations.

Stop stressing over what could have been.  The chances are if it should have been, it would have been.  Life unfolds in unpredictable ways for a reason.  What happens isn’t good or bad.  It simply is.

Happiness is about trusting that what has happened has long-term positive, rather than negative, connotations.  Trust that life is happening for you, not to you.  This “inverse paranoia” of believing everything is for the greater good helps the human spirit face and welcome life’s turbulent changes cheerfully.

The bottom line is that we’re wired to expect the world to be brighter and more meaningful and more obviously interesting than it often is.  If you can learn to stop expecting impossible perfection, in yourself, others and the world around you, you may find the happiness that has always eluded you.

6.  Attempt to find the easy shortcut to your goals and dreams.

There is no easy shortcut to anywhere worth going.  You must be willing to make sacrifices.  It’s a process!  It’s a process!  It’s a process!  Ingrain this in your mind.  Achievement takes time.  Success, like washboard abs, is the outcome of a habit.  It’s the relentless daily practice of making small, diligent choices that add up in the long run.  It’s about following through and doing what you said you would do even when no one would notice but you, and knowing in your heart why doing so matters.

In a nutshell, when it comes to working hard to achieve a big life goal of any kind – earning a degree, building a business, or some other personal achievement that takes time and commitment – one thing you have to ask yourself is:  “Am I willing to live a few years of my life like many people won’t, so I can spend the rest of my life like many people can’t?”

7.  Win the approval and admiration of the wrong people.

You cannot make someone respect you; all you can do is be someone who can be respected.  The rest is up to them.  No matter how much you care some people just won’t care back.  It’s not the end of the world.  At some point you have to realize the truth – that they no longer care or never did, and that maybe you’re wasting your time and missing out on someone else who does.

Likewise, don’t waste too much of your time with people who are not supportive of your goals and abilities.  Surround yourself with those who believe in your potential.  Anyone who inspires you to make your half-hearted attempts more whole-hearted through passion and love, is a precious friend and teacher.  These people are out there.  Find them and conquer the world together.  (I discuss this in more detail in the “Relationships” chapter of 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently.)

8.  Keep waiting for the right time.

You cannot wait for the perfect time; it will never come.  If you think now feels like the wrong time, think again.  It’s just uncertainty messing with your mind.  Most of the time you must simply dare to jump.

Today is the first day of a new beginning – the conception of a new life.  The next nine months are all yours.  You can do with them as you please.  Make them count.  Because a new person is born in nine months.  The only question is: Who do you want that person to be?

Right now is the right time to decide.

Afterthoughts

If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never get it.  If you don’t ask yourself the right questions, you’ll always get the wrong answers.  If you don’t take a step forward, you’re always going to be in the same place.  Life is a journey full of choices.  I hope this short article got you thinking differently about the choices you make every day.

Your turn…

What would you add to the list?  What’s something you should NOT do to get ahead?  Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Photo by: Thomas Hawk

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Lifestyle

12 Truths You Should Know By Now

by Leo
written by Leo

Just a few simple truths we learn on the road of life…

  1. The route to our destination is never a straight one. – We take questionable turns and we get lost.  But it doesn’t always matter which road we embark on; what matters is that we embark.  Either way life will likely get a little complicated, and bring unexpected hurdles and changes.  But that’s okay.  Sometimes you have to stumble and feel weak for a little while to realize how strong you really are.  Read Tuesdays with Morrie.
  2. Real friends won’t ask you to change who you are. – The RIGHT people for you will love all the things about you that the WRONG people are intimidated by.  Don’t change so people will like you.  Be patient, keep being your awesome self, and pretty soon the RIGHT people will love the REAL you.
  3. Cheating is a choice, not a mistake, and not an excuse. – If you decide to cheat, and you succeed in cheating someone out of something, don’t think that this person is a fool.  Realize that this person trusted you much more than you ever deserved, and they learned a lesson about who you really are.
  4. The past can’t hurt you anymore – not unless you let it. – Forgive and move on!  Forgiveness allows you to focus on the future without combating the past.  Without forgiveness, wounds can never be healed, and moving on can never be accomplished.  What happened in the past is just one chapter.  Don’t close the book, just turn the page.  Cry when you must and push forward.  Let your tears water the seeds of your future growth and happiness.
  5. Adversity will come to every person at some point. – How you meet it, what you make of it, and what you allow it to take from you and give to you is determined by your mental habits and personal choices.  In short, you can’t change the cards you were dealt, just how you play the hand.  Read The Last Lecture.
  6. Sometimes things fall apart so better things can fall together. – When things fall apart, consider the possibility that life knocked it down on purpose.  Not to bully you, or to punish you, but to prompt you to build something that better suits your personality and your purpose.
  7. Someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right. – Keep an open mind.  The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know.  We all have our own unique path and feelings.  When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.  It’s one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it’s another to think that yours is the only path.
  8. Everything has been just the way it needed to be. – In life, we do lots of things.  Some we wish we could take back.  Some we wish we could relive a thousand times.  All of these things, positive and negative, have taught us important lessons and have collectively made us into the person we are today.  If we were to reverse or adjust any of them, we wouldn’t be who we are; we would be somebody else.  So just live, make mistakes, make memories, and take chances.  Never second guess who you are or where you’ve been.
  9. Silence is often the loudest cry. – There’s always some truth behind ‘just kidding,’ knowledge behind ‘I don’t know,’ emotion behind ‘I don’t care,’ and pain behind: ‘It’s okay.’  So pay close attention to how people feel, especially those you care for most.  And remember, silence is often the loudest cry.  Sometimes what a person needs most is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
  10. The difference between where you are and where you want to be, is what you do. – What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.  Don’t wait until everything is just right; it will never be perfect.  There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions.  But with each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more skilled, more confident, and more successful.  So start doing what you need to do today.  Life is a courageous journey or nothing at all.  We usually can’t become who we want to be by continuing to do what we’ve been doing.  Read The Power of Habit.
  11. It’s not who you are that holds you back, it who you think you’re not. – Judging yourself is not the same as being honest with yourself.  Don’t sell yourself short!  You are capable of great things.  And don’t ever let someone else make you feel like you’re not good enough.  If they can’t see how amazing you are, then they’re the one who’s not good enough for you.  Their approval is not needed.
  12. Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you. – Smile through the hard times, even though it doesn’t always seem to get any better.  A smile is the first step to fixing things.  The trick is to enjoy life by noticing what’s right.  Don’t wish away your days waiting for better times ahead.  Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you.  Right now is life.  Don’t miss it.

Photo by: Angela Sevin

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