[ { "id": "1005560", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Live for Today\nMaybe you have a day coming up that will be your first free day in a long time, and you want to make the most of it. Maybe you're thinking about those days you wake up and feel weirdly present, happy about the sunshine, singing to yourself, and want to know how to have more of them. Let today be the day you let go of worries and embrace pleasure and contemplation. Let go of yourself, get lost, slow down, and enjoy the moment. Do as the Roman poet Horace said, and \"pluck the day,\" carpe diem, it is ripe for the taking.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Getting Lost and Letting Go", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Wander.\nGo out in the world on foot, weather permitting. Instead of making a plan, let your feet carry you around. Walk to a neighborhood you rarely visit, or a park. Take a bus and walk around somewhere you don't spend much time. Spend as much time on your feet and without a map or a phone as you comfortably can. If you find yourself automatically taking routes you always take, reprogram yourself. For example, take an ordinary route but take a crucial wrong turn. Take a map and draw a shape on it with your eyes closed. Now follow the \"route\" you drew through the city as closely as you safely can. Call a friend and ask them what their favorite point in your town is. Ask for very rough directions and see if you can find it before sunset. Feel free to change your mind at any point and walk in the directions that attract you. You're getting lost in order to live fully, not enact a strict plan.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-01.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Getting Lost and Letting Go", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Wander.\nGo out in the world on foot, weather permitting. Instead of making a plan, let your feet carry you around. Walk to a neighborhood you rarely visit, or a park. Take a bus and walk around somewhere you don't spend much time. Spend as much time on your feet and without a map or a phone as you comfortably can. If you find yourself automatically taking routes you always take, reprogram yourself. For example, take an ordinary route but take a crucial wrong turn. Take a map and draw a shape on it with your eyes closed. Now follow the \"route\" you drew through the city as closely as you safely can. Call a friend and ask them what their favorite point in your town is. Ask for very rough directions and see if you can find it before sunset. Feel free to change your mind at any point and walk in the directions that attract you. You're getting lost in order to live fully, not enact a strict plan.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-01.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Choose doors to enter.\nTake the opportunities given to you today, whether they be invitations from friends or samples at the grocery store. Don't do anything that makes you feel truly wrong, but do encourage yourself to try new things. Say \"yes\" to more than you usually do, and you might surprise yourself.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-02.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Enter your flow state.\nDo work that compels your attention completely. Do not time yourself, but let yourself focus for as long as you naturally can. Play music, read, write, dance, walk, or work on a project or hobby. Flow state means you are in the moment, creative, focused, and undistracted. If you have no work or hobby that can completely occupy your attention, work on developing one. Pick a project that involves your most developed skills and is meaningful to you. Eliminate distractions. Do not check your email, any websites, or your phone while you work. If you were productive, lost track of time, and felt good after working, you were in flow state.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-03.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Spend time alone.\nYou can be alone in public or privately alone, but take some solitary time. If most of your solitary time is spent a certain way, find another way to spend it. For instance, if you work from home, go somewhere else to be alone. Visit a library, a museum, or take yourself out to lunch. Spend time away from your phone and your computer. Forgetting your ordinary obligations will help you live in the moment.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-04.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Practice forgiveness.\nChoose to move on from feelings of resentment. Nothing takes you away from the present like dwelling in the past. To clear your day of resentment, make a list of people who have hurt you, or, if there is one person strongly on your mind, write only that name. Spend some time thinking about how much they hurt you, and what effect that has had on you. Decide to attempt forgiveness. Say it aloud if that sometimes helps you. Ask yourself what you know about the person who hurt you. Try to reconstruct the stresses, pressures, traumas, and fears that this person has experienced. Let go of your anger. Allow yourself to feel compassion for the person who wronged you. You don't have to reconcile them, just let yourself feel some goodwill towards them. Forgiveness can have a positive effect on your health and wellbeing. Choosing to forgive a betrayal can lower your blood pressure, improve your heart health, and diminish anxiety and depression.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-05.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Slowing Down", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Deconstruct your ordinary procedures.\nInstead of buying lunch, buy groceries and cook a meal. To buy ingredients, walk somewhere you can buy them, such as a corner store, a farmer's market, or a grocery store. Buy as many parts of the meal from scratch as you can. For instance, if you would normally buy a chicken sandwich, consider baking bread, saut\u00e9ing some chicken, and making fresh mayonnaise and quick pickles. Visit a pick-your-own orchard and pick fruit that is in season. Eat some, bake some, freeze some, and make sauce from the rest.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-06.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Do nothing.\nLiving fully in the day means not filling in all the empty space. Do nothing, or do one thing at a time. When you eat, focus on your food. Let your mind wander. You are likely to remember things you need to do when your mind wanders: make a note of them, and continue doing nothing.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-07.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Practice mindfulness.\nSo much of living in the day means allowing yourself to be open in the moment. Leave yourself vulnerable to any thoughts, senses, and feelings that come to you. Rather than interpreting or judging them, let lean into them. If you feel yourself getting worried, distracted, or unhappy, do exercises that help you regain the present. Name the emotions that come to you. Do not shut out unpleasant thoughts or feelings, but say what they are, and what you think brought them up. You don't need to go deep, in fact you want to avoid spiraling into negative thoughts. Negative thoughts don't usually lead anywhere but back to themselves, so it's important to recognize them and let them go. Turn your attention to your senses. Notice what you can see, smell, hear, and feel in the moment. Feel the breath coming in and out of you. Take deep breaths and let them out slowly. Focus only on your breath for a while. Relax your whole body by tensing and relaxing each muscle in turn.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-08.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Feeling Goodness", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Focus on your body.\nWear clothing that feels good on your skin. Eat food that makes your body feel energized. Avoid overeating or undereating. Take a nap if you feel tired. Exercise. Take a dance class, ride your bike, or go on a long, brisk walk. If you can't tell what your body wants, do some mindfulness exercises. They will help put you back in your body. Get a full night's sleep. Sleep without an alarm, and make your room as dark as possible.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-09.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Practice gratitude.\nTo live for today, focus on what you have. Appreciate the things that make each day yours. When someone does something you appreciate, thank them. Let everyone you love know one thing you love about them. Make a list of things you are grateful for, and share it with those you love. If something happens in your day that you appreciate, write it down, title it, and include as much detail as you can, including how it came to be and how it made you feel. Make up a list of people you are grateful for, and write a letter a day.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Commune with others.\nSpend time with friends or family doing relaxed, focused activites. Talk, eat, cook, or go on a walk with someone you love. Pay attention to the people you are with: ask questions, and listen to their answers. Hug, touch, and hold hands with your loved ones. Spend time face to face if you can, but also call a loved one on the phone if they are on your mind. Commune with a crowd. Go to a concert, a club, a church, a sporting event, a protest or a rally. Cheer, chant, move, and sing with others. Go to an event you feel welcome at, so you can enter into the group feeling.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Spend time enjoying art.\nPaying deep attention to art can induce a state of heightened mindfulness. By paying attention to images, sounds, patterns and textures, you can experience deep emotion without judgment. Visit a museum, listen to music, and read poetry. Don't force yourself to understand or analyze what you see, hear, and read. Don't force yourself to enjoy, either. Instead, let yourself relax and pay attention to the sensory information you receive. If you are having trouble being present with art, try noticing five things about what you are experiencing. If you are looking at a painting, try to distinguish the brush strokes. If you are reading a poem, notice the vowels and see if they repeat.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Be outside.\nSpend time in the sun to improve your mood and feel present in your body. Visit a park, the forest, the beach, or another natural setting to lower your stress. Spend time outside without doing anything else. Don't listen to music or talk on the phone. You can also spend time outside as part of your everyday activities. If you have something you need to do, ask yourself if you can do it outside.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Do something you haven't done before.\nIf you are feeling relaxed, mindful, and pleased with your day, you might be ready for the thrill of doing something new. Make a list of five things you never have done: places you haven't gone, things you haven't said, ways of participating in public or social spheres you haven't tried. Ask yourself: have I ever had a friendly conversation with my friend about our different political beliefs? Have I ever told a joke in class or at work? Have I ever been the first person to get up and dance at a party? Ask: have I ever memorized a song to sing to myself? Have I ever written a letter on paper to my mother? Have I ever spent a day riding my bike instead of driving my car? Ask: Have I ridden a horse? Have I made my own cards? Have I traveled by train? You'll know the right thing to do when you get a little thrill of fear.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-for-Today-Step-14.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1010576", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Analyze an out of Body Experience\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Processing What Happened", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Meditate immediately.\nIf you can, give yourself a few minutes after the OBE to collect your thoughts. Try to process what just happened. Walk yourself back through the events of your experience. The sooner you actively recall what happened, the more accurate your memory will be.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Calm-Step-18.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Processing What Happened", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Meditate immediately.\nIf you can, give yourself a few minutes after the OBE to collect your thoughts. Try to process what just happened. Walk yourself back through the events of your experience. The sooner you actively recall what happened, the more accurate your memory will be.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Calm-Step-18.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Write down the experience.\nTry to remember everything as it happened. Where did you go? What did it look like? What sensations did you feel? Write all of these details down in a dream journal. Record every detail that you can remember.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Feel-Good-About-Yourself-Step-28.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Draw a picture of what happened.\nIt may help your memory and understanding if you sketch a picture of the scene to help you place details more vividly. Use colors to express the scenery. Include where you were in the scene. Where were you when the OBE started? Where did it take you? This creative exercise can help you process what happened.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Psychic-Abilities-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Identify what you were doing when it happened.\nWhat you were doing just before the OBE occurred may be able to help you identify what type of OBE it is. Try to identify what happened beforehand to understand why it might have happened. OBEs that occur in the evening or early morning may be related to sleep processes. Lucid dreaming is a dream that you are aware of. Lucid dreaming often occurs during REM sleep, during intense daydreaming, as a result of purposeful meditation, or from repetitive activities, such as driving or exercising. Most OBEs are considered to be a type of lucid dreaming. Near Death Experiences occur when a person has almost died. These can result from an accident, disease, or other \u201cclose calls.\u201d Some people report seeing doctors and nurses treat them while others say they saw a light. Certain drugs\u2014including meth, cannabis, ketamine, and cough syrups-- can cause hallucinations. Drug-induced OBEs can be extremely dangerous. They may cause the user to harm themselves or others.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Meditate-for-Beginners-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Interpreting the Events in Your OBE", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Identify other presences.\nIn some cases, people may feel as though there is a ghostly or divine presence in the room with them during their OBE. In others, they may simply see a \u201cdouble\u201d of their own body. Try to remember who, if anyone, was in the room with you. Identify them if possible. Meeting deceased loved ones during this experience may be a way of grieving after their deaths. You may also feel as though they have a message or advice for you. Encountering a divine presence in the room is a spiritual experience for many. Some people report seeing ghosts or multiple spirits in the room. Some believe that these spirits have messages to pass on to you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Motivate-Yourself-to-Work-Out-Step-6-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Determine whether or not there was a cord.\nA silver cord tying your spiritual/floating body to your physical form is seen by some to be symbolic of the relationship between the body and the soul. This cord is what many believe keeps you tethered to your body and to this astral plane. You may have even felt this cord pull you back into your physical body. Did you feel as though you were limited in your movement? There have been a cord or similar force keeping you in place. Did you feel as though you had free movement around the room? There likely wasn\u2019t a cord.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Meditate-Without-a-Master-Step-33.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Discern if you saw a tunnel.\nA tunnel of light is common in near-death experiences. You may have felt you were \u201cmoving towards the light\u201d or that you were passing to the afterlife. Some believe this is a spiritual experience wherein you have visited heaven. Some believe it is representative of being reborn. Others believe it is a disruption in brain wave patterns. Visiting paradise or heaven is much more common in naturally induced OBEs (such as near-death experiences, sleep paralysis, or unprovoked lucid dreaming) than in forced OBEs (such as hypnosis or provoked lucid dreaming). The reasons for this are unknown.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Meditate-Without-a-Master-Step-21.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Locate where you were taken.\nThink about whether or not you traveled in your OBE. Did you stay in one room, or did you move from room to room? Did you fly through the heavens? Did you visit another planet? Some people also report visiting distant friends and having conversations. You may be seeking something that is missing in your life. You might also be coming to terms with your beliefs of the afterlife and universe. Consider the reasons why you might have been taken where you were. Astral projections are a type of OBE wherein people feel as though they have been transported to a \u201cheavenly\u201d or \u201calien\u201d realm. These may be accompanied by bright colors, spiritual encounters, floating, and teleportation. Some people believe that this is a visit to higher planes of reality.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Psychic-Abilities-Step-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Compare the scene to its real counterpart.\nStaying in one place during your OBE is perfectly normal. You may have seen the room you are in from above. This may be your brain reconstructing the location of the room from previous memories. It could also be an illusion of perception. Look around the room. See if objects were in the same place as they were in your OBE. If objects are in different positions, you may have been imagining your room based on previous memories. Was there anything you saw from above that you wouldn't be able to see from below? If the answer is yes, you might consider that you really left your body.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Telepathy-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Tune into the noise.\nMany people report hearing strange sounds during their OBE. Some believe this is because sound cannot transmit to other astral planes or that your brain is interpreting new sensations as sound. It could also be a neurological response to your condition. You might hear the sound of static, wind rushing in your ears, or cracking. These sounds could be your brain trying to make sense of your situation. Voices, both peaceful and malevolent, are common. This could be a result of your dream state, in which your brain is processing things you heard that day. Can you identify what is being said? Was it a coherent sentence, or was it just rambling? If it did not make sense, it was likely insignificant, and you can ignore it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Approach-Women-Anywhere-Step-19-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Discovering Your Inner State", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Consider your physical and mental state before the OBE.\nOBEs can be caused by exhaustion, stress, or some medical conditions. Take in account how you were feeling before your OBE, and understand that there could be a medical explanation for it. Strokes and epilepsy can cause OBEs, even if the sufferer was not close to death. Many OBEs happen as a result of interrupted sleep patterns. If your OBE happens in the middle of the night or just after waking, you may still be dreaming (even though you are awake). In these situations, a paralyzed sensation is common. Stress hormones can trigger OBEs. Carefully consider what is happening in your life. Have you been extremely busy? Is there something that is worrying you?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Elevate-Your-Self-Esteem-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Examine your emotions.\nJust by recalling how you felt during your OBE, you may be able to piece together what your mental and spiritual state are. Tap into your emotions. Describe the different sensations that you felt. These may be reflective of your overall mental health. A common sensation is to feel at peace while outside of the body. You may be at peace with yourself, or you may realize that your earthly problems are insignificant. Returning to the body can cause feelings of pain and discomfort. This may mean that you are hesitant about returning to life. You may be uncomfortable with your body. Fear and panic are more negative emotions, but because you may see strange beings or objects during your OBE, they are perfectly natural. Once you have identified your emotions, try asking: \u201cWhy did I feel this way? What happened that caused this?\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Elevate-Your-Self-Esteem-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Explore your fears.\nIf you felt afraid during your OBE, try to understand the causes of that fear. Were you afraid you would not return to your body? Did you think you were dead? Were you worried that spirits or other presences would harm you? Try to pinpoint what caused the fear, and consider different reasons why you might have felt that way. Fear of death is common, especially in OBEs. You may have worried that you would never return to your body. You may have anxieties about where you will go when you die. If you felt another presence in the room with you, you may have been afraid that they would harm you. You may not have been certain if they were friendly or evil. This might explain an underlying fear that spirits can influence your life. If you were frightened by being transported to another place, you might be scared of change or the unknown.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-After-the-Death-of-a-Spouse-Step-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Find links between your out of body experience and real life.\nOBEs are almost always guided experiences; that is, they are influenced by your memories and experiences in real life. Think about who and what you saw in the OBE. Why do you think they appeared to you then? Are they a cause of stress in your life? Are you unable to see certain loved ones because of distance or death? Are you anxious about death? Do you have any unresolved problems in your life?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Relieve-Stress-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "109993", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Be Stoic\nWhether you\u2019re interested in Stoic philosophy or want to be stoic as it\u2019s defined in the dictionary, try to work on self-control and self-awareness. Remember, you can control your actions and judgments, but most things are out of your hands and not worth your stress. Being stoic doesn\u2019t mean you should be cold and distant, so think before you speak instead of not speaking at all. In addition to striving to be stoic in daily life, you can delve deeper into Stoic philosophy by trying daily meditations and reflecting on philosophical quotes.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Developing a Stoic Mindset", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Accept what you cannot change.\nSome things, such as world events and natural disasters, are beyond your control, and there\u2019s no use beating yourself up about something you can\u2019t change. Focus instead on things you can change, like your own choices and judgments. Think of a tennis game. You can\u2019t control things like the skill of your opponent, the referee\u2019s calls, or how random wind gusts might affect the ball. On the other hand, you can decide how much to practice before the game, to show up well-rested, and not to stay up all night partying before the match.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-1-Version-4.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Developing a Stoic Mindset", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Accept what you cannot change.\nSome things, such as world events and natural disasters, are beyond your control, and there\u2019s no use beating yourself up about something you can\u2019t change. Focus instead on things you can change, like your own choices and judgments. Think of a tennis game. You can\u2019t control things like the skill of your opponent, the referee\u2019s calls, or how random wind gusts might affect the ball. On the other hand, you can decide how much to practice before the game, to show up well-rested, and not to stay up all night partying before the match.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-1-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Think before you speak and emotionally react.\nWork on having more self-control and self-awareness. Being stoic doesn\u2019t have anything to do with just not talking. It\u2019s more important to think before you speak, whether you\u2019re interested in philosophical Stoicism or want to be stoic in the dictionary sense. For example, if someone insults you, don\u2019t just blurt out an angry insult back at them. Don\u2019t engage them in an emotional fight, but consider if there\u2019s any truth to their statement and reflect on how you could better yourself. If you feel yourself getting upset and can\u2019t focus on the situation\u2019s facts, try to visualize pleasant surroundings, sing a song in your head, or say a stoic mantra to yourself, such as, \u201cIf it\u2019s not in my control, it\u2019s none of my concern.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-2-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Don't worry about other people.\nThere\u2019s nothing wrong with talking to people, but try not to ramble nervously and meaninglessly. You can\u2019t control other people, so there\u2019s no reason to be nervous. You also shouldn't feel like you have to conform to other people's standards, especially if it means compromising your own morals.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-3-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Stay humble and open to new knowledge.\nTry to learn at every opportunity, but don\u2019t be a know it all. You can\u2019t learn if you already think you know everything. Wisdom is a core Stoic virtue, and part of cultivating wisdom is admitting that you have a lot to learn. Educate yourself whenever you can by reading books, listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, and (obviously!) reading how-to guides. You could listen to podcasts like TEDTalks, RadioLab, and StarTalk Radio. Browse Netflix and other services for documentaries on subjects like nature, technology, and art. If you want to read more about Stoic philosophy, the contemporary philosopher William B. Irvine is a leading voice. His writing is accessible and doesn't use lots of unapproachable philosophical jargon.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-4-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Focus on being fair instead of being harsh.\nA true stoic isn\u2019t interested in emotional conflicts, retribution, revenge, or holding grudges. But that doesn\u2019t mean you have to be a cold, distant, isolated grouch. If someone wrongs you, you can still have sympathy for them even if you don\u2019t engage them in an emotional conflict. For example, if someone you care about lashes out at you, don\u2019t just give them the cold shoulder. You could say, \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s wise to just toss insults back and forth. Let\u2019s take some time to cool down so we can deal with this situation rationally.\u201d\n\"Don\u2019t get mad, get even,\" is not at all stoic, so never try to get revenge. If you\u2019re a manager in charge of reprimanding an employee, think of a fair way to hold them accountable instead of blindly punishing them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-5-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Applying Stoic Principles to Life", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Don\u2019t waste your time on distractions.\nYour time is precious, so try not to waste time on mindless distractions. It might be tough in today\u2019s hectic world, but concentrate on what you\u2019re doing when you\u2019re performing a task or action. Even if you\u2019re just sitting by yourself or talking with a friend, focus on the moment instead of checking your phone every 10 seconds. In addition, try not to dwell on distractions like world news, current events, and catastrophes. It\u2019s one thing to be informed about global events, but you don\u2019t want to stress or panic about things you can\u2019t control.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-6-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Enjoy the moment.\nYou don't have to be a stone-faced Scrooge to exhibit self control and focus on the here and now. You can still enjoy entertainment, life\u2019s pleasures, and nature\u2019s beauty. For example, when handed a glass of fine wine, a stoic person might sip it and contemplate, \u201cWhat if this is the last glass of wine I\u2019ll ever have?\u201d The point isn\u2019t that they\u2019re thinking about doom and gloom, but that they\u2019re appreciating this singular moment of enjoyment.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-7-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Don\u2019t sweat the small stuff.\nLook at life\u2019s big challenges as opportunities to become a wiser, stronger person. When it comes to the little annoyances, from spilled milk to losing five dollars, just try to keep calm and carry on. Your peace of mind is worth more than stressing over something of little value. As the Stoic philosopher Epictetus said, \u201cA bit of spilled oil, a little stolen wine - repeat to yourself, \u2018For such a small price, I buy tranquility.\u2019\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-8-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Surround yourself with people you respect.\nBeing stoic doesn\u2019t mean you should isolate yourself from others. However, you should try to spend your precious time with people who want to be wiser, make better decisions, and make you want to be a better person. You don\u2019t want to be a snobby elitist, but think about your friends and acquaintances. Do they hold you accountable for your actions, encourage you to learn, and motivate you to improve yourself? Is there anyone who is petty, judgmental, opportunistic, or vicious?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-9-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Place morals over material gain and praise.\nThe strength of your character is far more important than wealth, awards, or acclaim. Make decisions based on your moral principles instead of doing something unethical that improves your status. For example, don\u2019t help someone because you want a reward or praise. Help them because it\u2019s the right thing to do, and don\u2019t brag about it or seek attention. Suppose lying about a coworker would help you land a promotion. A true stoic wouldn't do something unethical just to get a raise.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-10-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Trying Stoic Meditations", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Visualize your place in the universe.\nThe Hierocles\u2019 Circle is a Stoic visualization exercise that helps you reflect on how you fit into the grand scheme of things. Start by visualizing yourself, then imagine your family and friends in a circle around you. Visualize your acquaintances, neighbors, and coworkers in the next circle, your city in the next and, eventually, all of humanity, all of Nature, and all of existence. Take about 10 minutes to do the exercise. If it helps you focus, sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, and take slow, deep breaths. The point is to appreciate that things are interconnected. You\u2019re part of a human community and, ultimately, linked to the entire universe.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-11-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Try imagining a great loss.\nA premeditatio Malorum is a Stoic meditation in which you imagine losing something that is very important to you, like your job or a loved one. Picture a negative scenario in your head just for a few seconds or so. It sounds disturbing, but the point is to accept impermanence, prepare for obstacles, reflect on the good things in your life, and overcome your fears. Negative visualization can help build psychological resilience in the face of uncontrollable obstacles. That means when something bad happens, you might have an easier time coping if you\u2019ve already imagined it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-12-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Read a daily quote and reflect on its meaning.\nEach day, look up a short quote by a Stoic philosopher. Say it multiple times to yourself and contemplate its meaning. Even if it was written over two thousand years ago, think about how you could apply its meaning to your own life. You could look online for quotes by thinkers like Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy's entry on Stoicism is a great place to look for philosophers, quotes, and further reading: http://www.iep.utm.edu/stoicism/. You can also find quotes, reflections, and other resources on scholarly blogs, such as Stoicism Today: http://modernstoicism.com/.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-13-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Write a reflective journal entry at the end of the day.\nAt the end of the day, write about the challenges you faced and decisions you made. Contemplate a bad habit you made an effort to improve. Reflect on how you could have made a better choice or handled a situation differently. For instance, you might write, \"Today Sam was very short with me. I started to say something back, but caught myself before I lost my cool. I'm getting better about not allowing other people to get under my skin, but still have some work to do.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Stoic-Step-14-Version-4.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1128074", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Write a Philosophy Paper\nWriting a philosophy paper is quite different from other types of papers. In a philosophy paper, you have to provide an explanation of a philosophical concept and then either support or refute that concept. This means that you have to fully understand the concepts that you read about and you have to do some philosophy of your own to respond to these concepts. While writing a philosophy paper may be challenging, it is possible with some careful planning and hard work.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Planning Your Philosophy Paper", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Give yourself time.\nWriting a good philosophy paper takes time and careful planning, so make sure that you begin working on the assignment as soon as possible. Philosophy papers require skillful argument and rational thought, which takes time to develop. Try to begin developing your ideas for your philosophy paper as soon as you get the assignment. Jot down your ideas and use some of your spare time to think about what you want to write about.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Planning Your Philosophy Paper", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Give yourself time.\nWriting a good philosophy paper takes time and careful planning, so make sure that you begin working on the assignment as soon as possible. Philosophy papers require skillful argument and rational thought, which takes time to develop. Try to begin developing your ideas for your philosophy paper as soon as you get the assignment. Jot down your ideas and use some of your spare time to think about what you want to write about.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Read all relevant materials.\nBefore you begin to develop your ideas for the paper, make sure that you have carefully read all of the materials that are related to the assignment. If you read the materials, but do not remember much or do not understand part of what you read, then you should reread the texts before you attempt to work on your paper. Having a solid understanding of the concepts covered in your readings is essential to create an effective paper. Otherwise, your explanation of the philosophy may be flawed or your argument may not hold up.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Make sure that you understand the assignment.\nSome professors distribute assignment guidelines while others simply describe the assignment in class. Before you start working on your paper, make sure that you have a clear understanding of what your professor is asking you to do. If any part of the assignment is unclear, ask your professor for clarification.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Consider your audience.\nIt is important to keep your audience in mind as you plan your paper and as you write your paper. Your professor is your primary audience member and your classmates might also be part of your audience. You can also think of your audience as a person who has some knowledge of philosophy, but who does not have the same understanding as you do. Therefore, if you introduce a special term or concept, you will need to define it for your audience.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Choose textual references.\nWith philosophy papers, it is best to use quotes from the text only when it is absolutely necessary. The goal of your paper is to explain and evaluate a philosophical argument in your own words. Therefore, you should not rely too heavily on quotes or even paraphrased passages from your sources. Only use a quote when it is necessary to support your point of view. Make sure to provide a citation for every quote or paraphrase that you use from a source. Include the author\u2019s name as well as a page number.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Develop a thesis.\nAll philosophy papers need to have a strong thesis. Your thesis states your position for the paper and you will need to make sure that you stay focused on your thesis and support it throughout your entire paper. Keep in mind that a strong thesis states your position as well as why you hold that position. For example, if you plan to refute Aristotle\u2019s idea that beauty is related to virtue, then you would have to provide a brief explanation of why. One reason that you may cite might be that beautiful people are not always virtuous. In this case, your thesis might be something like, \u201cAristotle\u2019s concept that beauty is related to virtue is false because beauty is often found in those who lack virtue.\u201d\nYou will need to place your thesis at the end of the first paragraph in your essay.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Outline your paper.\nAn outline can help you to stay on track as you draft your paper and ensure that you include everything that you need to include. Try making a simple outline that includes:\nideas for your introduction\nyour thesis\nmain points of your explanation\nmain points in your evaluation along with supporting evidence\npotential objections and your refutations\nideas for your conclusion", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Drafting Your Philosophy Paper", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Write how you speak.\nWriting in a flowery, overly complex way will not make you appear to be more knowledgeable about philosophy. It is better to write in your own voice and use simple, direct language to get your point across. Imagine that you are explaining the concept to a friend and making an argument for why you agree or disagree with this concept. What would you say? What examples would you use? Try to avoid padding your work with extra words. This makes it hard for your readers to understand what you mean. Look up new words before you used them. If you like to use the thesaurus feature of Word when you write, just make sure that you are looking up the meanings of these words before you include them. The thesaurus does not always provide suggestions that are grammatically correct or equivalent in meaning to the original word.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Introduce your paper with relevant details.\nYour introduction is important because it gives readers a first impression of your paper. The introduction is your chance to grab your readers\u2019 attention and to provide a preview of your argument. That is why it is important to use your introduction wisely. Avoid introductions that provide a sweeping overview of your topic, such as \u201cSince the dawn of time\u2026\u201d or \u201cAll people everywhere have wondered\u2026.\u201d Instead, jump right into the topic. For example, you might lead in with something like, \u201cAristotle often draws a line between beauty and virtue in his work.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Explain the argument.\nAfter your introduction, you will need to explain the philosophical argument or concept that you are planning to refute or support. Make sure that you present the philosopher\u2019s ideas in a clear, objective manner. Do not add or leave out any details that might provide you with an advantage when you start to evaluate the philosophy. Otherwise, your professor may consider your argument to be less effective. Stick to the relevant details of the argument. Do not explain things that you do not plan to argue against in your paper unless they are absolutely necessary for understanding your point.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Support your thesis.\nAfter you have provided a clear explanation of the philosophy, you will need to move on to your evaluation. Your evaluation should work to support your thesis at all times. Do not go back and forth between positions or contradict yourself at any time. Stick to your position no matter what. One great way to support your thesis is by using examples that you draw from personal experiences or that you create. For example, if you are arguing that beauty and virtue are unrelated, then you might give an example of a convicted criminal who many consider to be beautiful.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Anticipate objections to your argument.\nA good argument should also acknowledge and refute any objections you\u2019re your opponents might have. Try to identify the strongest objections that an opponent might use to refute your argument and develop responses to these objections. Don\u2019t worry about handling every single objection. Focus on handling the three biggest objections that your opponents might raise. For example, if you are arguing that beauty and virtue are not related, then you might identify an objection that some studies have demonstrated that some men are less attracted to women with undesirable personality traits, despite their beauty.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Conclude your paper in a meaningful way.\nConclusions are also important because they provide an opportunity for you to summarize, clarify, and emphasize one or more important parts of your paper. Try to conclude your paper in a way that will help your readers to see the relevance and significance of your paper. For example, you might explain what your paper has established or how it has added to a philosophical conversation. If your paper is about Aristotle\u2019s concept of the relationship between virtue and beauty, you might discuss how your findings demonstrate the modern separation of image and personality.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Revising Your Philosophy Paper", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Put your paper aside for a few days.\nRevising is easier if you can take a break from what you have written for a few days. After you return to the paper again, you will have a fresh perspective that should help you to improve the content of your work more easily than if you had attempted to revise it right away. If possible set aside your paper for at least three days, but keep in mind that even setting aside your paper for a few hours before you revise is better than nothing.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Read your paper with an eye towards content and clarity.\nRevision is not about fixing typos and grammatical errors. Revision is about seeing what you have written with new eyes and being willing to make major changes, additions, and deletions if it will improve the content of your paper. When you revisit your paper, read it with a focus on the content. Do your arguments hold up? If not, how might you improve them? Are the concepts in your paper clear and easy to understand? If not, how might you clarify these concepts?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Ask someone to read your work.\nHaving someone else take a look at your paper can also help you to improve your work. Someone who is not too familiar with philosophy may also help you to identify areas where you could offer more helpful details. Try asking a classmate or friend (preferably someone who you know to be a good writer) to take a look at your paper and give you some feedback. Many universities also have writing centers where students can make an appointment and get some feedback from a trained writing tutor. This can also help you to develop effective strategies for revising your own work. You can also make an appointment with your professor if he or she is willing to provide feedback before you submit the paper. Just make sure that you request an appointment at least one week before the paper is due. Otherwise, your professor may not have time to meet with you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Polish your work with proofreading.\nProofreading is the final step in the writing process where you check for minor errors and correct them as needed. These little errors can distract your readers, so take time to proofread your work before you submit your final draft. To proofread, go through your paper and correct any typos, grammatical errors, or other minor flaws before you print and/or submit your work. Try reading your paper out loud or reading it backwards one sentence at a time. Mark any errors you find with a highlighter or pencil.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-Step-17.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1130137", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Reap What You Sow in Life\nContents", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Love, Friends and Family", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Foster contentment as the seed of a tree called happiness.\nThis tree is hard to cultivate and needs timely and proper nourishment.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-1.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Love, Friends and Family", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Foster contentment as the seed of a tree called happiness.\nThis tree is hard to cultivate and needs timely and proper nourishment.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Consider lust the seed of a tree called misery, which never fails to bear fruit.\n", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Fix your ego to the seed of a tree called individualism and derives strength from pride and stubbornness.\n", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Be careful of flattery.\nIt is the seed of a tree called favours, which normally is expected to bear fruit out of season.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Quell jealousy.\nIt is the seed of a tree called sarcasm, a perennial plant.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Sow adventure as the seed of a tree called fun.\nAdventure needs good company to mature.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Avoid misunderstandings.\nThey are the seeds of a tree called Distrust.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 8: Resist temptation.\nIt is the seed of a tree called sin, once it takes root, it is near impossible to uproot.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 9: Be careful of ignorance.\nIt is the seed of a tree called bliss, it normally gives tasty fruits but sometimes they are very bitter.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Work and School", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Sow ambition but nurture it with intelligence, hard work and knowledge.\nOtherwise, it is the seed of a tree called frustration.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Plant the seed of action to get results.\nOne has to work hard for its growth.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Seek challenge as the seed of a tree called opportunity.\nIts flowers wither away very fast.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Trust your instinct.\nIt is the seed of a tree called Dharma, is universally similar in manifestation.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Learn from failure.\nIt is the seed of a tree called sadness, nurtures on lack of patience.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Reduce stress.\nIt is the seed of a tree called nervousness thoroughly difficult to get rid of once it takes root.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Intellectuality and Maturity", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Educate from the seed of a tree called knowledge that nurtures on diligent learning.\n", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Discipline using the seed of a tree called behaviour, which is long lasting and has a wide spread.\n", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-17.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Existence is the seed of a tree called Awareness and the debatable question is whether it is the other way round.\n", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-18.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Avoid greed.\nIt is the seed of a tree called grumbling and thrives on generous dose of receptive ears.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-19.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Understand your local legislation.\nIt is the seed of a tree called justice expected to serve in all seasons.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-20.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Exercise intelligence.\nit is the seed of a tree called success and only bears fruits if labour and luck work together.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-21.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Practice wisdom.\nIt is the seed of a tree called maturity, which normally springs with age, and lessons learnt from guru called Experience.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-22.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 8: Use your experience.\nIt is the seed of a tree called Wisdom and fructifies if lessons are learnt in time and acted upon.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-23.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 4: Spirituality and Emotion", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Have faith (religious).\nIt is the seed of a tree called Almighty, its branches cover the entire universe and are supposed to govern, guide and oversee all our actions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-24.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: View coincidence as the seed of a tree called superstition, which seldom grows on rocky ground.\n", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-25.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Nurture your emotions.\nThey are in the seed of a tree called tears; they have a tendency to flow like a flooded river.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-26.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Overcome fear.\nIt is the seed of a tree called Anxiety, hard to bear.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-27.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Avoid living with grievance.\nIt is the seed of a tree called Revenge and generally is harmful to all.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-28.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Resist guilt.\nIt is the seed of a tree called remorse and is painful if one gets near it", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-29.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Enjoy luck.\nIt is the seed of a tree called fate and is governed by planetary configuration.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-30.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 8: Appreciate tradition.\nIt is the seed of a tree called culture, it has a long life but time has a tendency to alter its influence.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-31.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 9: Appreciate truth.\nIt is the seed of a tree called honesty, its fruits are generally very bitter..", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-32.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 10: Participate in religion.\nIt is the seed of a tree called places of worship - known by various names, such as temple, church, mosque etc.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-33.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 11: Appreciate melody.\nIt is the seed of a tree called music, which flourishes, in harmonic surroundings.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-34.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 12: Love nature.\nIt is the seed of a tree called beauty that flowers with grace and charm and needs an occasional dose of praise.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-35.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 13: Have optimism.\nIt is the seed of a tree called hope which requires perseverance and hard labour to bear fruits.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-36.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 14: Resist pessimism.\nIt is the seed of a tree called depression which thrives on misery as soil.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-37.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 5: Health and Habit", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Diet from the seed of a tree called health, which bears fruit with right hygienic conditions.\n", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-38.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Take care of envy.\nIt is the seed of a tree called Depression, easy to grow and expands like weeds.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-39.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Practice yoga.\nIt is the seed of a tree called youthful Living, its branches pervade all walks of life eventually one overcomes it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-40.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Have plenty of sleep.\nIt is the seed of a tree called dream, its branches provide varied and sometimes eerie experiences.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-41.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Take care of practice.\nIt is the seed of a tree called habit, which is indeed very hard to uproot once it takes hold.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reap-What-You-Sow-in-Life-Step-42.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "11473307", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Bring Positive Energy Into Your Life\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Thinking Positively", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Expect that good things are going to happen to you.\nWake up each morning anticipating that something great is on the horizon. Keep your mind in a positive, hopeful place as you go throughout the day, and notice if the events in your life seem especially upbeat. In many cases, a positive attitude can naturally welcome positive energy into your life, turning a mediocre day into a great one! Keep your expectations realistic. A positive attitude probably won\u2019t make you a lottery winner, but it will make you feel happier throughout the day! For instance, tell yourself aloud that you\u2019re going to have a good day as soon as you wake up in the morning.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-1.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Thinking Positively", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Expect that good things are going to happen to you.\nWake up each morning anticipating that something great is on the horizon. Keep your mind in a positive, hopeful place as you go throughout the day, and notice if the events in your life seem especially upbeat. In many cases, a positive attitude can naturally welcome positive energy into your life, turning a mediocre day into a great one! Keep your expectations realistic. A positive attitude probably won\u2019t make you a lottery winner, but it will make you feel happier throughout the day! For instance, tell yourself aloud that you\u2019re going to have a good day as soon as you wake up in the morning.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Toss away your negative thoughts and feelings.\nTake a moment to focus on what\u2019s dragging you down. When you think about negative topics, you end up filling your mind with negative energy. Instead, make a resolution to accept what you cannot change, and try to move forward with more positive thoughts. For example, if you\u2019re worried that you did poorly on a test, make a specific effort to let that worry go. Tell yourself, \u201cI can\u2019t change what already happened today, so I\u2019m going to make my day better by hanging out with a friend later.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Don\u2019t needlessly dwell on your problems and illnesses.\nWhile sickness and other long-term problems can be a pain to deal with, try not to invest any negative energy into these prospects. Instead of thinking about the uncontrollable parts of your life, focus on the aspects that you can control, instead. For instance, if you feel like you\u2019re coming down with a cold, try not to focus on your symptoms. Instead, view it as a free excuse to relax, enjoy a hot beverage, and watch TV!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Try to laugh and smile whenever possible.\nGet in the habit of smiling on a daily basis. Invite positive energy into your life by actively seeking out the wholesome and funny aspects of each day. Make an effort to fill your life with positive people who always bring a smile to your face. For example, try to get in the habit of sincerely laughing at your friends\u2019 upbeat stories.Did you know? Smiling also has scientific benefits. Whenever you start grinning, dopamine and serotonin are released in your brain, which work to make you feel happier.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Say thank you for all of the good aspects of your existence.\nTake a moment to bring some positive energy into your life by thinking about everything that you\u2019re thankful for. When you\u2019re alone, acknowledge everything in your life that makes you happy, like your friends and family. You can also write out a list of everything that makes you happy, if you want to have a physical reminder on hand. For instance, try and think of every positive aspect of your life, even if it\u2019s mundane. Taking a moment to spend time with your pet, or spending some time doing a hobby can all be considered positive and good moments in your life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Forgive those who have wronged you in the past.\nThink about all of the people who have hurt you, whether it was recently or a long time ago. Do you still harbor negative feelings toward these individuals? If so, you could be welcoming negative energy into your life without realizing it. Take a moment to mentally forgive the people who have hurt you, and expel their influence from your life. Forgiveness doesn\u2019t mean you have to trust or like the person (or people) in question. It means that you\u2019re absolving yourself of the issue and the emotional turmoil that comes with it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Putting Yourself First", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Commit to loving yourself.\nTake a moment to think about all of your positive qualities, and write them down in a list. Jot down anything that you\u2019re good at, whether it\u2019s a sport, a hobby, or being a good friend. While it may be difficult to think of good things about yourself, remember that you\u2019ll be inviting positive energy into your life once you do. For example, try telling yourself: \u201cI may not have a lot of hobbies, but I\u2019m really good at getting things done quickly and efficiently.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Don\u2019t compromise your own happiness for other people.\nWhile it\u2019s important to think of others, try not to forget about yourself in the process. Before agreeing to do something with a friend or family member, decide if it\u2019s something that would make you happy or not. By avoiding stressful activities and tasks, you can invite a lot more positive, productive energy into your life. For instance, if you don\u2019t like traveling but your friends invite you on a weekend trip in the city, put your foot down and explain why you would rather not go. Say something like: \u201cI really appreciate you thinking of me, but I feel really drained and stressed out whenever I travel. I hope you have a great time!\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Take active steps to achieve your goals.\nIf you want to accomplish something big, think of actionable ways you can reach these goals. Don\u2019t expect to fulfill your dreams in a week or a month\u2014instead, divide your goals into small, achievable baby steps. As you accomplish each step, take a moment to celebrate the little victories! For example: If you want to become fluent in another language, you\u2019ll need to develop a study plan first. Start by learning basic grammar and vocabulary, then work your way up to speaking conversationally. Lots of practice is the best way to improve your language skills.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Aim to be mindful and present every day.\nKeep yourself rooted in the events and activities of your daily schedule. Instead of doing chores and work-related tasks automatically, take a moment to consider how and why you\u2019re doing these things. Prioritize a feeling of awareness in everything that you do to welcome more productive, positive energy into your life. Mindfulness isn\u2019t a task that you can check off a list. It\u2019s a lifestyle that you incorporate throughout your day, starting from when you wake up.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Set clear boundaries with others on a regular basis.\nPerform frequent maintenance on your friendships by determining how far you want the relationship to go. Whenever you to speak with a friend or acquaintance, pay attention to your own thoughts and feelings. If anything a person says makes you uncomfortable, take a moment to address your emotions. Do this on a regular basis, so your negative feelings don\u2019t snowball into something worse. For example, if you dislike it when a friend calls you \u201csweetie,\u201d be sure to speak up.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Adjusting Your Day-to-Day Life", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Maintain a healthy diet and exercise schedule.\nYou can\u2019t bring lots of positive energy into your life if your body is unhappy. Exercise regularly to release endorphins, which fill physically fill you with a positive feeling. Also, try and eat fresh produce on a daily basis, as well as foods that are rich in protein. Exercise doesn\u2019t have to be boring. Try joining a gym or working different muscle groups to change things up! You can always go for a run to ease your worries. You can add a lot of positive energy to your life by exposing yourself to fresh air, as well as some beautiful natural sights.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Decorate your home with Feng Shui techniques.\nBring more positive energy into a room by changing the decor and color scheme. By using Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of living in a peaceful and harmonious environment, you can redecorate your living space with warm, natural colors (e.g., soft yellow, light green). If you\u2019re up for a larger DIY project, consider repainting the walls in your home to be a soothing environment that oozes positive energy. You can use Feng Shui techniques in all physical spaces in your life, like your bedroom, workspace, or car.Did you know? Certain symbols and items are considered especially lucky, like ladybugs and elephants. Try incorporating these creatures into your home\u2019s decor.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Play upbeat, encouraging music on a daily basis.\nSet up a speaker or sound system in your home and queue fun music to play while you\u2019re up and about. Motivate yourself to do household chores and other typically boring tasks by singing and dancing along to catchy tunes. Try creating a big playlist of all your favorite jams, so you don\u2019t have to change the song manually. Link your phone to a wireless speaker to play music from an app or streaming service.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Positive-Energy-Into-Your-Life-Step-14.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "11596690", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Have Fun Without Alcohol\nThere are lots of ways to have fun that don't involve alcohol, and they can be done by yourself or with others. If you're trying to stay sober at an event, carry your own non-alcoholic drink with you while still enjoying the food and dancing. If you're looking for solo activities, try cooking a new recipe, going for a run, or spending time on a hobby. There are several ways to have fun without drinking with friends too, such as playing a sport together, listening to live music, or having a movie marathon.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Enjoying Events without Drinking", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Carry a non-alcoholic drink with you at the event.\nInstead of just walking around empty-handed, bring your own beverage with you to the event that you'd like to drink, or fill up a cup with soda or water. This will help prevent people from asking you if you'd like something to drink and will also make you feel more comfortable. Consider garnishing your drink with a lime wedge or something similar so it looks even more like an alcoholic drink.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Enjoying Events without Drinking", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Carry a non-alcoholic drink with you at the event.\nInstead of just walking around empty-handed, bring your own beverage with you to the event that you'd like to drink, or fill up a cup with soda or water. This will help prevent people from asking you if you'd like something to drink and will also make you feel more comfortable. Consider garnishing your drink with a lime wedge or something similar so it looks even more like an alcoholic drink.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Bring along a friend who also won't be drinking if desired.\nIf you're worried about being the only person there that won't be drinking, ask a friend or family member who won't be drinking either to come along with you. This way you'll have someone to talk to and rely on when needed.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Engage in conversations with people around you.\nWhile it's normal to feel like the odd one out at a party where everyone else is drinking, going up to people and starting conversations will help put you at ease. Ask people about their job or school, what show they've been watching recently, or what their plans are for the upcoming holiday. If you're going up to someone you don't know, introduce yourself by saying your name and asking for theirs.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Focus on the food instead of the drinks.\nMost parties have lots of snacks to go along with the drinks, so check out the food instead. Snack on things like popcorn, chips, or even mini appetizers while sipping your non-alcoholic drink.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Dance along to the music with friends.\nIt's not necessary to be drinking in order to feel comfortable dancing. As soon as you start to dance, you'll actually feel just as happy and free as people who are drinking, due to the endorphins that dancing releases. Grab a friend and head to the dance floor! Don't worry about being an awkward dancer and just have fun.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Have a response for when people ask why you're not drinking.\nIt can be annoying when people ask why you don't drink or why you won't just take one sip. Come up with a couple of things you can say when people start asking questions so you don't have to worry about your response. For example, if someone asks you why you\u2019re not drinking, you might say, \u201cI have an early day tomorrow\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m driving.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Get support if you're hoping to quit drinking.\nIt can be hard to commit to not drinking when friends, or even strangers, around you are drinking. Open up to close friends and family members to talk to them about your goals and any issues. Consider joining a group of people that have chosen to stay sober to give you some support and provide a place to talk about your life, if desired. Go online and type \u201csober groups near me\u201d or something similar into the search bar.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Having Fun by Yourself", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Go on a day trip to explore new areas.\nTake a road trip to a city you\u2019ve never been before, visit the ocean or mountains, or even just go someplace nearby for the day. Having a change of scenery will help energize you and is a fun way to explore your surroundings. Visit a monument, drive to a festival nearby, or go to your local art fair for the day. Consider going on a picnic or taking a scenic drive.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Get some exercise at the gym or outdoors.\nWhile you might not immediately think of exercising as fun, it\u2019s a great way to release endorphins that make you feel good. Visit your local gym to take advantage of its equipment, go for a run outdoors, or hop on your bike and take a ride. Join a fitness class to learn from professionals and stay motivated. Do yoga to improve your flexibility and mindfulness or lift some weights to strengthen your muscles.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Cook a new recipe to test out different foods.\nInstead of dining out and having drinks, opt to cook up a new dish at home instead. Go online to find a recipe that looks interesting or go through a cookbook you have to find something to make. Cooking new foods is a fun way to add another dish to your repertoire while learning new skills. Make something simple like a homemade pizza or chocolate cake. Visit sites like Pinterest to find lots of recipes to choose from.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Make something unique to use your creative side.\nThis could mean playing an instrument to create your own song, writing a story, or painting a picture. Get crafty by choosing a medium that you love or are interested in learning. Show off your carpentry skills by building a table or shelf. Knit a scarf, tie-dye a T-shirt, or sketch pictures in a sketchbook.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Spend time outdoors to enjoy nature.\nGo for a hike or walk, spend an evening camping, or even just gaze up at the stars on a clear night. Being outside is a good way to destress and enjoy yourself without needing a drink. Sit outside and read, take an extra-long walk with your dog, or visit a botanical garden or body of water.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Explore a new or old hobby that you haven\u2019t had time for.\nInstead of drinking, think of something you\u2019re passionate about, such as gardening, reading, or rock climbing. Dedicate a few hours to this hobby to strengthen your skills and just have fun. Other hobbies include photography, scrapbooking, video games, or puzzling.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Learn a new language to get your mind moving.\nMaybe you've always wanted to learn Spanish, French, or Italian\u2014now's your chance! Check out books from the library on your language of choice, or go online to find helpful resources that will teach you a new language without having to purchase anything. Watch YouTube videos teaching you a new language or download an app that teaches you how to speak the language you're trying to learn. Take notes on the new language so you have something to refer back to.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 8: Enroll in a class about something you've always wanted to learn.\nThis could be something like how to build a cabinet, crochet, or play the piano. Choose something that you think would be useful to know, whether big or small, and go online to find out which classes are available near you to start learning. Many libraries and community centers offer free courses on various topics. You might take a class on photography, car repairs, or cooking. If the topic you're hoping to learn about is offered online, this is also a great way to learn from home.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Spending Time with Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Volunteer to help people in need.\nThe great part about this is whether you bring a friend along with you or not, you\u2019ll still be with others! Collect food for a food drive, play bingo with the elderly, or spend an afternoon working in a community garden. Volunteer to help with something you\u2019re passionate about, like raising money for cancer research or cooking homemade meals for the homeless. Volunteer with an organization that does things like teach children to read or build homes for people in need. To find volunteering opportunities near you, do an online search to find events going on in your area or places that need assistance.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Invite friends over for a movie marathon.\nCome up with a list of movies and ask each friend to bring a snack, such as popcorn, candy, or chips. You could even ask everyone to come up with their own mocktail to share with the group, or just supply soft drinks for everyone. Watch a couple of movies with your friends while you snack on yummy foods. Order a pizza to eat while watching the movie, or pick up ingredients for ice cream sundaes. Give your movie marathon a theme like \u201cSpooky Night\u201d where you only watch scary movies or a \u201cLaugh-a-Thon\u201d where you watch all comedies.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-17.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Host a group of friends at your home for a game night.\nPick out your favorite board games or card games and play with your friends. Supply snacks for everyone to munch on while playing, or ask each person to bring their favorite snack to share instead. Choose games that can be played with the number of people that come to your game night to ensure everyone has a fun time. Popular games include Cards Against Humanity, Taboo, Twister, Scrabble, or Trivial Pursuit. Let your friends know that you won\u2019t be serving drinks at the game night, but they\u2019re free to bring their own mocktail or soft drink.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-18.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Ask a friend to go to a museum or gallery with you.\nHave some bonding time with a friend while you experience a little culture. Visit your favorite art gallery or head to the nearest science or history museum to visit the newest exhibits and learn while having fun. Check online to see which museums near you are free of cost. Consider visiting a gallery or museum that you\u2019ve always wanted to see, even if it\u2019s a couple of hours away.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-19.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Get a group of people together to play a sport.\nAsk a few friends to get together and play something like basketball, soccer, or frisbee. You might even get together and practice a non-competitive sport like swimming or dancing. Enjoy hanging out with friends while you get some exercise. Consider joining a club sport like volleyball or kickball to meet a new team of people.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-20.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Check out a concert venue or open mic to enjoy some live music.\nAsk a friend or get a group together to attend a concert near you. It could be a sold-out show in an arena, or it might be a small concert in a local cafe. Listening to live music is a great way to enjoy yourself without drinking alcohol. Look up your favorite musicians to see when and if they\u2019re performing near you. Go on social media to see which concerts or free music shows are happening in your area.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-21.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Try out an escape room with your friends for a bonding activity.\nGo online to find out if your city or town has an escape room you can try. These rooms are often themed and give you an opportunity to use clues to solve problems and \"escape\" the room. Ask a group of friends to do an escape room with you, if desired. Type \"escape rooms near me\" into your online search engine to find options.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-22.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 8: Go bowling with others to practice your bowling skills.\nChoose a bowling alley near you and spend a couple of hours playing with friends or family members. Bowling is a great activity for rainy days or if you want to get together with a larger group of people. Go online to find out if your local bowling alley has any deals or specials on certain nights.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-23.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 9: Spend the day playing laser tag or paintball with a group of friends.\nIf you want to get your adrenaline running, ask a group of friends to play laser tag or paintball with you. Create teams to make it more competitive, or join in with another group of strangers to play. Bring a change of clothes if you're playing paintball.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-24.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 10: Rent skates and go ice skating at a local skating rink.\nWhether it's winter or summer, ice skating at an indoor ice rink is always an option. Find out when the public skating time is and invite friends or family members to join you. Rent skates at the ice rink or bring your own. It's a good idea to wear warmer clothes at the ice rink, even if it's hot outside. Some cities have outdoor ice rinks you can go to when the weather turns colder.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-Without-Alcohol-Step-25.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1173710", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Be a Free Spirited Person\nBeing a free spirit is a goal many people have. In today\u2019s busy and cluttered world, however, this can be difficult. If you\u2019ve decided that a free spirited life is the way for you, then start getting in the mindset by working to be more spontaneous, simplified, and positive.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Getting in the Free Spirited Mindset", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Decide if you want to be a free spirit.\nBefore beginning a more free-spirited life, ask yourself a few important questions, including:\nIs it important for you to always be on a set schedule, or on time for events? Free-spirited individuals are likely to have more flexible schedules. Do you like to plan ahead or be spontaneous? A major aspect of being free spirited is learning to \u201cgo with the flow\u201d: accepting things as they come, rather than deciding everything ahead of time. How organized are you? A free-spirited lifestyle will probably mean a less organized life and/or living space. In its place, however, comes the opportunity for excitement and spontaneity. How practical and grounded are you? A free spirit can be just as successful as anyone else, but cultivates imagination, daydreaming, and idealism along the way.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-01.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Getting in the Free Spirited Mindset", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Decide if you want to be a free spirit.\nBefore beginning a more free-spirited life, ask yourself a few important questions, including:\nIs it important for you to always be on a set schedule, or on time for events? Free-spirited individuals are likely to have more flexible schedules. Do you like to plan ahead or be spontaneous? A major aspect of being free spirited is learning to \u201cgo with the flow\u201d: accepting things as they come, rather than deciding everything ahead of time. How organized are you? A free-spirited lifestyle will probably mean a less organized life and/or living space. In its place, however, comes the opportunity for excitement and spontaneity. How practical and grounded are you? A free spirit can be just as successful as anyone else, but cultivates imagination, daydreaming, and idealism along the way.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-01.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be prepared to be unique.\nA free spirit is a non-conformist, who isn\u2019t afraid to think for his or herself, and who follows his or her passions. This can be liberating, but it also takes courage. Think of the books, ideas, people, etc. that you find fascinating or inspiring. You don\u2019t have to think or do things exactly like these models, but think of them as ways for encouraging you to find your own path.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-02.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Get in touch with your creative side.\nA free spirit isn\u2019t afraid to be original and imaginative. This doesn\u2019t mean that every free spirit has to be a great artist or inventor, just that he or she is able to be expressive, whether through clothing, decorating, speaking, cooking, or any other activity.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-03.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Being Spontaneous", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Give yourself time to be spontaneous.\nStrange as it may sound, you may need to give yourself time to be spontaneous. This is especially true if you have a busy life or are just learning how to be a free-spirited person. If you are having difficulty being spontaneous at first, schedule a few minutes per day, or per week, in which you have nothing planned. Do whatever comes to mind, or nothing at all. Stop to chat with strangers, friends, or coworkers, even if you feel busy. You will enjoy the company, and taking a detour in your day. Be wary of time traps. Some activities, like endlessly surfing television channels you don\u2019t really want to watch, or getting lost in a smartphone, can eat up lots of time that could be spent being spontaneous. Don\u2019t plan every day. Sometimes we want to do this so that we aren\u2019t bored. But if you leave time open, you can discover new things. Try leaving an unplanned weekend, for starters, and use the time to get out of the house and do something you\u2019ve never done before.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-04.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Open your mind to spontaneity.\nA spontaneous and free spirit will look at the world with a child\u2019s eyes, thinking about how much one doesn\u2019t know, exploring whatever seems interesting, and always asking \u201cwhy?\u201d and \u201chow?\u201d Give yourself the chance to open up and try new things before making judgments about them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-05.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Take advantage of opportunities to be spontaneous.\nThere are many ways to learn and experience new things. A free spirit will seek out these opportunities:\nTravel to a place you\u2019ve never been before. Try a new type of cuisine. Get up and dance, right now, whether or not there\u2019s any music. Do a routine activity in a different way. Take a different way home for instance, or have your morning coffee on a walk rather than sitting at your breakfast table or in your car. Offer free hugs. Strike up a conversation with a stranger when you\u2019re standing in line at a store\u2014you never know what you might learn, or who you might meet. Take up a new hobby or try to learn a new skill, and don\u2019t be afraid of failing, or of what others will think.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-06.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Learning to Let Things Go", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Let it go.\nA free spirit is not tied to many things beyond his or her ideals, and people he or she cares about. Part of being a free spirited person is learning to let some things go in life before they hold you back or weigh you down. As a free spirit, you can certainly still worry about and fight for things that matter. If something seems to be holding you back rather than helping you achieve your dreams, however, it might be time to let it go.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-07.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Consider downsizing your home or moving.\nA home that is larger or more complex than you need, filled with more material things than you need, costs too much, or is in a location you don\u2019t want to be in can keep you from being a free spirit. You could move into a different or smaller home that is more manageable for your free-spirited lifestyle, such as a tiny house.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-08.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Be less materialistic.\nNo one can get through life without some material things. However, too many things can weigh you down if you are trying to be a free spirit. Try these techniques:\nBuying fewer things will decrease clutter and simplify your life. This will also free up finances for things that might matter more to you, such as traveling or spending time with friends. Buy less, but of better things. Having quality things but fewer things overall can help you be less materialistic. Higher-quality clothes, for instance, will last longer than lower-quality ones, and you will need to have fewer of them. Keep in mind that reducing is good for the environment. Consuming less means less production, less waste, less pollutants, etc.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-09.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Decide what to get rid of.\nDecluttering your life is one of the first steps you can take toward becoming a more free spirited person. When choosing how to simplify things, consider the following:\nThink about how often you use particular items. Many experts suggest that if you are trying to declutter, if you haven\u2019t used an item in six months, you should consider getting rid of it. Irreplaceable items of great sentimental value might be an exception. However, remember that memories are more important than things, and you might not need to keep everything. Photographs, for instance, can be scanned for safekeeping without taking up space, and then discarded. Consider donating items you no longer need to a thrift store, community center, religious organization, or other worthwhile cause. That way, others in need can benefit from the items you can live without.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 4: Learning to Be Positive", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Try some breathing exercises.\nGetting plenty of oxygen contributes to physical energy and mental alertness. This can give you an overall boost of positivity. Try one of these breathing exercises periodically:\nSit up straight. Put one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. Inhale deeply through your nose. You should feel the hand on your belly raise, but the hand on your chest should not move. Breathe out slowly, with your mouth barely open. Use your hand on your belly to push air out, if you want. Repeat this exercise ten times. Quickly inhale and exhale through your nose (about three breaths a second), keeping your mouth closed. Then breathe normally. Repeat this process for fifteen seconds or more.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Practice mindfulness.\nMindfulness is a practice that helps people become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, and of how they relate to the world around them in the present moment. It is like a particular type of meditation that will leave you feeling more self-aware and positive. Since living in the present is key to being a free spirit, this technique can be very helpful. Sit in a comfortable position, whether in a chair, cross-legged, or kneeling. Begin to pay attention to your breathing. Your mind will eventually wander. When you catch your mind wandering, bring your attention back to your own breathing. Don\u2019t stop to dwell on or judge your thoughts. Continue this process for a short time, such as five minutes if you are trying it for the first time. Repeat this practice frequently, at least once a day. As you begin to practice mindfulness mediation regularly, you can gradually increase the length of the sessions, if you desire. Many people engage in mindfulness through prayer or meditation as part of a spiritual practice. A free spirit can absolutely willfully participate in these practices.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Try yoga.\nOften characterized as mainly a physical exercise, yoga is very much part of a spiritual practice that can boost your mind as well. Practicing yoga regularly can contribute to a positive outlook. You can begin learning yoga with just some simple exercises.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Let go of mental hang-ups.\nEveryone has things in life that can weigh them down, from having to deal with ignorant people to worrying about physical flaws. In developing a positive outlook on life, a free-spirited person will also learn to overcome as many of these hang-ups as possible. Remember that flaws, including physical imperfections, are part of what makes each person unique. Be proud of what makes you unique, and don\u2019t constantly worry about being the same as others. Practice compassion. This includes being as forgiving to yourself as you would be to others. If you are able to accept others for who they are, extend the same compassion to yourself. Practice tolerance. By being tolerant of other people, you will free your mind and emotions. Be ready to accept differences in other people, and always ask yourself how you would feel or think if you were in their place. EXPERT TIP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMichelle Shahbazyan, MS, MA\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLife Coach & Founder, The LA Life Coach\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMichelle Shahbazyan is the Founder of The LA Life Coach, a concierge life, family, and career coaching service based in Los Angeles, California. She has over 10 years of experience with life coaching, consulting, motivational speaking, and matchmaking. She has a BA in Applied Psychology and an MS in Building Construction and Technology Management from Georgia Tech University, and a MA in Psychology with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy from Phillips Graduate University. Michelle Shahbazyan, MS, MA\t\t\tLife Coach & Founder, The LA Life Coach\t\t\t\tOur Expert Agrees: If you're feeling pessimistic, write down all of the things that are bringing you down, and start taking steps to change those things. You might not be able to change everything, but taking those steps will help you feel a sense of hope and control. You'll likely be surprised how far-reaching just a few positive changes can be.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Free-Spirited-Person-Step-14.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1220738", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Improve Mind Power\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Exercising Your Brain", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Learn new skills.\nBy learning new skills, you keep your brain engaged and challenged, which can build new neural connections and improve your cognitive function. Learning a new language is an excellent way to expand your mind. It will force your brain to work in ways it isn\u2019t accustomed to and can help you see the world around you from a new linguistic perspective. Trying new activities or hobbies can also help keep your brain tuned up. Look for opportunities to learn how to do new things, like taking ballroom dance, a martial art, a sewing class, or a writing workshop. Play games. Playing new games with friends or family, particularly more intensive games like chess or cribbage, can help you add to and enhance your cognitive abilities.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-1.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Exercising Your Brain", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Learn new skills.\nBy learning new skills, you keep your brain engaged and challenged, which can build new neural connections and improve your cognitive function. Learning a new language is an excellent way to expand your mind. It will force your brain to work in ways it isn\u2019t accustomed to and can help you see the world around you from a new linguistic perspective. Trying new activities or hobbies can also help keep your brain tuned up. Look for opportunities to learn how to do new things, like taking ballroom dance, a martial art, a sewing class, or a writing workshop. Play games. Playing new games with friends or family, particularly more intensive games like chess or cribbage, can help you add to and enhance your cognitive abilities.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Cultivate curiosity.\nDon\u2019t accept things as they are. Instead, learn to constantly question things--even things that seem obvious or basic. Deliberately seek out things that are new and different. While it may be tempting to avoid rather than pursue things that are strange or different--new foods or dining styles, new religious ceremonies, new neighborhoods, etc.--your brain builds new and more diverse connections each time it encounters something unfamiliar or difficult to understand. Embrace challenges to your ideas, beliefs, and experiences.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Read.\nReading engages your brain as well as your imagination and is an excellent way to learn new things and to learn to see people, places, things, and ideas in new and different ways. Seek out reading that\u2019s at least moderately challenging in terms of its vocabulary, content, or ideas. Look for readings that can not only grant you access to new knowledge, but allow you to explore new and different ideas, perspectives, and beliefs as well.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Do brain games and puzzles.\nThere are all kinds of games available designed to keep your brain limber and fit. Look around, experiment, and find what works for you. The old standbys of crossword puzzles and logic games have been around for some time, and they persist today because they work--they\u2019re excellent ways to challenge and expand your thinking skills. Newer alternatives for challenging your brain are available online and as smartphone apps. Many sites offer games designed to keep your mind active and engaged, so rather than spend your downtime browsing cat pictures, consider trying a virtual brain-game.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Focus and review.\nCommit to focusing closely on learning and improving your thinking. When you come across a new idea or fact, focus on learning about it and committing it to memory. Then, periodically go back over the new ideas and facts you\u2019ve learned and rehearse them to yourself. Revisiting new information this way--particularly soon after learning it--is key to incorporating it in a meaningful and lasting way into your memory. It may seem trivial, but it turns out that just making up your mind to focus and commit to a new idea will help you retain it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Write things down--longhand.\nResearch has shown that writing down new information longhand helps you integrate it more thoroughly and recall it more easily. For example, while listening to new information in a meeting, conference, or class, write out the most important information. Be sure to write legibly and to review what you\u2019ve written down afterwards to help it stay fixed in your mind.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Involve your senses.\nTry to relate new information to your five senses to help you absorb and retain it. Relate the idea or fact to a taste, tactile feeling, smell, or image. The more multi-sensory you can make it, the more powerfully it will stay with you.Most people already relate the smell of their favorite food to it's taste and to the experiences they've had consuming it. Another thing to try is counting the number of people in a room. This will help you quickly develop a sharper mind when it comes to remembering, especially if the people are milling around in a hallway or something like that. For example, if you want to remember that you left your keys on the counter next to the sugar bowl, make an effort to associate the thought of your keys with the taste of sugar and the whiteness (or whatever color) or the countertop.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Nurturing Your Brain", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Stop smoking.\nResearchers have found evidence that smoking impedes cognitive function and may even shrink the size of your brain\u2019s hippocampus. Research has shown that smoking can decrease abilities related to memory, planning, and overall mental ability.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Eat well.\nThere are a number of foods that researchers believe can lend themselves to improved brain function. Of course, eating walnuts won\u2019t make you a genius, but it may help your brain do what it needs to, and maybe do it a bit better. Food high in omega-3 fatty acids, like walnuts and fish, are important to brain development and may help regulate mood and concentration. Eating foods rich in magnesium is also believed to improve brain function, and, because many people are magnesium deficient, increasing your intake might also be a good idea in general. Antioxidant-rich foods are believed to help protect the brain from degeneration and are primarily found in fruits and vegetables. The darker the fruit or vegetable, the higher it usually is in antioxidants. For example, blueberries, blackberries, plums, red beans, and black beans are all high in antioxidants. Food rich in whole grains helps to regulate your body\u2019s glucose levels, and because glucose is what your brain uses for fuel, keeping your levels steady is important to your mood and ability to concentrate. Good sources of whole grains include foods like steel-cut oatmeal, brown rice, and oat bran.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Exercise regularly.\nMaintaining an exercise routine and a healthy diet is important for not just your physical health but for your mental health as well. Cardio activity releases a potent mix of hormones important to improving mood, relieving stress, and boosting concentration. A number of studies have connected exercise with improved cognitive function, including memory, attention, and the ability to move easily between different tasks. Though there isn\u2019t an absolute consensus, many experts recommend moderate cardio activity 2-3 times a week in order to get the full mental benefit of exercise.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Get enough sleep.\nYou\u2019ve certainly been admonished about it often enough, but sleep is important. And it turns out it\u2019s notably important to good brain function. Get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Not only will it help you to concentrate and keep you alert, it will also help prevent loss of gray matter in your brain over time.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Meditate.\nResearch has shown that daily meditation can improve your brain as well as your well-being. Meditation is believed to particularly improve decision-making and information-processing abilities. Meditative practices like yoga and tai chi have also been found to improve mood and mental function.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Improve-Mind-Power-Step-12.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1249614", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Study Metaphysics\nMetaphysics is a branch of philosophy investigating the fundamental nature of reality and being. Simply, it answers two basic questions: \"What is there?\" and \"What is it like?\" A person who studies metaphysics would be called either a meta-physicist or a metaphysician. Metaphysics is a multidisciplinary field of study. It is difficult to specialize in all fields, so a basic knowledge of all included areas is recommended. With a little effort and research, you\u2019ll be able to learn everything you want to know about metaphysics.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Learning the Basics", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Introduce yourself to some basic metaphysical concepts.\nStart by understanding the basic concepts of physics, math, logic, and philosophy. It seems difficult but introductory level books and Internet research can help. These fields are all crucial to your learning about metaphysics in general. Understand the philosophy of mathematics. Do not simply solve sums. Understand the concept of numbers and patterns in the universe. Gain a sound understanding of concepts related to physics. Concentrate on Einstein\u2019s theory of relativity which explains how motion works by moving at constant, relative speeds between different inertial frames of reference.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Learning the Basics", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Introduce yourself to some basic metaphysical concepts.\nStart by understanding the basic concepts of physics, math, logic, and philosophy. It seems difficult but introductory level books and Internet research can help. These fields are all crucial to your learning about metaphysics in general. Understand the philosophy of mathematics. Do not simply solve sums. Understand the concept of numbers and patterns in the universe. Gain a sound understanding of concepts related to physics. Concentrate on Einstein\u2019s theory of relativity which explains how motion works by moving at constant, relative speeds between different inertial frames of reference.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Learn how to tell whether an object is abstract or concrete.\nMetaphysics deals largely with understanding the difference between concrete and abstract objects. A concrete object is something quantifiable \u2013 a thing that you can physically touch or see. An abstract object is less definable because it is not something represented physically, but something embodied by an idea. For example, a number is an abstract object because it correlates to the idea of counting or measuring something. The physical thing being counted is a concrete object. An abstract object does not exist in any particular time or space (such as ideas, mathematical objects, and fictional entities). Abstract objects are often called \u201cparticulars\u201d or \u201cuniversals.\u201d\nMorality is considered causally inert because being good or bad doesn\u2019t cause something to happen. It is merely an idea that qualifies or categorizes a thing. Metaphysicians are mostly concerned with the nature of objects and their properties.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Study quantum physics.\nQuantum physics posits that objects have a dual type of nature \u2013 what is known and what is not known. Simply, one cannot determine every unknown aspect about a particular object because there is always something beyond human knowledge, something unknown. Quantum physicists believe that determinism was proven incorrect with the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. The Heisenberg uncertainty principle claims that there is a limit to what one can know about things; therefore, nothing can ever be fully known.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Research cosmology and cosmogony.\nMetaphysical Cosmology is the branch of metaphysics that deals with the origin and development of the universe. It addresses questions about the universe beyond the scope of physical science. Cosmology is the study of how the world/universe operates. An example of a question cosmologists try to answer would be, \u201cWhat is the purpose of the cosmos?\u201d\nCosmogony is the study of how the world/universe originated. An example of a question cosmogonists try to answer is \u201cDid the Big Bang event create the idea of time itself?\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Consider whether you believe in determinism or free will.\nDeterminism proposes that every event \u2014 including every human decision and action \u2014 is the \"inevitable and necessary consequence\" of prior occurrences. Determinists believe a human being's future depends on present and past events beyond the individual's influence. In philosophy it is believed that human decision is based on past events. Since metaphysics is related to the study of questions about existence, creation, and what it all means, there is a clear link with religion. Deciding whether you believe in determinism or not is a key factor in furthering your personal understanding and study of metaphysics because this is the foundation of how people interact with the world. If there is no free will, then humanity\u2019s relationship with the world is much different than if they do have free will. Your study of metaphysics hinges largely on how you personally understand this one aspect.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Study the relationship between metaphysics and religion.\nSince metaphysics often focuses on the origins of the universe and the connection of humans to the universe, religion often comes in to play. Scientifically, the study of metaphysics deals with much more than just the religious aspects; however, those who want to teach and understand the more abstract elements of metaphysics usually do so under the umbrella of religion. Religion attempts to provide a metaphysical understanding of human existence, so the two are closely related.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Studying Metaphysics in Your Free Time", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Read articles on the internet.\nOne way to learn about metaphysics in your free time is to spend some time browsing the topic on the internet. Of course, you\u2019ll need to be careful about where you get your information \u2013 make sure you only read articles from reputable sources. Any article from a .edu URL should contain information that was fact-checked by an expert in the field.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Follow metaphysical organizations.\nIf you are interested in expanding your knowledge about metaphysics, try to get involved in organizations that deal with this area of study. At the very least, you should read the organizations\u2019 websites to stay up-to-date on new ideas in the field and information about further learning. You can also try to subscribe to them on various social media platforms to get more access to relevant information that will interest you. Consider following the Metaphysical Society, the Metaphysical Society of America, the World Metaphysical Association, and the New Hope Metaphysical Society.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Subscribe to newsletters.\nMany professional and academic organizations create regular newsletters that they send out to all of their members containing information regarding news in the field, updates on society issues, and interesting publications on the topic. You may have to pay a fee to get the newsletter, but it is a great way to get more information on a topic you\u2019re interested in. The Metaphysical Society of America has an email list that you can subscribe to in order to receive information from their organization. The Metaphysical Society also has a newsletter you can subscribe to.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Attend conferences.\nA great way to learn about a topic is by attending conferences hosted by organizations that are devoted to the study of that particular topic. To learn more about metaphysics, try to attend some conferences aimed at understanding metaphysical topics. Consider attending the annual conference hosted by the Society for the Metaphysics of Science (SMS). Try to attend the annual meetings held by the Metaphysical Society.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Read primary texts.\nPrimary texts are the foundational texts for any field of study. These are the books and academic articles that other scholars and researchers build on in their additional analyses of the topic. For metaphysics, some important primary texts to familiarize yourself with include Aristotle\u2019s \u201cMetaphysics,\u201d Plato\u2019s Phaedo, and The Nature of Metaphysics by D. F. Pears.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Studying Metaphysics in a Guided Manner", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Take courses in metaphysics.\nThere are many institutions that offer courses on the metaphysical sciences \u2013 like the University of Metaphysical Sciences. These kinds of courses will allow you to study metaphysics with the help of trained professionals who will guide you in your journey toward understanding. These courses will help you learn about various metaphysical philosophies as well as aid you in your path toward a career relating to the metaphysical sciences if that is what you desire. Some regular universities offer courses on metaphysics too.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Gain legitimacy by attaining a degree in metaphysical teachings.\nGetting a degree in metaphysics will allow you more prestige as a metaphysical teacher or counselor by supplying you with the academic/professional background necessary to foster the kind of trust and respect so often required in this field. A degree will help you acquire more job opportunities \nA degree in the field of metaphysics will help you achieve greater potential for opportunities to involve yourself in your chosen field, a greater understanding of the world around you, and better prospects in the field of metaphysics with regard to possible future employment.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Become ordained in the field of metaphysics.\nMany people who work as a metaphysical professional do so under the umbrella of religious affiliation. Since the law does not typically separate the religious from the spiritual, metaphysical practitioners usually become ordained in their field in order to teach and guide others in the study of metaphysics. To become ordained as a metaphysical practitioner, you will most likely need to enroll in a training program that offers ordination as an option. Consider a program like the two year course offered by the International Metaphysical Ministry (IMM) that ordains those who complete their training. While a metaphysical degree can help you establish yourself as a trained professional, becoming ordained in the field will legally allow you to teach your beliefs to others.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Study-Metaphysics-Step-14.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1292202", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Start Fresh\nSometimes, you just need to hit the reset. Life gets dull, breakups happen, and jobs get tough. Whether you're interested in learning to unwind and recalibrate your engines after a rough day, a tough week, or a terrible month, you can learn to make little changes in your life that will help you get a fresh start, and a new lease.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Hitting Reset on Life", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Try a change of scenery.\nAfter a while, seeing the same old sights and same old faces can start to drag you down. Sometimes, we need a little bit more stimulation, and making a move, long or short, can fit the bill. Psychologist Susan Clayton says that where you live, and how you define your home, is part of your self-definition. Meaning that, if you're tired of where you are, you're tired of how you're living. It can be financially difficult or impractical to uproot yourself and move to a different state, or a different country, but you an try making a jump to a new neighborhood, to get a different angle on your city. Switch roommates. Alternatively, try doing a thorough re-arrangement or cleaning job in your house as it is. If it looks new, it'll feel new.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-1.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Hitting Reset on Life", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Try a change of scenery.\nAfter a while, seeing the same old sights and same old faces can start to drag you down. Sometimes, we need a little bit more stimulation, and making a move, long or short, can fit the bill. Psychologist Susan Clayton says that where you live, and how you define your home, is part of your self-definition. Meaning that, if you're tired of where you are, you're tired of how you're living. It can be financially difficult or impractical to uproot yourself and move to a different state, or a different country, but you an try making a jump to a new neighborhood, to get a different angle on your city. Switch roommates. Alternatively, try doing a thorough re-arrangement or cleaning job in your house as it is. If it looks new, it'll feel new.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Take more breaks.\nLearning to unpack the psychological burden you carry throughout the day is absolutely essential to living a happy, healthy existence. It's important to take frequent breaks throughout the day, whether you're doing physical work or mental work, to give yourself the change to come back to that work with fresh eyes. Breaks help you stay on task and maintain schedules. Try taking a break every 50-90 minutes to stay on schedule, for about 10-20 minutes. Studies show that this length of break is the most effective at keeping you on task, more so than trying to work through without taking any breaks at all.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Exercise more.\nGetting exercise has mood-enhancing and anxiety-preventing qualities, and recent studies reveal that people who exercise more are more readily equipped to deal with the stresses and anxieties of everyday life. It's also a great way to hit the reset after a particularly stressful day or week. Sweat it out instead of stressing over it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Change your appearance.\nMaking subtle or significant changes in your appearance can have a big effect on the way you perceive yourself and the way you carry yourself, and the way you're perceived by others, especially in the workplace. Dress the way you want to be perceived by others. While it's easy to suggest that dressing up more will give you a more trustworthy and reliable affect it's just as important to look how you want to be perceived, to get a fresh outlook on your life. Maybe you don't want to look reliable. Get a tattoo, or hook yourself up with a raggedy leather jacket to surprise your friends. Start fresh by embracing the look you admire.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Cancel your social networking accounts for a while.\nThese days, much of the way we think about other people and ourselves has to do with our presence online. Hitting reset on your social networking accounts might require deleting or suspending them temporarily, to give yourself a break, and recalibrate your online presence. Delete everything you don't want online and change your passwords. Make everything slightly different, so it'll feel new if and when you decide to restart. Start things up again when you're ready, using a new user name, or a slightly different one, to pick new friends. Start a new e-mail address to start a new account, if necessary. Stay off, if you find yourself able to cope without checking your Facebook feed all the time.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Sleep it off.\nDon't neglect the psychological benefit of a good night of sleep on your ability to recalibrate and get a fresh start on things. Sleep deprivation affects your cognitive function significantly, which can have adverse affects on your mood, your ability to perform simple tasks effectively, and your overall physical health and well-being. If you want to feel better about each new day, make sure you get enough rest between those days.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Consider more drastic changes.\nWant to disappear completely? If you're really desperate for a reset, more significant life changes may be in order. Check out the following wikiHows to learn how to switch things around in drastic ways:\nChange your name\nChange your identity\nDisappear completely\nStart a new life", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 8: Try to be realistic about your situation.\nIn a famous study performed on Californians and Nebraskans, both groups concluded that Californians must have a higher happiness index, because the weather was better. The catch was, both groups recorded identical happiness scores. The grass may always seem greener, but we tend to overemphasize the effect of superficial things like weather and geography on our happiness. The biggest thing to change if you want a fresh start is yourself. EXPERT TIP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMichelle Shahbazyan, MS, MA\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLife Coach & Founder, The LA Life Coach\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMichelle Shahbazyan is the Founder of The LA Life Coach, a concierge life, family, and career coaching service based in Los Angeles, California. She has over 10 years of experience with life coaching, consulting, motivational speaking, and matchmaking. She has a BA in Applied Psychology and an MS in Building Construction and Technology Management from Georgia Tech University, and a MA in Psychology with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy from Phillips Graduate University. Michelle Shahbazyan, MS, MA\t\t\tLife Coach & Founder, The LA Life Coach\t\t\t\tExpert Trick: As long as you're pursuing what makes you happy and you're not intentionally hurting anyone, go out there and get the fresh start you really want. Don't let the fear of letting other people down keep you from being your most peaceful, satisfied self.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Getting Over a Bad Relationship", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Get rid of mementos.\nIf you want a fresh start after a breakup, get rid of all the things that will remind you of your ex. There's little sense in keeping mementos of the good times, because they'll be more likely to remind you of the loss in the long run. If you have old photographs, mementos and trinkets from your relationship, you'll be able to get over that relationship and start fresh a whole lot faster the sooner you get rid of that stuff. Make it a ritual. Take all those photos and delete them, one by one. Burn the letters in the backyard, saying, \"Be gone, jerk\" with every one.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Think it over, but don't obsess.\nIt's good to take some time to reflect after a break-up, to allow yourself to figure out what went wrong, and figure out what you could do better next time. It's good to do this, but not to let it go so far that it becomes an obsession. If you find yourself unable to think about anything but your ex, it's important to get moving on and looking forward. If you find yourself obsessing, or rethinking the break-up, or even wanting to rekindle that flame, train yourself to remember something negative. Think of all the things you dislike about your partner. You won't be obsessing over them for long, if you do that.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Keep your distance.\nDon't give yourself the opportunity to rethink the decision to break up. A fresh start means you need to avoid your old partner's hangouts and do everything it takes to not see this person, think about this person, or do things you did with this person. Make significant changes, emotionally and physically, to recalibrate your life, post-breakup. Don't regress. No reconsidering the decision. Relationships that end once fail more often than they succeed.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Lean on your friends.\nSpend time with the people you still care about, and who care about you. Don't be afraid to talk about it, or to get together and rip on your ex. Laugh it off together and support each other. If you and your partner had many of the same friends, don't be afraid to stake your claim and stand up for yourself. You don't need to cower in your room and avoid the situation because you're afraid of seeing your ex, or because you're worried about negotiating that tangled web. At the same time, it's important to recognize when friendships might be over as well. If a friendship was situational, and that situation had to do with your relationship that's now over, don't be afraid of moving on and making new friends.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Change something that has nothing to do with your partner.\nDo something by yourself, something that your ex may have disapproved of, or something that your ex wouldn't have gone in for. Take a flamenco class, or start doing Cross-Fit, or play your favorite music super-loud, first thing in the morning. Get a crazy haircut. Celebrate your singleness with a new activity. Think of something that your partner held back in you. If you never had the time to work on your creative projects, because your partner was always criticizing, or distracting you, let yourself be creative again. Throw yourself into some kind of project that would have been impossible with your partner.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Wait a while before dating again.\nWhile jumping into a new relationship might seem like a fast-track to a fresh start, it's loaded with the potential for sour emotions and trouble. Don't bring the baggage of that relationship into someone else's life. Depending on how long your relationship was, you may need a couple weeks, or even a couple months, to really get over things. If you find something you think you're genuinely compatible with, and you think you may be able to be with them, without staying focused on comparing it to your old relationship, that's how you know you're ready to start again.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Switching Careers", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Visualize your ideal day.\nIf you think making a career shift might help you get a fresh start, try some simple visualization exercises to figure out what might make you happier. Focus on the following prompts to Try to figure out what you want:\nWhat would your perfect day consist of? How do you make money? What are you responsibilities? What qualifications do you need to get this job? Is it important for you to have a job with \"status\"? How much do you make? Where do you live? How do you live? Who do you work with? In what capacity?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Try taking a personality test.\nIf you struggle to figure out what it is that you want, it's a good idea to take a pre-employment testing or personality test. While these aren't foolproof, or rigid, they might be able to clue you in to jobs that would fit in well with your personality traits, and help you to narrow down your search. It's a good way for collecting some ideas. One of the most popular personality tests is the Jung Typology Profiler Workplace (JTPW) personality test. Lots of other types of personality tests can be found here.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Talk to a career counsellor.\nCareer counsellors are easy to come by in most medium-sized towns, and can help you find work and translate your skills into employment for modest fees. If you feel like a change would do you good, but you can't figure out what to change to, or how, a career counselor can be an excellent guide.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-17.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Re-evaluate your priorities.\nLots of people are brought up to think that the only option is to aim at an abstract greatness, ending up studying a subject in college they didn't care about, and floundering in a job they hate, or struggling to find anything at all. Careers in manufacturing and skill-based trade labor, the type of which you often don't learn in school, are an honorable and honest line of work that's often marginalized. With a few years of training, you can can make good money doing any of the following:\nWelding\nPlumbing\nHVAC or refrigeration\nElectrical work\nAutomotive mechanical technician\nCarpentry\nMasonry", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-Fresh-Step-18.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1324609", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Get a Conscience\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Using Rational Thinking", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Use reason as your conscience if you don\u2019t feel an immediate gut reaction.\nYou can get a quick bearing if something is right or wrong by asking: \"How would that make me feel?\" Treating others as you would like to be treated is the golden rule of humanity. It is shared by religions, philosophers, humanists and atheists alike and has been expressed by every culture in history:\nBuddhism: \u201cTreat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.\u201d\nHinduism: \u201cDo not do to others what would cause pain to you.\u201d\nAncient Greece (Aristotle): \u201cConduct ourselves towards others as we would have them act toward us.\u201d\n\nApplying this rule triggers your conscience to consider if you could be more helpful, listen to others and treat people with more respect. Read up on ways that you can live the golden rule.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Using Rational Thinking", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Use reason as your conscience if you don\u2019t feel an immediate gut reaction.\nYou can get a quick bearing if something is right or wrong by asking: \"How would that make me feel?\" Treating others as you would like to be treated is the golden rule of humanity. It is shared by religions, philosophers, humanists and atheists alike and has been expressed by every culture in history:\nBuddhism: \u201cTreat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.\u201d\nHinduism: \u201cDo not do to others what would cause pain to you.\u201d\nAncient Greece (Aristotle): \u201cConduct ourselves towards others as we would have them act toward us.\u201d\n\nApplying this rule triggers your conscience to consider if you could be more helpful, listen to others and treat people with more respect. Read up on ways that you can live the golden rule.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Think about the values and behaviour of people you do and don\u2019t respect.\nFocus on how they treat others and if their words (what they say) and actions (what they do) match up to one another. This will sharpen up your knowledge of right and wrong and provide positive and negative role models to learn from. Some positive role models might be people who always keep their word, go out of their way to help, stand up for what is right, or are patient and kind. Some negative role models might be people who lie, are unkind to others, or feel no remorse or concern when they hurt or upset others. Be wary of people who show by their words or actions that they lack a conscience. They are termed sociopaths and can be manipulative and dangerous. If you know someone like this you can protect yourself by limiting your contact with them. You can learn how to spot a sociopath here:", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Educate yourself by reading about people who lived conscience-guided lives.\nYou can learn from famous examples such as Gandhi and also from daily news stories of ordinary people living in line with their conscience. Gandhi famously called his conscience his \u201clittle voice within.\u201d It enabled him to oppose injustice in the face of huge difficulty. The Abolitionists are another example of how a strong moral conscience can create change and right injustice. They relied on their moral conscience to successfully end slavery. Conscientious objectors oppose war due their religious, moral or ethical conscience. At times of war they are in a tiny minority and their strong conscience is what enables them to maintain their beliefs in the face of huge opposition. Reading about the atrocities and moral failings of the Holocaust shows how vital keeping a conscience is to protect people from harm.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Study some unexpected sources of inspiration.\nThree such sources are fiction, films and reality television. They are great practice at tuning up your conscience. Each time you watch a storyline develop or see a character make a difficult choice you are getting a free lesson in how a person's conscience directs their actions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Developing Emotional Awareness", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Unlock your conscience by practising empathy.\nThe ability to truly see things from different points of view is essential. This means really listening to what people say and trying to understand them before jumping to decide what is right or wrong. Applying the golden rule is a good rule of thumb. In any situation you can quickly ask yourself: \"How would I feel if I were in their situation right now?\" It is important to also realise that their life experience may have been very different to yours. How you would feel in this situation and how they feel might not be the same. Go beyond thinking how you would feel and honestly try to put yourself in their shoes. Ask yourself: \u201cWhat are they feeling? Why do they feel that way?\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Educate yourself on how you can effectively put your empathy skills into practice.\nOnce you have read about how to communicate more effectively it will guide you in your everyday interactions with people. Try to actively listen - really try to hear them, not just wait for your turn to speak. Don't judge them. Try and understand the feelings behind their words even if you don\u2019t agree with the views they are expressing it is always possible to understand why they think that way. Show them you have listened to what they have said.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Challenge how you think about the world.\nIt is easy to stay in the same, safe routine and think you know what is right and wrong, but you miss the opportunity to learn from other possibilities. Be curious about other people. Get to know people you would normally not stop and talk to. Ask questions about their lives. Speaking to people from different cultures can bring surprising changes in your own beliefs about life. Speak to older people who have a lifetime of experience. Have meaningful conversations and ask for their advice on life and how to live it. This will bring unexpected information that can be of great value to you in the future.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Travel and experience other cultures.\nTrying places or activities outside your comfort zone will challenge and sharpen your ideas. Different does not mean wrong, it just means different. Visiting different countries exposes you to all new ways of thinking. It will help you to empathize with different people in different situations. If you can\u2019t afford to travel, you can experience different cultures at home. Most cities have a variety of ethnic communities and restaurants that you can visit and learn about other cultures. Even watching foreign language films or reading about other cultures can go a long way to opening up your ideas.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Think about your own behaviour.\nAre you truly treating others as you would like to be treated? Tell the truth to yourself and others, even when it is hard. Recognize when you've done something right and be proud of it. This will have two benefits, you will see the positive effect it had on others and it will increase your belief and confidence that you are a person who does the right thing. Recognize when you have done something wrong and learn from it. Reflect on what you did wrong, and work out how you can do better next time. This will help you get back on track. If you have made a mistake or done something wrong, admit it. You will gain respect for being honest.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Putting it into Practice", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Use your knowledge of right and wrong to move from thinking to doing!\nWhether it is based on emotion or reason or a desire to help those in need, your conscience will guide you to make the right choices before you act. Trigger your conscience by asking: \u201cHow would I feel if someone did this to me? What would the people I respect think or do in this situation?\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-10-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Work on your communication skills.\nThink about how you speak, stand, listen, and engage with your family, friends and co-workers. How could it be improved? Just small differences in your communication style can make a big difference in how effectively you get along with others. Learn about how to practice respectful communication and practice non violent communication. Show goodwill to everyone, even if they don\u2019t seem to deserve it at the time. Remember that you don\u2019t know the circumstance behind their bad behaviour. Choose to show kindness and respect to everyone. As Plato said: \u201dBe kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.\u201d\nMake what you think, say and do agree. Using your conscience will make decisions and personal relationships easier and give you peace of mind.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-11-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Practice techniques that put your conscience into action.\nAt first you will have to think about it, but in time these will turn into habits. You could decide to do a random act of kindness each day such as paying for the coffee of the person behind you. You could decide that each day you will stop and tell someone how much you appreciate something they do.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-12-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Set specific goals for using your conscience in daily activities.\nYou might decide to make effort to really listen to others with full attention when they ask for it instead of waiting for your turn to talk or multi-tasking. Use reminders to keep you on track such as the simple Buddhist mantra: \u201cRight Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action.\u201d\nYou can read 18 practical tips on living the golden rule here:", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-13-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Live your values.\nIf you believe that helping others less fortunate than you is the right thing to do, then get out there and do it. Reach out and volunteer in your community on issues that your conscience feels strongly about, whether it is people, animals, or the environment. You could offer to be a mentor to children or a tutor to students, or simply donate food and clothing to people in need. If you can\u2019t volunteer in the community, you can find many opportunities as a virtual volunteer.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-14-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Stand up for your beliefs.\nEach time you do it will increase your belief and confidence that you are a person who can be relied on to do the right thing. Trust your own beliefs and decisions of what is right. Do not let yourself be swayed by what others think, say or do. Speak up when you see an injustice being done. Many people have a strong conscience but are afraid to act. Make sure you are a person who not only knows the right thing but does the right thing.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Conscience-Step-15-Version-3.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1339312", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Recognize Fundamentalist Thinking\nFundamentalism is a concept that often, historically, had religious connotations. However, it's a common term that describes a way of expressing ideals and related activities to express (from the point of view of the speaker) a perceived, accurate, ideological focus. Here are some common factors among those referred to as fundamentalists.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Steps", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Understand the definition: Identifying persons who hold a \"strict adherence to the fundamental principles of any set of beliefs\" -- as viewed by another individual.\nThe use of the word \"fundamentalist\" is often intended to denote a certain point of view, but \"fundamentalist\" may be used in a negative connotation, being pejorative (derisive) of particular scientific, political or religious concepts.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-1.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Steps", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Understand the definition: Identifying persons who hold a \"strict adherence to the fundamental principles of any set of beliefs\" -- as viewed by another individual.\nThe use of the word \"fundamentalist\" is often intended to denote a certain point of view, but \"fundamentalist\" may be used in a negative connotation, being pejorative (derisive) of particular scientific, political or religious concepts.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Understand that seeking to recognize fundamentalism may be educational and informative.\nThis is not to indicate that fundamentalism is \"on-/off-beat\", centered versus eccentric (different) or \"good\" versus \"bad\".", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Do not equate \"fundamentalism\" with being \"religious\".\nAs, some of the unflattering literature on fundamentalism was written by people who consider themselves quite religious but who have differing doctrines and understandings. Confusing or mixing the two concepts will lead to misconceptions in identifying fundamentalist expression and activity (behavior). Judging the fundamentalist harshly could lead to social stigma, discrimination, prejudice, bias and possibly hatred.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Appreciate the differences among varied types of fundamentalists.\nThe term has been historically used to describe various, diverse groups, religious movements, political movements and philosophical or scientific schools of thought. The term itself has several definitions in use and meaning.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Seek a common set of behaviors and indicators that are dominant/common in the different uses according to a particular definition.\n", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Indications by Usage", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Use the word responsibly to credit and acknowledge a defined set of concepts, or beliefs or their advocates.\nFollowing is a list of some of the different uses of the term throughout history:\nReligious Fundamentalism:\nFundamentalist Christianity recognizes an adherence to a basic set of Biblical, fundamental principles to preserve unity and harmony among believers. These fundamentals include a literal interpretation of the Bible as the divinely inspired and infallible Word of God and the necessity of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ's atonement. Some consider Christian fundamentalism to be identical with evangelicalism. Jesus said -- \"...go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19,20 NIV). While Christian fundamentalists hold unswervingly to their basic tenets, they encourage open-minded study of the Bible, intellectual discussion of \"true\" (Biblical) versus \"false\" (non-Biblical) doctrines and whether some traditional practices are/are-not Biblical. Islamic Fundamentalism: This includes advocating return to the \"fundamentals\" of Islam: The Quran and The Sunnah. Definitions vary as some insist that Islamic belief requires all Muslims be fundamentalists and is, also, a term used by outsiders to describe perceived trends within Islam; whereas, some figures of Islamic fundamentalism may be termed \"Islamists\". Some say that \"Radical Islam\" is the term for movements beginning in the 1920s -- and that, some say, is not a return to the more historic fundamentals. Jewish Fundamentalism\nMormon Fundamentalism\nHindu Fundamentalism\nAtheistic Fundamentalists. - Observe atheistic fundamentalism as whether there is a strong disdain toward those who espouse religion, and some would say, a dogmatic opposition to what appears to be religious tradition. Some atheist thinkers, such as Richard Dawkins, argue that no such fundamentalism exists, and that the term is meant to be disparaging of atheists' concepts. Non-religious Fundamentalism:\nPolitical Conservatism (Fundamentalism) including being \"strict constructionist\", being a \"constitutional originalist\" to follow the traditional meaning of the constitution and the basic law, not some modern, re-formed meaning. Scientism (Fundamentalism). - Consider that beginning in the nineteenth century, some scientists stated scientism as the view that all aspects of the universe are knowable through the methods of the scientist and that advances in all forms of knowledge could be made through scientific progress; whereas, philosophy had historically relied on intuition and other modes of thought as the source of knowledge and as equal or preferred to empirical investigation. {\"smallUrl\":\"https:\\/\\/www.wikihow.com\\/images\\/thumb\\/1\\/11\\/Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-7.jpg\\/v4-460px-Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-7.jpg\",\"bigUrl\":\"https:\\/\\/www.wikihow.com\\/images\\/thumb\\/1\\/11\\/Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-7.jpg\\/v4-760px-Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-7.jpg\",\"smallWidth\":460,\"smallHeight\":345,\"bigWidth\":760,\"bigHeight\":570,\"licensing\":\"

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\\n<\\/p><\\/div>\"}\n\nMarket Fundamentalism. - check to verify whether there is a strong belief in laissez-faire, free-market systems of financial regulation. The recession was not due to regulation, but to schemes including an over-trusted kind of certificate called the \"Collateralized debt obligation\"; this is a type of structured asset-backed security (ABS) whose value and payments are supposed to be derived from a portfolio of fixed-income underlying assets (but many were like bad mutual-fund shares). CDOs securities are split into different risk classes, but many bad \"CDOs\" were over-rated conglomerations of some good preferred stocks, bonds and too much of over-valued bad mortgages as some trillions of dollars of poor \"investments\" sold around the world -- and the related, bad-mortgages were a major cause of the banking crisis, also devastating to the economy. Some left-economists declared that the global financial crisis, so caused, of 2008 destroyed market fundamentalist's ideas of free markets. This expression, \"market fundamentalism,\" was promulgated by George Soros in his 1998 book, The Crisis of Global Capitalism. As is \"atheistic fundamentalism\", \"market fundamentalism\" is often used as a pejorative to designate perceived, ideological dogma with which one may disagree.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be as objective as possible realizing indicators depend upon ones point of view -- or, perhaps, bias.\nDo not go looking for \"signs\" in persons to prove they are indeed fundamentalists after you question their being so. Instead, only use this as a reference. In other words -- if, by chance, unintentionally, you encounter some of the indicators in a person's expressed views, look for the other indications very closely, trying to prove that they are not there! If you fail to eliminate them, you can relatively well identify the person as fundamentalist.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Be sure that the indicators listed under \"Common Indications\" apply before going any further.\n", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Recognize-Fundamentalist-Thinking-Step-9.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "142149", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Be an Existentialist\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Understanding Existentialism", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Know the history of the movement.\nExistentialism is a philosophical movement grounded in a particular historical context, and transferring its tenets to today's cultural moment means understanding what it meant when it developed. It developed and flourished in Europe during the 1940s and 1950s, in a post-war context in which many people felt disillusioned with organized religion and society and felt like life had no real meaning or purpose.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-an-Existentialist-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Understanding Existentialism", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Know the history of the movement.\nExistentialism is a philosophical movement grounded in a particular historical context, and transferring its tenets to today's cultural moment means understanding what it meant when it developed. It developed and flourished in Europe during the 1940s and 1950s, in a post-war context in which many people felt disillusioned with organized religion and society and felt like life had no real meaning or purpose.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-an-Existentialist-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Read up.\nLike all branches of philosophy, existentialism developed through the writings of prominent philosophers. Start by reading works of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and Albert Camus. While de Beauvoir wrote many works that are considered essential reading, The Second Sex is a great place to start. It is a critical look at society's gender roles, and garnered de Beauvoir a reputation as a founder of the feminist movement. Try Jean-Paul Sartre's book 'Nausea' where he lays out the basics of existentialism.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-an-Existentialist-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Understand the basic precepts of existentialism.\nAs a philosophy, existentialism is based on a major premise and several minor premises:\nThe major premise of existentialism is that the meaning of existence and the nature of humanity cannot be truly understood through natural sciences (like biology and psychology) or by moral categories (found in religion and social codes) alone. Instead, meaning is found in authenticity. Existentialists believe there is no larger meaning or order to the universe or to our lives; that is, there is no destiny or fate, and your individual life has no pre-determined purpose. Still, people have complete free will and can make choices about their daily actions in order to make those actions meaningful and ordered despite the lack of meaning and order in the universe. Thus, life gains meaning by individuals ascribing meaning through authentic lives.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-an-Existentialist-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Remember that existentialism is not the same as nihilism.\nNihilism states there is no purpose to life and there never can be whereas existentialism says you make your own. While many existentialist writings have themes of anxiety, hopelessness, and boredom, it is not because the writers did not see a purpose in life. It is because they were overwhelmed with the challenge of creating meaning in a world where meaning is not inherent, as well as frustrated with academic systems that ascribed purpose where, to their minds, it did not exist.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-an-Existentialist-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Applying Existentialism to Daily Life", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Be authentic.\nExistentialism is all about being who you are outside of social norms, culture, religion, or other ideas of what you should be. Its about recognizing that you have the freedom to choose who you want to be and only you can make that choice. Of course, the problem with authenticity is knowing when you've actually achieved who you really are outside of society's expectations, versus when you are simply doing what you think looks or appears authentic to others-- which is exactly the opposite of what you should be trying for. When you make a choice about your self presentation or actions, ask, \"Is this what I really want, or am I doing this because it will please someone else?\" For instance, when you get dressed in the morning, are you choosing what you like, or what you think others will find sexy or cool?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-an-Existentialist-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Create.\nFind a passion and go after it, whether it be art like existential painter Jackson Pollock, writing like existential author Fyodor Dostoevsky, or philosophical inquiry. Being an existentialist means that you recognize the value in self-expression, so find a way to let your inner self be expressed on the outside.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-an-Existentialist-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Ponder.\nExistentialism is a habit of the mind, and involves considering questions about how individuals must live. Existentialists ponder questions about the meaning of life and death, whether or not there is a God and whether deity is involved in individual lives (nearly all existentialist philosophers believe there is no God, since there is no meaning or order), the meaning of friendship and love, and other questions that have to do with the individual. Existentialists are less worried about social or political issues like what the role of the state should be.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-an-Existentialist-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Letting Go of Contradictory Impulses", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Make up your own mind.\nExistentialist philosophy holds that each person must create their own meaning, and in order for it to be authentic, it has to be something that you arrive at on your own rather than being coerced by others. Existentialists tend to believe there is no God, but some, like Kierkegaard or Dostoevsky, believed both in God and in free will and self-determination. The important thing is the freedom to choose what to believe.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-an-Existentialist-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Live and let live.\nA major application of existential philosophy is recognizing the inherent value in choice and self-identity, and allowing others to live authentic lives as well. Do not impose your moral or philosophical code on others. Let them live their own authentic lives, rather than trying to shape them into what you want them to be. Rather paradoxically, this means if they don't want to be existentialists, its not up to you to convince them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-an-Existentialist-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Recognize the repercussions of your actions.\nOne reason the philosophy is often associated with anxiety and hopelessness is because existentialist philosophers recognize that their actions have consequences and are not meaningless. Even though one may have good intentions, one always acts on limited knowledge and with limited truth, which means one's actions are always imperfect. We are nevertheless responsible for the consequences of our own actions, because there are no other agents to whom we can pass off responsibility.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-an-Existentialist-Step-10.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "143461", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Develop Insight Into Your Own Life\nDeveloping insight into your own life can make your life more meaningful. It can also help you better understand yourself as a person and others. By studying yourself as well as the world around you, you can discover new truths about your life and identity. Such an endeavor may take a great deal of time and energy, but it will be worth it.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Knowing Yourself", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Practice mindfulness.\nStudies demonstrate that most people have huge blind spots about themselves, their behaviors, and their desires. It is easy to paint yourself as the hero of your own story, but consider what it is that you might be ignoring about yourself. By practicing mindfulness, you can take a look at yourself and your life more objectively. Mindfulness involves two components:\nPaying attention to yourself. Think about who you are in this moment. What are you thinking about? What are you feeling? How would you describe your behaviors? Learning to pay attention to who you are and what you are thinking at each moment can make you more aware of your emotions and reactions. Observing non-judgmentally. When you have a strong emotional reaction, it can be useful to act as an objective observer of your own behaviors. Is your emotional reaction worth it? Rather than letting your feelings drive your life thoughtlessly, take a few moments to consider where these feelings are coming from and how you should be reacting to them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Knowing Yourself", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Practice mindfulness.\nStudies demonstrate that most people have huge blind spots about themselves, their behaviors, and their desires. It is easy to paint yourself as the hero of your own story, but consider what it is that you might be ignoring about yourself. By practicing mindfulness, you can take a look at yourself and your life more objectively. Mindfulness involves two components:\nPaying attention to yourself. Think about who you are in this moment. What are you thinking about? What are you feeling? How would you describe your behaviors? Learning to pay attention to who you are and what you are thinking at each moment can make you more aware of your emotions and reactions. Observing non-judgmentally. When you have a strong emotional reaction, it can be useful to act as an objective observer of your own behaviors. Is your emotional reaction worth it? Rather than letting your feelings drive your life thoughtlessly, take a few moments to consider where these feelings are coming from and how you should be reacting to them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Consider how your actions live up to your values.\nPeople who are introspective are more likely to behave morally and empathetically. The key is to compare how your behaviors measure up to your core principles. Are you meeting the standards you believe everyone should hold for themselves? Make a list of the qualities that are most important to you in others; then ask yourself how you might be able to embody these qualities.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Resist escapist activities.\nMany people who are uncomfortable with how they live their lives seek to escape from introspection and self-knowledge. They do this through alcohol, drugs, mindless entertainment, or other problematic behaviors. Don't give in to these temptations. Tell yourself that getting to know yourself is hard work that you must not try to shirk or escape.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Consider who you compare yourself to.\nWhen people are trying to learn more about themselves, they instinctively begin to compare themselves with others. For example, someone who has recently changed jobs will likely compare herself both to her new colleagues and to her old colleagues in order to figure out how competent she is. Understand that these comparisons are a normal way for people to develop insight into who they are. However, rather than becoming blindly jealous of those who are superior to you or becoming smug about those who are inferior to you, be mindful about the instinctive comparisons you make. Tell yourself that these comparisons are a more useful barometer of what is important to you than about your actual skillsets. For example, if you find yourself constantly comparing your smaller home to the larger homes of your friends, resist the urge to be jealous. Instead, understand that this instinctive comparison is giving you information about your priorities in life. Ask yourself why you care about the size of your home: do you wish to be more financially secure? Are you interested in growing your family? Or do you wish to be respected by your community? Use comparisons as a source of information about your priorities, not as fuel for jealousy. EXPERT TIP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNicolette Tura, MA\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWellness Expert\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNicolette Tura is a Wellness Expert and founder of The Illuminated Body, her wellness and relationships consulting service based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Nicolette is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with a Psychology & Mindfulness Major, a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified Corrective Exercise Specialist and is an expert in holistic living. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and got her masters degree in Sociology from SJSU. Nicolette Tura, MA\t\t\tWellness Expert\t\t\t\tOur Expert Agrees: Instead of comparing yourself to someone else, ask, \"What can I learn from this person?\" If you embrace your own uniqueness, and you're open and willing to learn, you'll be amazed how much you can grow.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Watch a video of yourself.\nStudies show that the way we think about our internal selves does not always match up with our external selves. As a tool to develop insight into your own life, record yourself speaking or interacting with someone else, such as through a vlog or video diary. Pay attention to your voice, your body language, your intonations, your facial expressions. Ask yourself whether what you see in the video matches your self-conception.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Remember that your life is not static.\nThere is no such thing as a single, unchanging self. Your life will involve experimentation, change, and dynamic interactions with others. Try to keep a healthy balance between staying true to your own values and desires and admitting when these values and desires must change. Try to view personal development not as an obstacle to your awareness of a single truth but rather as a journey to multiple truths and insights about who you are. EXPERT TIP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNicolette Tura, MA\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWellness Expert\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNicolette Tura is a Wellness Expert and founder of The Illuminated Body, her wellness and relationships consulting service based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Nicolette is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with a Psychology & Mindfulness Major, a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified Corrective Exercise Specialist and is an expert in holistic living. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and got her masters degree in Sociology from SJSU. Nicolette Tura, MA\t\t\tWellness Expert\t\t\t\tKeep in mind that you can always grow. If you want to improve yourself, be open-minded. Never feel like you're the expert or you know it all, because there's always something you can improve, as long as you're willing.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Take a personality test.\nPersonality tests help test-takers determine their personality types, desires, and skillsets. There are many different kinds of personality test, though the Myers-Briggs inventory is one of the most widely used. The science of personality tests and inventories is shaky, and you should take the results with a grain of salt. However, it is also likely that the results of your personality test will allow you to consider whether your self-perception lines up with the test's evaluation. Did anything unexpected turn up? Have you learned something new about your personality or your self-perception? You can take a personality test for free at many websites.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 8: Meditate.\nStudies show that persons who train in meditation techniques are more likely to know themselves in a thorough, objective way. Take a meditation course or learn meditation techniques in order to train yourself in self-awareness. If you are not comfortable with traditional meditation, you might also experience a similar benefit from engaging in focused, repetitive activities such as running, biking, or knitting. When you meditate, it is helpful to:\nMaintain a routine. Meditate at the same time in the same place each day. Keep good posture. Breathe deeply. Shut out distractions, worries, and nagging thoughts. Use mantras in order to keep yourself focused.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 9: Make a list of your life goals.\nGoals are one of the keys to living a happy, satisfied life. People who work hard to achieve goals that are important to them report feeling more content with their lives and are more confident in who they are. It helps to set goals that are positive (such as learning a new skill) instead of negative (such as not failing calculus). In order to make sense of your life goals, do the following:\nMake sure your goals are achievable and reasonable. Do not make your goal to \"become a trillionaire\": instead, have your goal be something you can attain in your lifetime, such as to \"become more effective at my job.\" Set a goal that you can control. There are many things in life that are great but also totally outside of our control. For example, a life goal of winning the lottery is not something you can ever control. Think about where you want to be in 5 years. How about 10 years? 20? Feel free to daydream about where you want your life to be headed. Daydreaming is one of the most important tools to reaching a bright future in your life. Think about all aspects of your life. How do you want your career to look? Your family? Your social life? Your personal development? Your hobbies? Don't limit yourself to one particular area of life: think about all of your most important activities. Break large goals down into smaller, achievable tasks. It can be difficult to work toward a vague, large goal such as \"becoming my own boss.\" However, if you break a large goal down into its component parts, you might find that the goal is easily achievable. For example, the first step to becoming your own boss might be to expand your social network in order to develop a potential client base, which is something you can do right now. Develop an action plan. Once you have a sense of the large goals you are working toward as well as the small tasks involved to get there, you can begin to work towards them one-by-one. Challenge yourself to achieve great things, and reward yourself whenever you achieve one of your goals.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Expressing Yourself", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Keep a journal.\nDaily journaling can allow you to consider your deepest desires, darkest secrets, and outlook on life. Get to know yourself better by writing your thoughts down every day. Set a timer for 15 minutes, and make sure that you write throughout the entire period. Your journal will be a valuable tool to allow you to develop insight into your current self as well as how you develop over the course of many years. If you find that you have writer's block, consider using a journaling prompt such as:\nWhat is the most interesting thing that happened to me today? What did I daydream about? What topics make me uncomfortable to write about? Who are the 10 people I care about the most?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Tell your life story.\nOur memories often take the shape of a narrative or story, in much the same way that memoirs and autobiographies do. Articulating this life story can allow you to process these memories and make sense out of a great deal of chaotic information. Take a few minutes to think about how you might tell the story of your own life. What memories are the most significant? What life events have shaped the person you are today? What arc has your life taken? Simply thinking about your life story or talking about it with friends is beneficial. However, you might also consider more formal ways to communicate your life story, such as through:\n\nA memoir or autobiography\nA photo album\nA short film\nA graphic novel", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Experiment with your appearance.\nYour appearance is one of the first ways that you communicate yourself to others. At the same time, your appearance also allows you to gain a better handle on yourself. Indeed, many introspective, reflective people take some time to consider how their self-presentation is related to their values, likes, and tastes. Consider experimenting with how you look in order to understand your own tastes and, by extension, your own life. You can:\nWear a color you've never worn before\nExperiment with a new hairstyle\n\nConsider getting a tattoo or piercing\nTry to find a fashion or accessory designer you admire\nRemember to take standards of professionalism into account when you experiment. Some workplaces forbid visible tattoos and facial piercings for example.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Learn an art form.\nMany people are able to learn about themselves by engaging in some kind of creative activity. By making beautiful works of art, you come to know your own preferences. At the same time, you are honing a skill that might allow you to tell your own story more effectively. Consider taking a class at a local arts studio if you are a novice. If you already practice a craft, be sure to take time to work on it every day. Some arts and crafts you might consider are:\nSculpting\nPainting\nCreative writing (poetry, fiction, or non-fiction)\nBlogging\nPhotography\nDance\nWoodworking\nPottery-throwing\nGardening", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Reaching Out to Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Cultivate strong relationships.\nYou do not exist in isolation: who you are as a person depends in large part on how you interact with other persons, especially those who are closest to you. In order to get to know yourself better, get to know your loved ones better. Not only will you discover surprising things about yourself, but your loved ones might be able to assist you during confusing or troubling times in your life. In order to cultivate strong relationships with others, you must:\nBe empathetic\nPractice forgiveness\nDemonstrate active listening skills\nBe willing to initiate conversations and activities", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Find an objective listener.\nIn order to develop insight into your life, you have to admit that sometimes you might be deceiving yourself. Perhaps you are blind to your own prejudices, or perhaps you sometimes think that you are a more generous person than your actions demonstrate. In order to be able to work through your blind spots and pernicious patterns, you will need to find a smart, objective person who can help reveal the darkest corners of your life to you. Many people find that talking to a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist can serve this key function.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Pay attention to the behavior of others.\nOne key tool of self-knowledge is the information we get from observing the behaviors of those we interact with. Think about the cues you are being sent when you talk to old friends and to new acquaintances. Consider whether you can interpret them in order to develop insight into your life, behaviors, and values. Be aware that not everybody can (or should) get along with everybody else. Pay particular attention to the reactions of those whom you respect, care for, and admire.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 4: Exploring the World", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Be aware of the world around you.\nPeople can be affected by their surroundings in many subtle, subconscious, yet significant ways. Do not tell yourself that you are immune to the world around you: your life has been irrevocably shaped by the world you live in. While you cannot (and should not) escape the world, what you can do is learn more about the world in which you find yourself. You might be able to understand more clearly how the world has shaped your life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-17.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Recognize that culture affects the self.\nStudies show that some cultures value speech as a tool of self-knowledge, while others value silence. Consider whether your own native culture has shaped how you view yourself and what you prioritize in life. Read about your own culture as well as other cultures in order to begin to understand how culture has impacted you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-18.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Broaden your horizons.\nRoutines can be important and healthy in everyday life. But sometimes they can leave us stuck in a rut, unwilling to discover new places and ideas. Shake up your routine by actively seeking new and different opportunities. Some great ways to broaden your horizons include:\nTaking a class in a new topic\nReading about a brand-new idea\nVisiting a place you've never seen before\nHave conversations with strangers", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-19.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Volunteer.\nThink of the causes you care about the most, and devote several hours each week to helping that cause. You will learn about your own potential as well as about the world around you. You will meet people who share your ideals and vision as well as people who might come from a completely different background. You might even discover a new career pathway by helping others.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-20.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Inform yourself on the \"goings-ons\" of the world.\nRead the news daily. Be sure that you turn to reputable journalists and news agencies so that you are getting the most accurate, up-to-date information about local, national, and international events. Take a few minutes each day to react to these events. What are your thoughts on how the world is moving? What can you do to help or change things? What is most important to you right now?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Insight-Into-Your-Own-Life-Step-21.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1507248", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Make Your Life Good\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Living Well With Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Smile at those around you.\nIt's often been said that a smile is contagious, and research suggests that's true. Studies suggest that friendly engagement with others boosts happiness levels, at least in part because people are more likely to treat a smiling person better than a non-smiling person. A smiling person is more likely to be regarded as viewed as attractive, reliable, relaxed and sincere. Cheering yourself up by cheering others is a hallmark of how to have a good life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Smile-for-Pictures-Step-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Living Well With Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Smile at those around you.\nIt's often been said that a smile is contagious, and research suggests that's true. Studies suggest that friendly engagement with others boosts happiness levels, at least in part because people are more likely to treat a smiling person better than a non-smiling person. A smiling person is more likely to be regarded as viewed as attractive, reliable, relaxed and sincere. Cheering yourself up by cheering others is a hallmark of how to have a good life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Smile-for-Pictures-Step-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Help others.\nStudies have shown that helping others has a direct correlation to individual well-being. Taking time to care for others has been a staple of understanding \"the good life\" throughout time. Volunteering to help others has been connected to better quality of life, including increased happiness, self-esteem, health and even longevity. Taking time to listen to another person's problems is a great way to help others. Many times, people who are struggling simply need to be able to share their situation with a friend. By taking the time to listen, you are helping whether you can solve their situation or not. The Dalai Lama has said, \u201cIf you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.\u201dPutting your attention on another person, rather than yourself, is a common practice of living well with others.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Help-Paranoid-People-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Abandon the idea that life is fair.\nMost of us are taught this as children, but the idea that there are guaranteed outcomes for particular efforts or personal qualities is a sure-fire way to live in disappointment and resentment. Let it go. Taking responsibility for your own actions is an important discipline to develop. There may be many circumstances beyond your control, but focusing on these won't help you develop the ability to make changes in your own life that may benefit you. Accept the things you can't change; change what you can. Letting go of resentments towards others is an essential part of the good life. It has been well-said that a resentment is \"like taking poison, expecting the other person to die.\" Resentments erode the quality of your own life, damaging relationships with those around you. Others may not always agree with you. This doesn't mean that you are wrong, or that the other person is wrong. It simply means that you have two different ideas on the same topic - and that's okay.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Good-Person-Step-9-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Treat others with honesty, respect and kindness.\nThis is not contingent upon how others treat you. Financial journalist Panos Mourdoukoutas said, \"Harming others claims two victims\u2014the receiver of the harm, and the victimizer, the one who does harm. \"Taking revenge or \"getting even\" with another person opens an endless cycle of hurt and frustration that can easily be avoided simply by sticking to a few simple principles. Telling the truth, judiciously, is a habit of people who have good lives. Many times, people try to pretend they're telling the truth about others when instead they're engaging in gossip. The attention you receive when you share gossip may feel good, for a short time. However, in the long run, gossip erodes healthy relationships between you and those around you. Before you act, consider, \"Is this something that I would want another person saying about me, or doing to me?\" If not, reconsider your actions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Good-Person-Step-10-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Value your friendships with others.\nThe quality of a person's friendship has a direct impact upon their well-being. Friends can increase a sense of your sense of belonging and purpose. People who have your best interest at heart, will also help prevent you from developing bad habits that work against your overall quality of life. Let friends and family know that you care about them by spending time with them, calling them regularly, and doing things together. Friendship doesn't rely upon proximity, however. Even friends cultivated online have a positive effect on one's quality of life. People with stronger social networks have stronger immune systems, get fewer colds, report less stress, and have overall higher quality of life for reasons that aren't yet known.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Generous-Step-21.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Living Well With Yourself", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Practice honesty within yourself.\nSelf-knowledge is an important key towards making your life good, and the only way to acquire self-knowledge is to practice honesty. It may be easier for you to acknowledge your character strengths, or it may be easier for you to admit your character defects. Either way, it will be essential for you to understand both if you are to live well within yourself. When something is going wrong, look to your part. Avoid shifting the blame to others. Other people won't like it, and you won't learn anything. Talk to people you trust about your situation. Many times, a good friend will have insights into your motives that you yourself cannot discern.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Good-Person-Step-4-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Examine your desires.\nWhat do you want from your life? What are you doing to achieve what you want? Make a list of qualities you would like to emulate in your life. Then, make a list of ways you can practice using these qualities in your daily life. Aristotle wrote, \"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not a virtue, but a habit. \"If you want to be a kind person, do kind things. Learning to be honest about what you want is a difficult practice. Many people prevent themselves from having a good life by overemphasizing the things that they want but don't feel they can have because of other life circumstances - such as finances, family obligations, economic pressures, etc. This only perpetuates the myth that the person is a victim, a belief that is corrosive to happiness at all levels. If you don't know the big things of what you want out of life, start with smaller choices. Developing a sense of control and power over what you have in your life is essential to having a good life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Into-a-Morning-Routine-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: List your fears.\nKnowing the situations that you're afraid of will allow you to better see how these fears are constraining your life in ways that may not be immediately apparent. For instance, a fear of being called stupid may mean that you're not speaking up for yourself in your workplace, thus not being considered for a promotion. Seeing your fears in writing will sometimes help you realize how useless it is to worry about things that aren't within your control. Sometimes a fear will be based in circumstances that are no longer present. Many people develop fears in childhood, when much was beyond their conscious control. But as an adult, the person has more autonomy and more power over their choices. By becoming more aware of the fears that drive your behavior, you can make more conscious decisions about the actions you take.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Over-Fear-of-Commitment-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Cultivate self-acceptance.\nNo one is perfect. We all have short-comings, we all make mistakes and do things we'd rather not do. Mark Twain said, \"A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.\" A good life isn't a result of making perfect choices, but of accepting the reality of who we are, including our limitations. Self-acceptance is a discipline of honesty. It means that the person isn't denying their actions or inactions, or their consequences. Self-acceptance is a practice of self-care. Much like any other expression of self-care, accepting yourself is a practice that must be consciously learned, and relearned as your characteristics change over time.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Friend-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Practice mindfulness.\nTo focus on the present, a practice sometimes called mindfulness, is a discipline that research studies have proven directly increase one's quality of life. Notice when you are worried about the future, or regretting the past. Turn your attention to your breath. Count 10 breaths. Even as simple an exercise in mindfulness as this one can start to show positive effects in your life, when practiced over time. Cultivate daily habits, rather than setting distant goals. For instance, include exercise every day, rather than deciding to complete a triathlon in a month's time. Rather than deciding to lose 20 pounds, make a decision to eat healthily today. If you do decide to set a goal, break it down into manageable daily decisions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Like-Yourself-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Practicing Gratitude", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Make a gratitude list.\nResearch in the field of positive psychology indicates a direct correlation between being thankful appreciation, or gratitude, and happiness. Increasingly, gratitude is shown to have a beneficial impact on physical health as well. People who practice gratitude have lower blood pressure, stronger immune systems, and feel more connected to others. Making a list of things that you are grateful for, no matter how large or small, is one way that people actively cultivate gratitude in their daily lives. Some people keep a gratitude journal, following the old adage to \"count your blessings.\" Others include a list of things that they're thankful for in daily prayers or meditations. Posting photos, images, or written reminders of gratitude around your home is another way to remind yourself to be thankful.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Like-Yourself-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Send a thank-you note.\nPositive psychology studies demonstrate that the act of expressing gratitude for other people's efforts has been directly linked to living a better life. Thank you notes can be written for any occasion, large or small. A thank you note can be no larger than a emoji, or can be a written letter detailing a major event in one's life. Sometimes people are no longer present in your life. A suggested practice of gratitude is to write a letter thanking them for their positive influence on your life. While you may never be able to mail this letter, the act of writing it will directly benefit you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Letter-of-Appreciation-Step-1-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Set reminders to be thankful.\nGratitude is a discipline, and must be practiced to be effective. Simply relying upon gratitude to arise spontaneously when events are pleasing is easy. To develop a practice of gratitude, one must develop the ability to find thankfulness in everyday affairs. You might set an alarm to call you to be grateful at random intervals throughout your day. When the alarm goes off, simply ask yourself: what am I grateful for, right now, this moment? If you notice that you're having a thought that is resentful or complaining, try replacing that thought with one of gratefulness. For example, when caught in a traffic jam, replace the anxiety about being late to your next engagement with an observation about the seasonal beauty. After all, you might have missed that beautiful fall tree color if you'd been driving at the normal speed!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Organize-Notes-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "155988", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Live the American Dream\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Securing a Good Life", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Work hard.\nIf there's one thing about the American Dream that almost everyone can agree on, it's that it requires hard work to achieve. A 2012 Public Agenda poll found that almost 90% of respondents agreed that a strong work ethic is an \"absolutely essential\" part of the Dream. Whether you're aiming to climb from humble beginnings to a comfortable middle-class life, ascend from the middle-class to the upper-class, or even climb from the very bottom to the highest echelons of society, you'll need a powerful personal drive to succeed. Getting ahead in life means what it sounds like \u2014 working hard so that you \"pull ahead\" of others who would rather put in only an ordinary level of effort. For starters, you may want to try working harder and longer than other people at your job. If most employees usually leave as soon they get the chance, offer to stay late. If others slack during their down time, find extra tasks to do. Working harder than other people around you is an excellent way to get noticed at work and eventual reap the rewards of promotion and raises.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-1.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Securing a Good Life", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Work hard.\nIf there's one thing about the American Dream that almost everyone can agree on, it's that it requires hard work to achieve. A 2012 Public Agenda poll found that almost 90% of respondents agreed that a strong work ethic is an \"absolutely essential\" part of the Dream. Whether you're aiming to climb from humble beginnings to a comfortable middle-class life, ascend from the middle-class to the upper-class, or even climb from the very bottom to the highest echelons of society, you'll need a powerful personal drive to succeed. Getting ahead in life means what it sounds like \u2014 working hard so that you \"pull ahead\" of others who would rather put in only an ordinary level of effort. For starters, you may want to try working harder and longer than other people at your job. If most employees usually leave as soon they get the chance, offer to stay late. If others slack during their down time, find extra tasks to do. Working harder than other people around you is an excellent way to get noticed at work and eventual reap the rewards of promotion and raises.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Work smart.\nWhile hard work is a must for achieving the American Dream, working hard without working effectively will get you nowhere. In America, it's much better to be recognized for being exceptionally efficient and productive, rather than being content to spend lots of effort at tasks that can be accomplished more easily other ways. Always be striving to improve your personal efficiency, especially at work \u2014 ask yourself, \"How can I do my job quicker? \", \"How can I do it more simply? \", \"How can I do it with less effort? \", and so on. Below are just a few productivity-boosting tips to get you started:\nIf you work a job at a computer, write a script (or have an experienced friend do so for you) to accomplish your most frequent, menial tasks. If you're swamped with work, try to delegate some to others. If you own a business, hire a third-party agency to handle tasks that are becoming too time-consuming (like accounting, payroll, etc.). Find creative workarounds to common problems. For example, if you're a waiter and you notice you're wasting lots of time walking back and forth to the ice machine, start carrying a pitcher of ice with you while you wait tables. Invest in effective, high-quality equipment. Ensure you get plenty of rest so that you can devote your entire attention to your work.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Get an education.\nWhile America is home to plenty of stories of people who became fabulously successful without a formal education, in general, getting an education is usually a big boost to your career and personal prospects. A basic education, like you might get from high school, gives you the baseline knowledge you need to be fluent and competitive in the modern world. A higher education, like you might get at college, gives you specialized knowledge and skills which make you a more attractive candidate and can qualify you for more selective jobs, while a post-graduate education usually is even more specialized. In general, it's in every Americans' best interest to get the highest level of education he can reasonably afford. In addition, certain types of work require the proper educational background. For instance, you can't become a doctor without going to medical school, you can't become a lawyer without going to law school, and you can't become an architect without a degree in architecture. Getting a higher education can seriously boost your earning potential. On average, someone who spends two years in college is estimated to earn about $250,000 more over her lifetime than someone who does not.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Be enterprising.\nAmericans who want to get ahead should always be looking for extra ways to make money, both as part of their main job and outside of it. There are literally countless ways to do this \u2014 anywhere you see a need that you can fill, you have the potential to make money. Money-making opportunities can be remarkably simple \u2014 for instance, if you're a certified public accountant (CPA), you may want to sell your services to your friends around tax season for extra money in addition to your normal income. However, some of the most lucrative enterprises involve offering creative solutions to problems that aren't obvious. As a famous example, Mark Zuckerberg, an American, became the youngest billionaire on the planet by working with others to create a globe-spanning social media site, helping people stay in touch with each other in a way that wasn't previously imaginable. You don't have to invent the next Facebook to be successful in America, but you should try to be enterprising in small, yet significant ways. Running your own part-time business out of your home, for instance, is a great way to make extra cash with few overhead costs. Obviously, regardless of the money-making scheme you choose, you'll want to make sure you're complying with federal, state, and local laws. For instance, operating a \"freelance MDMA distribution service\" can land you with a serious prison stint, which will undoubtedly disrupt your long-term goals.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Be thrifty.\nLots of people spend big chunks of their income on things they don't need. To build a comfortable life for yourself in the long-term, it can be very wise to eliminate these unnecessary expenses for yourself in the short-term. Doing away with luxuries like cable TV packages, trips to fancy restaurants, and unnecessary vacations can free up cash for expenses that give you a longer-lasting benefit, such as; debt payments, money-making projects, and retirement investments. One great way to get your spending under control is to make a budget for your household. Outlining your monthly spending and comparing your estimates to your actual spending can be an enlightening experience that helps you identify areas where you're spending too much money. Other great ways to save include: finding cheaper housing, buying groceries in bulk, carpooling or using public transportation rather than driving your own car, and reducing how often you use your heating or air conditioning. For more information, see How to Save Money.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Devote yourself to your passions.\nThough people seeking the American Dream are wise to work hard, no American has ever been happier for focusing his entire life on his work. Part of the American dream is having the freedom to do things besides work to make a fuller, happier life for yourself. Spend time doing the things you love \u2014 this can mean hobbies, like writing, playing sports, and working on your car, but it can also mean simple pleasures like simply spending time with your family. If you love your job, great! Being able to make money from work that aligns with your personal passions is a luxury that not everyone has. If you don't love your job, that's OK. Stick with it and apply yourself to it, but always save some time for your passions (and for looking for other opportunities) to keep your morale high.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Buy property.\nThough owning a home isn't necessarily required to live a happy, full life in America, most Americans either own their own home or intend to eventually do so. Even in light of recent real estate crises, most Americans' primary source of wealth is still their home. Contributing to a mortgage allows you to build gradually build equity in your house throughout your working years, which can help you comfortably retire \u2014 selling your house for a good price when you're old can single-handedly finance your retirement. Owning your own home doesn't just give you material benefits. Owning your own house also gives you a great deal of freedom to customize your living situation to the way you want it. For instance, if your kitchen is too cramped, if you own your house, you can get an extension. If you rent, you can't usually do this. In addition, many Americans find that owning a house gives them a great sense of satisfaction and security.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Living as a Free Individual", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Know your basic constitutional rights.\nAmericans are given a great deal of personal freedom by the United States Constitution, the nation's definitive document of law. Every American should know the most fundamental rights offered to them by the Constitution. Taking advantage of these freedoms can allow you to create a happy, fulfilling, and successful life for yourself. On the other hand, ignorance of these freedoms can make it easy to miss opportunities or be taken advantage of. Below are a few of the most basic rights provided by the Constitution (note that these are all from the Bill of Rights \u2014 the original ten amendments to the Constitution):\nThe right to free speech (including a free press, the ability to protest peacefully, and petition the government)\nThe right to practice your religion (or lack thereof)\nThe right to bear arms (usually refers to owning a gun)\nProtection against unlawful search and seizure\nProtection against testifying against yourself in legal matters\nThe right to a public trial by jury\nProtection against \"cruel and unusual punishments\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Exercise your freedom of speech.\nPerhaps the most-used, most-cited constitutional freedom is the freedom of speech. America is a free country \u2014 Americans are allowed to say essentially anything they want to and to express their opinions in any way as long as they do so in a way that isn't harmful to others. This means that it's legal to have virtually any personal and political beliefs and to share these beliefs with others, even if your beliefs run contrary to the established order, as long as you obey the law. Note that certain types of speech which are specifically intended to cause harm are not necessarily constitutionally-protected. One widely-known example given by Supreme Court Justice Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. in 1919 is yelling \"fire!\" in a crowded theater \u2014 since doing this creates an immediate, real danger to the other people in the theater, you'll probably still be arrested if you do this. It's also important to understand that the freedom to express yourself doesn't necessarily protect you from the consequences of your actions. For instance, if the president of a business makes racist comments that are made public, the board of directors can still fire him for this. Freedom of speech doesn't necessarily mean that nothing bad will happen to you because of what you say.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Exercise your freedom of religion.\nThe pilgrims who traveled on the Mayflower, some of the earliest visitors to America, were people seeking a place where they could practice their religion free from harassment and persecution. Today, America maintains this attitude of religious tolerance. Americans are free to practice whichever religion they please, or, if they prefer, to practice no religion at all. All forms of faith are allowed in the United States and officially-recognized churches are even granted tax-free status by the Internal Revenue Service. As with freedom of speech, Americans are free to practice the religion of their choice, but not to commit crimes or endanger others as part of that practice. For instance, if the members of a certain religion decided to drive their cars the wrong way on the freeway as a sign of devotion, they would still be arrested.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Vote!\nAll adult Americans are free to (and generally should) participate in government by voting. In most states, residents are allowed to register to vote at 18 years of age, however a few states let 17 year-olds vote. Voting is one of the most powerful rights Americans have. Voting allows every citizen's voice to be heard in matters of government. All citizens have equal voting power \u2014 no matter how rich, powerful, or influential someone is, she still gets the same single vote that a minimum-wage worker does. Note that American men must register for Selective Service (\"the draft\") to be able to vote. Note also that some states prohibit felons from voting, even after serving their sentence.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Enjoy your freedom to choose how you live.\nIn the United States, people are free to live their lives as they see fit. People can have any habit, hobby, or interest that they wish as long as it doesn't break any laws or hurt anyone else. What people do in their free time is up to them \u2014 bankers can be amateur punk rockers, dishwashers can speculate on the stock market, and electricians can study archaeology. People are also encouraged to choose their life's own path \u2014 no American needs to feel like there is a single \"right\" way to live his life. Americans are free to associate with who they want to and to pursue almost any opportunity that they wish to. Note that, while Americans are free to live their lives how they please as long they obey the law, some sorts of activities which can be seen as \"victimless\" in other parts of the world are illegal in the US. For instance, many drugs which are relatively unregulated in parts of Europe and elsewhere are illegal in part or all of the US.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Challenge the mainstream freely.\nAn important aspect of achieving the American Dream is being willing to be take a stand for your own individual principles. America has a long tradition of celebrating the type of rugged individual who's willing to \"go against the group\". Many famous Americans are celebrated for going against prevailing attitudes or social institutions that ran contrary to their personal beliefs. For instance, famous Americans like Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, and even modern icons like Steve Jobs became legendary by changing the world with their willingness to go against the grain and challenge the way the world worked. Being an individual means standing for your own principles and having the courage to go against popular attitudes, but it doesn't mean never accepting help from someone else. Some tasks are difficult, if not impossible without the help of others \u2014 no individual should be so proud as to think that she can do everything in the world by themselves. For example, many famous American companies were started with modest loans from friends and family or government-backed small business loans.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Be innovative.\nInnovation has been one of America's most cherished national values for over a century and still is in the modern age. Innovation is often referred to (for instance, by elected officials) as being key to the continued growth and success of the nation. Being a successful innovator in America is a quick ticket to personal fulfillment, material success, and widespread recognition. For instance, some of America's most important innovators, like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and others are now recognized as having changed the world with their groundbreaking work. You don't have to be a modern-day Edison to have a shot at the American dream \u2014 even small, everyday innovations can substantially improve your life. For instance, finding a new, more lucrative way for the company you work for to do business can earn you a promotion and the respect of your co-workers.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Making a Name for Yourself", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Strive for self-improvement.\nIt has been observed by those both inside and outside of the country that Americans have a penchant for self-education and self-improvement. No one is born knowing how to do everything he needs to know how to do to succeed. To achieve the sort of strong, rugged individualism that is central to the American Dream, it's essential to be willing to better yourself wherever and whenever you get the opportunity. Whether it's learning a new skill, practicing a second language, or studying strategies for business success, almost any avenue of self-improvement can help you become a stronger, more versatile, or more productive person. Below are just a few more ideas for self-improvement:\nPhysical conditioning (running, weightlifting, etc.) Learning sales techniques\nStudying modern history or current events\nLearning a martial art\nMastering a hobby or activity\nCreating art or music", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be a leader.\nProud, individualistic Americans shouldn't shy away from confronting the world's problems head-on. Doing this often means becoming a leader, taking charge of others while accepting the responsibility that comes with leadership. Having the courage to volunteer for tasks that involve leadership, whether they're big or small, can help you make a difference in the world while earning recognition for yourself. One great way to become a leader is to run for public office. Doing this gives you a platform to make your views known and, if you win, to fight for the changes you want to see. Even if you don't win, if your campaign attracts enough attention, it can re-frame the public debate or persuade lawmakers to consider your views. You don't have to be a member of government to be a leader in your community. Volunteering for certain types of charitable work or even simply doing community-oriented work on your own can give you an opportunity to become a leader for others.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Have an active civic life.\nThe United States was founded on the principles of representative democracy. The more people who participate in the process of government by voting, the more truly representative the nation's government is of its citizens. Because of this, all Americans who can vote should make sure to do so. However, this is far from the only way actively participate in the civic life of the country. For instance, citizens can join a political party whose beliefs are close to their own and work or volunteer to spread its message. If they feel especially strongly about certain civic issues, they can even start their own political associations. Below are just few more ways you may want to consider becoming an active participant in American democracy: \nParticipating in a political round table or forum\nJoining or organizing a protest\nVolunteering to get signatures for a political candidate or cause\nDonating to your favorite political cause", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-17.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Climb the social ladder.\nNothing is more quintessentially American than the rags-to-riches story of someone who's able to build a life of influence and importance from almost nothing. Whether you're a poor, unknown immigrant or an established citizen, everyone has the chance to make a name for himself in America as long as you're willing to work hard, be creative, and have the strength to stick to your personal values. While, for obvious reasons, it's impossible for everyone to become fabulously rich and famous, it is possible in America to retire in a higher position than you started your career in and to make a name for yourself as an important member of your local community in the process. As you climb the social ladder, never feel intimidated by the prospect of having to deal with people from higher social strata than you. In America, more so than in certain other countries, a person's destiny is determined by her willpower and ability, rather than the privilege of her birth. While some people are born into wealth and privilege, if you're able to climb into a certain social class from a lower one, you have every right to view yourself as an equal to members.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-18.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Look to stories of American success for inspiration.\nIt's not easy pursuing the American dream. As described above, building a great life for yourself while living as a free, independent individual can require lots of work and personal responsibility. If you're having a hard time motivating yourself to keep chasing the dream, consider turning to one of the many iconic American success stories to fuel your drive. Many of these real-life individuals were able to build a life of importance from nothing or successfully fought against prevailing societal forces of the time to make a better country (or even a better world). Below are just a few all-American examples: \nAndrew Carnegie: A poor Scottish immigrant, Carnegie began his career as a \"bobbin boy\" in a factory and ended it as one of the most powerful, important industrialists ever. Susan B. Anthony: By spearheading the women's suffrage movement with her tireless efforts, which included being arrested, Anthony was instrumental in winning the right to vote for women. Jawed Karim: This immigrant, best known for co-founding YouTube, also helped design the commerce service PayPal. Jay-Z: Born Shawn Corey Carter, this American music icon rose from a life of crime and poverty to become one of the wealthiest and most influential figures in the music industry.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-155988-19.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1625200", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Get a Doctorate in Philosophy\nA doctorate is the highest degree you can earn in the field of philosophy. Earning a PhD in philosophy takes hard work and perseverance. The process of getting your PhD in philosophy varies depending on the university and program. However, almost all programs will require coursework, intense research, and a completed dissertation. Earning your doctorate in philosophy is difficult but with dedication and hard work, you can complete the requirements and get your PhD.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Applying to PhD Programs", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Select the PhD programs you would like to attend.\nDifferent programs will have different strengths and weaknesses. One program may have a strong political philosophy department and another a renowned metaphysics department. You should have at least an idea of your dissertation subject. Ideally, the PhD program you attend will have a strong background in your subfield. Look for the leading philosophers in your subfield and consider applying to their universities. Most philosophy graduate programs are small which means there are many people applying for a few spots. You may want to apply to many different programs to increase your chance of acceptance.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Applying to PhD Programs", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Select the PhD programs you would like to attend.\nDifferent programs will have different strengths and weaknesses. One program may have a strong political philosophy department and another a renowned metaphysics department. You should have at least an idea of your dissertation subject. Ideally, the PhD program you attend will have a strong background in your subfield. Look for the leading philosophers in your subfield and consider applying to their universities. Most philosophy graduate programs are small which means there are many people applying for a few spots. You may want to apply to many different programs to increase your chance of acceptance.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Take your GRE.\nThis is the standardized test that is used by many different schools. It is like the SAT\u2019s except aimed specifically at students applying to graduate school. Not every school requires it, but most do, and it is a good thing to complete before you begin the application process. The GRE\u2019s have a verbal, writing, and mathematics section. The first two are probably more important for a philosophy major, but a strong score in all sections will be necessary to be accepted into the competitive graduate programs.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Prepare a writing sample.\nVirtually every philosophy PhD program will require a writing sample as part of the application. This should clearly demonstrate your organizational and writing capabilities as well as your research skills. Ideally the sample would be written on a philosophy-related subject. If your undergraduate program required a thesis, consider submitting this as your sample. If a thesis was not required, consider writing one for the application. Your sample should be of the highest quality and thoroughly edited and proofread.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Completing the First Two Years of Graduate School", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Take a variety of classes during your first two years.\nMany programs require that you take classes in a variety of philosophy disciplines. This will help you to gain a wide-ranging knowledge of the entire field of philosophy. Most PhD programs will require 3-4 classes a semester for the first two years. It is important to get the majority, if not all, of your coursework done during your first two years. The remainder of your PhD program should be focused on researching and writing your dissertation.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Prepare a research proposal.\nThis will set out the aims and objectives of your dissertation, which will form the core of your PhD program. This should take your thesis topic and refine it using what you learned in your classes. The research proposal should explain what your dissertation will add to the field of philosophy; what arguments your making, and the new theories you are proposing. It should be a relatively specific topic, and you should discuss it with your professors during your first two years of graduate school. The research proposal should outline your plans for completing your dissertation. It should explain how your work will build on existing scholarship and outline each step of the dissertation writing process. Most PhD programs will require that your proposal be accepted by the department before you progress to writing the dissertation.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Complete your oral exam if necessary.\nSome PhD programs will require that you undertake an oral exam after you complete your coursework and before you begin writing the dissertation. The specifics vary by program. It can range from presenting your research proposal, to an oral examination on philosophy. Many programs will award a master's degree after the successful completion of the coursework and exam. Some programs will not give you a test but will still require formal approval before you advance to the dissertation-writing stage.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Writing Your Dissertation", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Select a dissertation advisor.\nIdeally, your advisor will have expertise relating to your dissertation topic or in your subfield of philosophy. Choose an advisor who you think will be the best fit for not only your research but also as a mentor. Talk to several faculty members, and try to envision working with them. Make sure you are comfortable working with the professor you ultimately choose, and that they will be available to advise you over the next several years.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Review the existing scholarship relating to your topic.\nThis should be a survey of the field of philosophy as it relates to your dissertation. Essentially, you should review what has been written about your topic. This is frequently included in the beginning of your final dissertation. You should also understand the history of research into your field, and how other scholars have contributed to it. Your adviser can suggest books and authors to begin your research. Your dissertation should build on the research that has already been conducted.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Research your dissertation.\nResearching your thesis is critical to a successful dissertation. The research portion of the process may take months or years, and your original research should be the basis of the dissertation. You should travel to different archives, libraries, and philosophical institutions. Your research might also include interviews, surveys, and data analysis depending on your topic and subfield of philosophy. Your dissertation should not simply be an overview of other people\u2019s work; it should show your arguments and original research. Your advisor will be crucial in the research process. Not only can they point you in the direction of sources, but they will help you analyze your research and what it means to your thesis.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Begin writing your dissertation at least several months before the due date.\nWriting your dissertation is your chance to analyze your data and use it to make new and innovative arguments. Due to the length of the final product, you should give yourself plenty of time to write your paper prior to the submission date - if you have a year or more, that would be ideal. The exact length of your dissertation will vary depending on your university\u2019s requirements and your subject. Typically, dissertations are between 70,000 and 100,000 words long. In addition to your main arguments, your dissertation needs to include a literature review, an explanation of your methods, a summary of your research, and an explanation as to how you arrived at your conclusions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Edit your dissertation.\nYou should submit sections of your dissertation to your advisor for feedback. Usually, dissertations go through major rewrites before the final product; this is another reason to begin the writing process early. In addition to your advisor, have other professors and philosophers review your work. The more people who edit your draft, the fewer changes you will have to make after your dissertation defense.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-11-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 4: Completing Your Doctorate in Philosophy", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Defend your dissertation.\nYou will have to present your dissertation to a panel. The panel will question you about your argument, your resources, and your methodology. They are checking to make sure that your work is your own. They are also ensuring that your argument is sound and logical. Generally, the process of defending your thesis takes 1-2 hours. How the panel is selected varies by institution. In general, there is at least one member of your department present and one expert from outside your department. This expert should still be a philosophy expert; often they are philosophy professors from other schools. Usually your advisor is present at the defense, but they are not a member of the panel.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-12-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Make any changes that the panel suggests.\nIt is quite rare for a dissertation to be outright rejected during the defense process. If your dissertation is not accepted outright, it is common for it to be passed with the understanding that changes will be made. Generally, the changes that are required are minor. You should make them and then resubmit your dissertation. You will still be awarded your doctorate as planned. If major changes are required, you may have to take more time to implement them fully. This may delay your doctorate being awarded.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-13-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Apply to graduate.\nThis is the last step in earning your PhD in philosophy. Again, it will vary by school, but generally you fill out an application to graduate. Once your department has confirmed that you have completed all the requirements, your application will be approved, and you will receive your doctorate.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Doctorate-in-Philosophy-Step-14-Version-2.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1678440", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Find Direction in Life\nThe universe is vast, and it can be hard to find your way. If you don't have direction, you may feel listless, frustrated, and even depressed. Remember that it can be very difficult to get anywhere while you're staring off at the horizon. The key to finding direction is to put your feet on the ground and start exploring the options around you. Purpose must come about organically.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Scanning Your Horizons", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Notice what you truly enjoy doing.\nIf you find passion, it will come from an accumulation of joyful time spent doing something that you love. Think about what you are drawn to: the things that you do when no one asks you to do anything at all. Before you focus on where you are going, focus on what makes you happy. There are many kinds of enjoyment. You may find that you enjoy passive pleasures, but that you also enjoy challenging yourself. Look for the most fulfilling ways that you can challenge yourself. Happiness is a solid foundation for success. If you spend your time on things that you do not love, then you may not put as much of yourself into your work. Ask yourself whether it is enough to be merely content.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Scanning Your Horizons", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Notice what you truly enjoy doing.\nIf you find passion, it will come from an accumulation of joyful time spent doing something that you love. Think about what you are drawn to: the things that you do when no one asks you to do anything at all. Before you focus on where you are going, focus on what makes you happy. There are many kinds of enjoyment. You may find that you enjoy passive pleasures, but that you also enjoy challenging yourself. Look for the most fulfilling ways that you can challenge yourself. Happiness is a solid foundation for success. If you spend your time on things that you do not love, then you may not put as much of yourself into your work. Ask yourself whether it is enough to be merely content.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Look for inspiration.\nPurpose comes from people. Find your Don't expect your direction to well up unprompted from within. To find your direction, you will need to be inspired \u2013 and inspiration is often sparked by a catalyst in the world around you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-2-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Define success for yourself.\n\"Success\" means something slightly different to everyone, and it is ultimately up to you to decide what makes a meaningful life. Make a list of things that you value: e.g. love, adventure, justice, fame. What do you need to feel happy and fulfilled? What is \"enough?\" Think about how these values might spur you in a certain direction. If you feel deeply called to help people, then you should look into careers focused on helping people. If you feel that it is most important for you to exercise your creativity, then you should do that. It's okay to seek advice from friends, parents, and teachers whom you admire. Speak to successful people in your community and find out how they got to where they are today. EXPERT TIP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmily Silva Hockstra\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCareer & Life Coach\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmily Silva Hockstra is a certified Spiritual Life Coach with over 10 years of coaching and management experience with various corporations. Emily is also the author of Moonlight Gratitude and Find Your Glow, Feed Your Soul. Emily Silva Hockstra\t\t\tCareer & Life Coach\t\t\t\tOur Expert's Story: \"Once, right after I quit a job I had, someone said to me, 'Now you have the chance to go from success to significance.' That really struck me because I had been successful in my career according to the company's standards, but didn't feel personally successful. I had to ask what significance meant to me and how to define success for myself. Now that I've found that, I feel much more fulfilled.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-3-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Exploring Possibilities", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Try something.\nAccept that you may not be able to tell with absolute certainty that a given choice is the \"right\" choice. Embrace the fact that the direction you choose may not be perfect. Remember that nothing is permanent. Time is the only constant direction, as the life of a human goes. You can always adjust your course as you go: but you cannot know which adjustments you'll need to make until you get started. The important thing is that you are engaging with your life. Don't just sit back and watch time go by. Live passionately, even if you are never absolutely certain.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-4-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be bold.\nThere is no telling whether anything will \"work out,\" and you cannot predict exactly where any given choice will take you. You may fail, and you may succeed. You may find that you completely redefine what it means to fail and to succeed. Take a chance on yourself and follow a spark of passion. This is the only life you've got.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-5-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Take small steps to start.\nYou don't need to quit your job, drop out of school, or book a one-way plane ticket to a faraway place in order to find your direction. Granted: these grand leaps can be wonderful, catalyzing forces that lead to understanding yourself and discovering your deepest passions. First, however, look for ways to test out your ideas in the margins of your everyday life. Volunteer. If you think you might be interested in working within a particular field, consider taking volunteer opportunities that allow you to get a better sense of what it's like to work in that field. Volunteer at an animal shelter, or at a nonprofit, or as a research assistant, or at a museum. Look for internships. An internship can be a great way to explore a given company or field without fully committing to that direction. Internships may be paid or unpaid. Learn something new. Make productive use of your free time by learning a skill that strikes your interest. Perhaps your direction in life lies in music, or dance, or programming, or painting. Don't worry too much about why you're learning something \u2013 just follow the spark of passion.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-6-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Make a commitment to grow.\nChallenge yourself to try something new each week: something that scares you and takes you out of your comfort zone. Make learning a conscious practice. Do not wait for life to come to you!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Pursuing a Direction", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Commit to a direction.\nYou don't have to be absolutely certain that this is the \"right\" path. Trust yourself, and trust that you will be able to escape any given set of circumstances if you no longer feel that you are moving forward. Make your choice and see where it goes. Throw yourself into a job, a journey, a practice, or a community that inspires a flare of passion within you. Do not be afraid to make sacrifices. Do not be afraid to commit. Remember that no commitment is permanent. You can always drop out and change direction.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Work hard and be present.\nIf you're always halfway in and halfway out of a commitment, then you won't be able to say that you have given a direction a fair chance. Suspend your doubts for a time, and focus on the joys of doing exactly what you are doing.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Believe in yourself.\nFollow your dreams despite the ups and downs of life. Let your passion and your intention guide you as you build momentum in the right direction. Direction is knowing where you're going. Trust yourself. Persevere even if nobody else believes in you. This not to say, however, that you should ignore good advice. Have confidence in your abilities. Follow through on your decisions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Check in with yourself.\nAccept that you will change, that your needs will change, and that your purpose will change. Pursue your choices wholeheartedly, but do not let yourself become trapped in a situation that doesn't fulfill you. Every so often, ask yourself whether you are still engaged and invested in what you're doing. Perhaps you need to change direction, and perhaps you merely need to adjust your sails. Ask yourself:\n\"Am I growing in the ways that I want to be growing?\" \"Am I happy? Am I satisfied?\" \"Does this direction feel worthwhile?\" \"What can I do to make things better?\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Direction-in-Life-Step-11.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1682205", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Stop Expecting Too Much from People\nHuman relationships are extremely complex. Often when you begin relationships in any area of our lives, you might expect perfection. When people fail to perform to your standards, you might get upset. If you are continuously disappointed by people in your life, perhaps you are not setting clear, timely expectations. Work to communicate with others about your expectations and also set realistic goals for yourself. Practicing self-awareness and acceptance rather than perfection can lead to a more balanced life.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Setting Achievable Expectations for Employees", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Understand with whom you are working.\nSometimes you will set expectations for a spouse, partner, or child. If you are in management, however, you likely will set expectations for myriad diverse people. When setting goals in those instances, work to appreciate each individual\u2019s personality, work patterns, hobbies, and passions. By having a sense of the person, you will be better able to set realistic expectations. Ask the person:\nWhat work tasks makes you concerned? Which work activities give you energy? What are your work goals? How do your work and personal goals jive with our expectations here? How can I help you work towards your various goals in a strategic, effective manner?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-As-a-Kid-Step-10.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Setting Achievable Expectations for Employees", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Understand with whom you are working.\nSometimes you will set expectations for a spouse, partner, or child. If you are in management, however, you likely will set expectations for myriad diverse people. When setting goals in those instances, work to appreciate each individual\u2019s personality, work patterns, hobbies, and passions. By having a sense of the person, you will be better able to set realistic expectations. Ask the person:\nWhat work tasks makes you concerned? Which work activities give you energy? What are your work goals? How do your work and personal goals jive with our expectations here? How can I help you work towards your various goals in a strategic, effective manner?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-As-a-Kid-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be clear and specific in what you expect from others.\nMake sure contracts explain duties thoroughly and the employee's specific role in your organization. Convey job responsibilities to employees. Outline the person\u2019s responsibilities, duties, and purposes. When making a new request, check whether your request is realistic. Ask yourself whether you can visualize your employee doing what you desire. If the person has done the task previously, your request is likely realistic. When the assignment is something new, consider whether your employee could complete the task with the available time and resources. If possible, help make the task easier. For example, if you need your employee to write a very important report, give her a quiet office where she can work on the report.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-at-Starbucks-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Set timed expectations and goals.\nBe concrete in your expectations but be flexible in your timeline. Craft a timeline that works for both of you. Offer your assistance when it is possible as well. Meet with your employees to set regular goals. Split projects into smaller sections with each section having its own goals.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Set-Daily-Goals-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Follow up with people.\nSet regular meetings at which you can review progress. If people are not meeting your expectations, have an open dialogue with them. People cannot read your mind. In some cases, your expectations might be too high. In other scenarios, it is possible you did not transmit your expectations clearly. Either way, it is best to check in with people regularly about expectations.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Start-a-Support-Group-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Be aware of colluding expectations.\nFor example, you might set high expectations for yourself. Maybe you work long hours or are super mom and get everything imaginable done but barely sleep. Just because you have set these sorts of expectations for yourself does not mean you can expect other people to act the same way. Work to distinguish between the expectation you have for someone and the way the person completes the task.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Manage-a-Business-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Practice acceptance rather than perfection.\nIf you tend to be a perfectionist, it is very possible you expect perfection from others. This can be seriously damaging to your work and personal relationships. Aim to practice acceptance. When someone (including you) makes a mistake, realize that making mistakes is human. No one is perfect and accepting the flaws of others and yourself will help you be more realistic in setting expectations. Your employees also will appreciate that you are a more understanding boss. There are limits to acceptance. If an employee consistently does not fulfill his work obligations, it is fully appropriate to have a serious talk with him.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Value-a-Business-for-Sale-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Communicating Expectations with Your Loved Ones", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Discuss expectations clearly.\nIf you need or want a partner or loved one to do something, convey this kindly and directly. If you are vague or unclear, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and are likely to cause the other person to be frustrated. When you have a particularly important request, ask for a one-on-one meeting. This will help avoid confusion that can come when making requests in passing. For example, if you want your partner to do something (e.g. drive the kids to school), state that clearly. Do not hint by saying, \u201cWow, it\u2019s really stressful for me to take the kids to school before work. You work at home\u2026\u201d Instead say, \u201cMike, could you take the kids to school? It would help my commute considerably.\u201d\nRemember that unless you are a manager, you likely cannot dictate to a person (especially your partner) what he must do. Instead say, \u201cI\u2019d love for you to clean the garage before Thanksgiving. How can we make that happen? Let\u2019s look at our available weekends.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Handle-Anxiety-in-Children-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Making expectations routine.\nWhen setting expectations for children, it is often necessary to establish a routine. Having certain chores on the weekly schedule for particular days will help your child remember to do them. Consider making a checklist that people can mark when they have completed a task. For example, rather than telling your son to take the trash out generally, try saying, \u201cHey, Logan. Please take out the trash every Friday morning before school.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Convince-Your-Parents-to-Get-You-a-Smartphone-Step-2-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Create reward systems.\nFor children, offering small incentives and systems for accountability can help them fulfill expectations. After a child has completed a certain number of tasks or weeks, offer a small reward. You also can periodically reward your partner for fulfilling her or his commitments. You might reward a child's successful completion of monthly duties with a movie night.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Child-Creativity-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Ask loved ones what their expectations are of you.\nAlthough you might be used to expecting things from others, what do other people expect from you? Having conversations with your partner, children, or friends about their expectations will help you be a better person. Knowing the level of expectations people set for you also might help you gauge what normal expectations are. If, however, other people set unreasonably high expectations for you, like babysitting your grandchildren every weekend for example, be honest about your own limitations.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Calm-an-Autistic-Child-Step-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Be grateful for what others do for you.\nIt is possible that other people are not always fulfilling your expectations, but what are they doing right? Make a list of the good things your spouse, employee, or child are doing. It could be that a positive quality your partner possesses is related to a negative quality. For example, your partner could be very generous with his time but then not always get things done punctually. Try to think about someone\u2019s behaviors as a reflection of their unique self.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Handle-Anxiety-in-Children-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Setting Doable Goals for Yourself", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Discover the driving forces of your goals.\nWhen thinking about what goals you want to achieve, whether short or long term, aim to understand the root of these goals. People who set realistic goals and expectations have higher self esteems. You can ask yourself the following questions:\nWhat is the root of my goal? When did it develop? Why do I want to achieve this goal? Is it based on my desires or someone else\u2019s (e.g. partner, parent, teacher)? Can I realistically achieve this goal based on my personality and past experience? What is the purpose of achieving this goal?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Accomplish-a-Goal-Step-5-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Prioritize what matters.\nWhat is most important to you? Perhaps your job or your relationship. Focus on the top three things that matter in your life and make sure that you are giving your time and energy to those activities. If you have time and energy to do more activities, add them in gradually. Aim for a good balance. For example, you might say that your top three priorities are your family, job, and choir. Schedule weekly quality family time. Make sure you sleep enough to do well at your job. Plan to have a babysitter on choir nights. Other priorities for a university student might be gaining entrance to medical school, being a good student government leader, and staying fit. In this case, plan out your study times for the MCAT. Also, put your student government meetings in your calendar in advance. Map out your work out times. It is possible that at some times, like the week before your MCAT exam, you must focus even more on just one priority.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Achieve-Long%E2%80%90Term-Goals-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Set realistic goals.\nWhen you set goals or want to change things about yourself, keep in mind that change does not happen overnight. Strive instead to set mini goals as you work towards a larger goal. Also realize that achieving your goal likely has a few consequences but will not necessarily impact your entire life. For instance, if you want to lose weight, focus on the health benefits of weight loss first. Do not automatically assume it will improve your personal relationships or overall happiness. For example, instead of saying, \u201cI\u2019m going to lose forty pounds this year,\u201d try instead to lose one pound per week for one month. After this time, reassess your situation and make another mini goal. If your goal is gaining entrance into medical school, set mini goals and tasks, like enrolling in organic chemistry, anatomy, molecular biology, and other courses. Then, focus on doing well in your courses. Eventually, add the goal of acing the MCAT. After this, you can add tasks like writing your essays, receiving recommendation letters, gathering transcripts, etc.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Achieve-Long%E2%80%90Term-Goals-Step-1.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "1914615", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Get a Job With a Degree in Philosophy\nUnlike many fields of study, such as accounting or engineering, philosophy does not connect you to an immediate career in a specific industry. However, philosophy attracts intelligent and industrious students, qualities that are valued in the workplace. Students in this field simply have to be a bit more creative when assessing their career interests and planning a transition to the workforce. You can explore your possible career paths at any time, even while you are still working on your degree.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Preparing for the Job Market", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Employ your school's career resources.\nMost universities have some form of career planning center. These centers offer resources like career planning advice, resume workshops, mock interviews, and referrals. The staff will be able to tell you about your university's unique programs and opportunities. Don't wait until after you've graduated to try to take advantage of these tools.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Preparing for the Job Market", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Employ your school's career resources.\nMost universities have some form of career planning center. These centers offer resources like career planning advice, resume workshops, mock interviews, and referrals. The staff will be able to tell you about your university's unique programs and opportunities. Don't wait until after you've graduated to try to take advantage of these tools.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Consult with a career advisor.\nYour university Career Services office is a good place to start. If you do not have access to an advisor, start with a career interests test like the Princeton Review Career Aptitude Test or the Strong Interest Inventory. A counselor or an inventory test can help you identify your abilities and interests, as well as match them to careers that you may not have considered.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Define your career goals.\nThese goals should be specific and measurable. For example, an early job search goal might be: \"I am going to break down how each possible career choice relates to the interests I enumerated above,\" or \u201cI am going to rank my immediate possibilities based on likely salary.\u201d\nConsider both short term goals, such as getting an entry-level position within an industry or profession, and long term goals, such as the rank and recognition that you would like to achieve. Your transition to the working world will be overwhelming if you try to accomplish everything at once. Your decisions will be much easier if you have a clear sense of how each choice fits into your immediate and long-term goals. Brainstorming involves aspirational thinking, but should be kept grounded as well. Keep your goals specific and measurable. Focus on expressing your goals in ways that you can directly enact and assess.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Plan your coursework appropriately.\nOnce you have analyzed your interests, abilities, and goals, you should tailor the last years of your study towards those areas. For example, if writing is a chief talent of yours and you are considering a job in journalism, you should take more elective classes in communication, literature, or a related field.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Minor in a different field.\nThis is a great way to show employers that your skills extend beyond the disciplinary knowledge of philosophy. A minor in a foreign language will complement the value of your analytical thinking or businesses, or a minor in history could prepare you for public policy work. Consider a double major, if your university allows. Your philosophy degree will be more compelling to many employers if you pair it with a marketing, communications, or social science degree. Plan ahead carefully to make sure that you can complete the requirements of both degrees.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Gain work experience if possible.\nEmployers look favorably upon graduates who have already gained experience outside of the classroom. Use your school's resources to seek out internship and co-op opportunities. Don\u2019t expect your dream position right away: your first job will be an opportunity to learn and to demonstrate that deserve a better position. If your university does not offer assistance in finding internships, use career networking sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor or a specialized site like internships.com. If you want to gain experience directly related to arts and humanities, look for an internship at a museum or an editorial internship at a magazine with a relevant focus.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Identify transferrable skills.\nYour degree has likely helped you hone some of the skills most desired by employers: communication, the ability to analyze and solve problems, research, critical thinking, persuasive rhetoric, and more. When applying to jobs, emphasize how these skills will help you succeed in the workplace. For example, an interest in rhetoric and discussion could be applied to a career in sales, public speaking, or politics. Many companies will value your skills if you know how to present them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Networking", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Attend career fairs.\nSchools often organize career fairs and employers look to universities for some of their best hires. These events offer an easy way for you to meet potential employers, apply for jobs, and get a better feel for the current job market. Bring multiple copies of your resume to distribute among employers that are actively looking for new employees. Prepare questions for company representatives. Ask about recent good press the company received, or about a new initiative that they have launched. Dress professionally. You want to impress potential employers and colleagues. Show that you are serious and that you understand the norms of the workplace.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Use alumni connections.\nIf you have already graduated, you can likely work through your school's alumni association to look for employment. The alumni association can provide information on networking events and other opportunities to meet potential employers. In doing this, you will have to learn how to market the skills your philosophy degree provided you with towards a diverse set of job opportunities. The more you talk about the skills you developed through your philosophy degree, the better prepared you will be for questions you will be asked in interviews.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Join a professional organization.\nPhilosophy organizations such as the American Philosophical Association (APA) or the Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy (SPEP) will help you network with potential employers. The APA focuses on the analytic tradition in philosophy, while the SPEP focuses on the continental tradition. Though the focus of these organizations is on philosophy, many members will have connections that extend beyond university faculty. Keep up with one or two philosophy forums online. They are good places to network and you may find philosophy graduates who have transitioned into other careers and can offer advice.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Circulate your resume.\nUse your resume to emphasize the broad spectrum of skills you mastered by studying philosophy. Your resume will be a useful tool for emphasizing skills that will be valuable to employers in various professions. Include skills that emphasize the specific skill set of philosophy: analysis and presentation of clear arguments, the ability to distinguish between differing views and to establish common grounds, the ability to write well-constructed and compelling arguments, and an openness to new ways of thinking.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Pursuing Further Education", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Decide how far you want to pursue philosophy.\nMany philosophy graduates have a passion for the field and go on to study the discipline at a higher level. If your goal is to get a university teaching or research position, you will need a graduate degree in philosophy or a related field. Consider a master\u2019s degree. If you are not ready to commit to a Ph.D. program, a master\u2019s degree will allow you to network with scholars with similar interests and determine whether you enjoy advanced philosophical study. Master\u2019s programs are typically one or two years.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Consider a related field.\nYou can pursue your interest in philosophy while studying diverse subjects such as religion, literature, history, or education. In some cases, these fields may offer more obvious career paths or help you demonstrate your versatility to potential employers.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Take a gap year.\nIf you are not sure whether you want to commit to several more years of school, take some time off. While you decide, use the time to gain experience that will complement your philosophy degree. With the knowledge that your break from school will be short, you can lessen the pressure to find a perfect job right out of college. Focus on gaining workplace experience, rather than finding a job related to philosophy. Enter the workforce. If you plan to return to school, consider jobs that will develop skills that you will need in academic professions. Experience as a secretary can help you secure academic administration positions, or a retail job may help you develop the interpersonal skills needed to teach effectively. Experience in retail, , or will all help you develop your professional \u2026 at this point. If you are interested in a specific career path, find out what the entry level positions are within the field. Look for editorial assistant positions in the publishing industry or paralegal positions with a law firm. Non-profits may be interested in the skills you developed as a philosophy student. Once you have relevant experience within an industry, you will have an easier time presenting your skills and academic background as an ideal fit for a position you truly want.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Volunteer.\nWhile you decide whether to pursue more education, you can gain marketable experiences by volunteering as well as develop your network. You can also consider a longer commitment with an organizations such as Teach for America or City Year.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 4: Pursuing a Professional Degree", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Use your degree as a foundation for career-focused studies.\nA bachelor's degree in philosophy provides a good base for pursuing a degree in fields that correspond to specific occupations. This will make your eventual transition into the workforce easier. Research the areas that interest you and find out what education you will need for specific careers in which a philosophy major can be beneficial; start by considering broad career types, rather than specific positions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Consider a legal career.\nThe legal field demands clear and critical thinking, the ability to write well and analyze and present arguments. A philosophy degree will have prepared you for each of these challenges. Some philosophy electives link directly to law, such as ethics, philosophy of jurisprudence, and political philosophy.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-17.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Explore possible careers in healthcare.\nPhilosophy graduates are well-represented in healthcare, both in administration and medical practice. With specialized education, you will be able to enter a profession that will utilize your analytic skills, clear thinking, and ethical reasoning.. Medical schools tend to look favorably on students with philosophy degrees. The medical paths that philosophy alumni take are as varied as neurology and ophthalmology, orthopedics and cancer research.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-18.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Pursue a career in government.\nA philosophy degree can prepare you for work in local, state, and federal level government. This is due to a philosophy student\u2019s practiced analytical thinking skills and their ability to present clear, rational arguments. A graduate degree in public administration or international relations will prepare you to apply your critical thinking and argumentative skills to matters of the public good.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-19.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Review career options in business.\nA degree in philosophy can open many doors to careers in business. Many successful business men and women started out with philosophy degrees and developed careers in marketing, venture capitalism, stockbroking, and real estate brokers. In the case of some companies, especially technology start-ups, a humanities degree is a sought-after qualification. With a business administration or economics degree, you can make a transition into this career more easily.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Job-With-a-Degree-in-Philosophy-Step-20.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "20079", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Become a Philosopher\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Preparing Your Mind", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Question everything.\nPhilosophy requires one to rigorously and critically examine life and the world in its totality. To do this, one must be free of prejudice, ignorance, and dogma. The Philosopher is one who dwells in reflection and observation: they take every experience and seeks to understand it, even if doing so requires one to be brutally honest. This requires one to cast off the preconceived notions that one may have accepted in the past and subject all of one's beliefs to critical scrutiny. No belief or source of ideas is immune, regardless of its origin, authority, or emotional power. To think philosophically, one must think for one's self. Philosophers do not simply form opinions and chat idly. Philosophers, instead, develop arguments, based on premises that can and will be challenged by other philosophers. The goal of philosophical thinking is not to be right, it is to ask good questions and seek understanding.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Preparing Your Mind", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Question everything.\nPhilosophy requires one to rigorously and critically examine life and the world in its totality. To do this, one must be free of prejudice, ignorance, and dogma. The Philosopher is one who dwells in reflection and observation: they take every experience and seeks to understand it, even if doing so requires one to be brutally honest. This requires one to cast off the preconceived notions that one may have accepted in the past and subject all of one's beliefs to critical scrutiny. No belief or source of ideas is immune, regardless of its origin, authority, or emotional power. To think philosophically, one must think for one's self. Philosophers do not simply form opinions and chat idly. Philosophers, instead, develop arguments, based on premises that can and will be challenged by other philosophers. The goal of philosophical thinking is not to be right, it is to ask good questions and seek understanding.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Read philosophy.\nHundreds of years of philosophical thinking came before your own examinations of the world and, learning about the ideas of other philosophers will raise new ideas, questions, and problems to think about. The more philosophy you can read, the better a philosopher you can become. Few tasks are more important to the philosopher than reading. Professor of philosophy Anthony Grayling described reading as a duty of \"extreme intellectual importance,\" and suggests reading literary works in the morning and philosophical works later in the day. Read the classics. Some of the most enduring and powerful philosophical ideas in Western philosophy come from long-philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus,Hume, Descartes, and Kant, and today's philosophers recommend familiarizing yourself with their important works. In Eastern philosophy, the ideas of Lao-Tse, Confucius, and Buddha have been equally enduring, and deserve attention from any budding philosopher. At the same time, if you start reading something by one of these thinkers and it isn't stimulating to you, don't be afraid to set it aside and pick up something else that you find more compelling. You can always come back to it later. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in philosophy is a good way to structure these studies, but many great philosophers were also self-taught. Balance your copious reading with self-investigative writing: where reading broadens your perspective of the world, your writing will give you depth of understanding. Start writing down your reflections on the philosophical texts you are reading right away.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Think big.\nSpend time thinking about the world, what it means to live, to die, to exist, and what the point of it is. These topics lead to big, unanswered, often unanswerable questions, questions only philosophers, young children, and other highly curious individuals have the imagination and courage to ask. More \"practical\" topics, like those derived from the social sciences (e.g. political science or sociology), the arts, and even the physical sciences (e.g. biology and physics) can also provide fodder for philosophical thinking.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Engage in debate.\nWhile developing your critical thinking, you should take part in any debate you can. This will increase your ability to think freely and critically. Indeed, many philosophers see the vigorous exchange of ideas as an important path toward truth. The goal here is not to win a contest, but to learn and develop your thinking skills. There will always be someone who knows something better than you, and arrogance will hinder your ability to learn from them. Keep an open mind. Keep your arguments sound and logical. The conclusions should follow from the premises, and the premises should have evidence backing them. Weigh the actual evidence, and avoid being swayed solely due to repetition or ignorance. Practicing the construction and criticism of arguments is crucial to any developing philosopher.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Practicing Philosophy", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Develop an approach to investigation and practice it.\nAn important part of philosophy is the investigation and analysis of the world. Put differently, a central task of philosophy is finding ways to define and describe the fundamental structures and patterns of life, often by breaking them down into smaller component parts. There is no single, superior method of investigation, so you will need to develop an approach that is both intellectually rigorous and compelling to you. The decisions you'll be making in this stage involve what sorts questions you'll be asking or relationships you'll be exploring. Are you interested in the human condition? Political arrangements? Relationships between concepts, or between words and concepts? Different areas of focus may lead you to different approaches to asking questions and forming theories. Your reading of other philosophical works will help you make these determinations by exposing you to the ways others have approached philosophy in the past. For example, some philosophers only trust their minds and logic, and not the senses, which may at times deceive us. Descartes, one of the most respected philosophers in history, was one who took this approach. By contrast, others use their own first-person observations of the world around them as the basis for investigations into the nature of consciousness. These are two very different but equally valid approaches to philosophizing. If you can, it's great to be the source of your own investigation. Since you're always available to yourself, any line of investigation about yourself (and there can be many) allows you to always make some progress. Consider the basis for what you believe. Why do you believe what you believe? Start from scratch and interrogate your reasoning. Wherever you decide to focus your inquiry, try to be systematic in your thinking. Be logical and consistent. Engage in comparison and contrast, take things apart mentally to try to understand how they work, ask what would happen if two things were combined (synthesis), or if something was removed from a process or relationship (deletion). Keep asking these questions in different circumstances. There are 4 domains to help you think: convergent awareness (all existing understandings - your investigations will start here), critical thinking (logic and deduction), creative thinking (induction and extrapolation), and divergent thinking (free association and brainstorming). These strategies progress from what is known to what you wish to discover by increasing the cognitive window, and as such, are very powerful reflective tools.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Start writing down your ideas.\nWrite down what you think about the subjects of your inquiry, including ideas you think you shouldn't write down (possibly because you think others may think they are stupid). While you may not be arriving at any striking conclusions, you will be exposing your own assumptions to yourself. You will probably marvel at how silly some of your assumptions can be, and in the process you will mature. If you don't know where to begin you can start with questions that other philosophers have explored before, such as how one should treat the existence of god, or whether we have free will or are controlled by fate. The true power of philosophy lies in the continuity of thought that you'll be maintaining in your writing. As you investigate a concern, a single entry may do little on its own, but as you return to that concern throughout the day(s), the different circumstances you encounter in a day will allow you to bring fresh insights to your investigation. It is this cumulative power of thought that will bring you to those 'Eureka!' moments.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Develop a philosophy of life.\nAs you write, you should begin to develop your own philosophical perspective, arriving logical and well-considered ideas about life and the world. It is common for philosophers to adopt a perspective over time, especially about a specific issue. These are frameworks, patterns of thought. Many of the greatest philosophers have developed such frameworks. At the same time, remember to examine each issue with a critical eye. The central task that underlies the effort of the philosopher is that of model development. Whether we're aware of it or not, each of us has an abductive model of reality that is constantly modified to fit our observations. We can employ deductive reasoning (e.g. \"given the existence of gravity, the stone is obviously going to fall when I let it go\"), and inductive reasoning (e.g. \"I've seen that weather pattern many times; I'll bet it'll rain again\") to create this model of successive approximations. The process of developing a philosophical theory is the process of making these models explicit and scrutinizing them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Rewrite and get feedback.\nThrough several drafts, you should organize your ideas more formally and let others read your work. You can ask friends, relatives, teachers, or classmates to offer some thoughts on your work, or you can post your writings online (through a website, a blog, or a message board) and look for responses there. Be prepared to receive criticism, and use it to improve your own ideas. Always remember to analyze the evidence presented in order to find understanding, and let the perspectives and critiques of others help you expand your own thinking. Be wary of criticisms that show little or no signs of thoughtful exchange (e.g. that your premise was understood, or even read). Such critics have assumed that they are thinkers without actually accepting the philosophical discipline presented here, but still feel they are entitled to philosophical consideration. Such 'debates' will go on fruitlessly and ad nausea. After you receive feedback from your readers, rewrite again, incorporating any feedback you find useful.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Becoming a Professional", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Get an advanced degree.\nTo successfully pursue philosophy as a career, you must acquire a doctorate or, at very least, a master's degree. Earning a living from philosophy means using your knowledge and (hopefully) wisdom to produce original works of philosophical thought and, usually, to teach others about the field. In other words, the professional philosopher of today is typically an academic, and this requires an advanced degree. Equally important, the rigors of graduate school will help you further your philosophical thinking. In particular, you'll need to learn how to write in the very disciplined style that academic journals demand. Spend some time exploring the philosophy programs offered by a variety of different universities. Pick the ones that sound best to you and start applying for programs. Graduate school applications are highly competitive, so don't expect to be accepted to the first program you apply to. It's a good idea to apply to several schools, ideally 10 to 12.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Publish your ideas.\nEven before you have completed your graduate studies, you should begin the work of trying to publish your philosophical insights. There are many academic journals that focus on philosophy. Publishing in these journals will help you gain a reputation as a philosophical thinker and improve your chances of getting hired as a philosophy professor. It's also a good idea to present your work at academic conferences. Taking part in these events is a good opportunity to get more feedback from other professional thinkers and is good for your career prospects as well.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Learn to teach.\nMany of history's greatest philosophers have been teachers. Beyond this, any university that might want to hire you to study philosophy professionally will also expect you to teach other budding philosophers. Your graduate program will most likely give you some opportunities to teach undergraduate students and develop your pedagogical skills.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Get a job.\nAfter you've completed your graduate studies, start looking for a job as a philosophy professor. This process is arguably even more competitive than applying for graduate schools. Be prepared for many rejections before you finally succeed. Many philosophy graduates are unable to find work in academia. Nonetheless, the skills you'll learn in your graduate studies will be helpful in many fields of employment, and you can always keep working on philosophy in your free time. Remember that the writings of many of history's greatest philosophers were never recognized as important during their lifetimes. The benefits of disciplined thinking cannot be overestimated, even without serving as a vocation. In today's environment, with ready access to enormous amounts of information, some of it specious, or worse, deliberately poisoning of a person's mental health, it is the investigative mind of the philosopher that possesses the tools to recognize half truths or complete falsehoods.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-12.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "20773", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Follow a Personal Code\nA personal code is the philosophy you have about life and the way you want to live it. You determine what defines you, the values you want to work toward and what you will base your decisions on. It takes dedication and hard work to adhere to your code. Here are some ways to help you do that.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Going Over Your Code", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Find a quiet place.\nRemove distractions so that you are able to think clearly. You want to focus on what is important so that you can absorb and retain the information. The more familiar you are with your personal code, the more likely you will be able to apply it to your life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-01-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Going Over Your Code", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Find a quiet place.\nRemove distractions so that you are able to think clearly. You want to focus on what is important so that you can absorb and retain the information. The more familiar you are with your personal code, the more likely you will be able to apply it to your life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-01-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Come up with values.\nDecide what makes your life meaningful. Determine what guidelines you want to employ in your daily life to help you make decisions. Come up with your code and go over specific details about why each value is important to you. Values are the unique life beliefs and principles that you feel are most important to you.They are the things you believe in and want to support or that you feel are not beneficial or harmful and want to avoid. Think about what being honorable or ethical means to you. What do honorable or ethical people do or not do? When you think about people who represent these values, what is it about them that you admire? If there are things you want to change about your community or the world, figure out what they are and why. This can help you narrow down what your personal values are. Consider the issues that you feel most strongly about. What are you passionate about during conversations or when you hear others talking? Is there an underlying moral principle here that you feel is essential to living a good life?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-02.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Write down your code.\nWriting down your personal code and associated goals means you can clarify what you want. Writing down your intention motivates you to take action. Plus, you\u2019re much more likely to realize your goals when you write them down. Write short sentences with tangible meaning, such as, \u201cI will refrain from causing physical harm to those who threaten to physically harm me or my loved ones.\" Include conditional modifiers for various situations, such as, \u201cI will not steal unless there is no other option to feed my family, e.g. during a time of war or natural disaster.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-03.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Sign and date your code.\nConfirm your decision with a signature. This makes it more \u2018official\u2019 for you and increases your commitment level. Know that you mean to follow through.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-04-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Set goals.\nGoals direct us, allow us keep pace with our values, help us to be happier and even achieve more. In order to stick to your personal code, set goals for when you want to follow each part of your code and how often you want to apply it. Make a list of challenges related to your goal. Things will stand in the way. Be prepared for them by thinking about what situations could arise that might test your personal code. Think about how you can handle or minimize those obstacles. If a friend wants you to do something you're not sure about, refer to your personal code to see whether the action conflicts with one of them. If your code dictates not hurting someone else, then consider whether your action might hurt or cause someone distress. Popping tires, for example, might seem funny at the time but maybe the person can't afford new ones and can no longer get to work to provide for their entire family. Break down your goals into smaller actions. If you want to be an honorable person, decide what actions will make you honorable\u2014preferably ones you can practice in your day-to-day life. Helping an elderly person pick up items they drop, returning lost money and not using offensive language are all opportunities for you to be an honorable person.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-05-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Visualize your success.\nImagine who you will be in the future once you have mastered your personal code. Try to make your visualization as real and detailed to you as possible. You can also write down the person you imagine to make it feel more tangible. Choose a timeline in the future, whether it's a week, a year or 10 years from right now. During your visualization exercise, imagine that you are living your personal code and have achieved your short and long term goals. See the areas of your life that you have mastered. Be very specific about the person you visualize. What are you wearing? Are you smiling? What will your day-to-day life be like? Write down what you see and turn your visualization into a real possibility organized around concrete goals and values. Concentrate on the character strengths that have helped you reach your goals, be the person you want to be and achieve the life you want to live. An example might be: \"I will need to use my positive attitude, teambuilding skills and compassionate personality to help develop services for the homeless in my community within 5 years. I will also be a good friend, father and husband by supporting those I care about, conquering selfish desires, spending wisely and referring to my code.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-06-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Living Your Code", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Make use of your code.\nYou want to be able to live your code and minimize the things that distract from living your life the way you want to. Life isn\u2019t always going to go smoothly so you need to practice applying your code to multiple situations. The more you think about how you want to react to certain situations and then actually do it, the easier it will get. During an emotional episode, your personal code can help you to make the best decision\u2014but you have to remember to use it. Otherwise, you may be left to deal with a persuasive personality or circumstance without any personal guidance. While horsing around with your teenage friends, one of them may suddenly dare you to put something in your coat and walk out a store. However, if you have previously decided that you won\u2019t steal, you'll have an automatic response.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-07.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Start small.\nSome values will be easier to apply than others. Start using the ones that come more naturally first and build on those. If you want to help people, start off smiling at strangers who may be having a hard day, then move up to volunteering or donating. The more you can use your code in day-to-day activities, the more you will start to live it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-08-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Overcome resistance.\nEvery time you come up with a plan or goal that is important to your life, you will encounter some form of resistance. Things that take time and effort can be demanding mentally and physically. You can overcome this by focusing on the reason you want to reach your goal. In this case, your personal code gives value to your entire life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-09-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Celebrate progress.\nWhen you apply your code successfully to a challenge or experience in your life, recognize it. Write it down, if you can, or mark it in some way to show how far you have come. Celebrate victories, even small ones\u2014all together, they will get you where you need to be.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Be persistent.\nThings will get in your way, and it will be easier sometimes to give up and do what is easiest instead of following your code. Instead, just keep applying your personal code to your life every day and with every decision you make. Know that practicing discipline and making your code a habit will make your code second nature. If you make a mistake, don\u2019t use that as an excuse to throw away your personal code. Use it as a chance to learn why you weren\u2019t able to apply your personal code to the situation. This kind of insight will allow you to do better next time.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-11-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Ask for help.\nFind someone else with a similar code or goals in life. It could be a friend or family member. Look out for each other. A partner can be a great motivator as well as the voice of reason, reminding you about your code when tough situations happen. Make sure your partner supports you and your personal code. Even if you share different values and beliefs, your partner should understand the importance of your personal code to you. Never let someone demean you or make you feel bad for trying to better yourself. If they do, it is probably time to seek counseling or move on.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-12-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Modifying Your Code", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Review your code periodically.\nWriting a code gives definition and meaning to who you are, but remember that it is not written in stone. Like you, your code should grow and be adaptable as your experiences, convictions and ideals expand. Look back over your code and your life to see where you have been successful in implementing it as well as the times you might be able to do a little better now. You can use all this information as a roadmap to help you see where you want to be more clearly and perhaps show you how to get there (or how not to).", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-13-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Adjust your code.\nIf you attempt to apply your code to real life experiences and find that you feel differently in practice, then reconsider one or more of your ideals. Values and personal ethics are developed through trial and error. Make adjustments based on new opinions or advice. Perhaps you became a vegan because you did not want to cause harm to any living thing. Maybe you then got sick from lack of protein or lost too much weight. In a way, this could be considered causing harm to yourself, so you may need to reconsider your values.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-14-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Improve yourself.\nIf you have weaknesses, learn how to control or overcome them so you can be the person you want to be. If you make a mistake, move passed it and choose to do better next time. Your life will be richer when you can continually use your code every day.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Study ethics.\nRead books or information online about ethics and philosophy. Study up on the virtues. Use religious, spiritual and philosophical texts to guide you further. Speak to an expert in ethics, such as professor at your local college. They may have some advice to offer or engage you in discussion that opens new possibilities. You might also consider taking some courses in the field. Research a role model who motivates you. Try to connect with them at some point, if you can. Study the positive things they have done and continue to do. Think about how you can apply this to your own life. Alternately, you can think up an example of someone you don't want to be like to motivate you to do differently.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-a-Personal-Code-Step-16.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "2132808", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Restore Your Faith in Humanity\nWe are all born receptive to love, kindness and hope. As we grow up, we encounter the less hopeful, more challenging aspects of being human, including noticing world issues such as poverty and discrimination, and discovering that the things humans do at times can be hateful, calculating and unkind. Although this can turn us cynical or leave us feeling helpless, human beings are just as capable of the most incredible, amazing and wonderful kindness and love. If you're feeling a little jaded about where humanity is headed, here are some active ways to restore your faith.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Seeing the Good in the World", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Spend time with children.\nIf you don't have children in your life regularly, you're missing out on the wonders of seeing the world through new, inquisitive and creative eyes. Children are less prone to willful blindness or inability to see injustices and problems. Just by being around children more, and really listening to them and paying attention to what they do, you can start to uncurl from your crusty shell of cynicism and let yourself become more childlike, playful and creative. Children can cut through the layers of obfuscation which adults use to excuse stupid decisions, procrastination and inaction. Children also don't mind displaying a sense of awe about the world around them, constantly delighting in new discoveries and in making amazing new connections \u2013 between ideas, people and the wider world. Recognize in your time spent with children that we are born as blank slates, not for causing harm or trouble to others. Having a fixed view of human beings as cruel, mean-spirited and selfishly adhering only to what's best for each person is both unhelpful and generally untrue.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Raise-a-Well%E2%80%90Rounded-Child-Step-9.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Seeing the Good in the World", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Spend time with children.\nIf you don't have children in your life regularly, you're missing out on the wonders of seeing the world through new, inquisitive and creative eyes. Children are less prone to willful blindness or inability to see injustices and problems. Just by being around children more, and really listening to them and paying attention to what they do, you can start to uncurl from your crusty shell of cynicism and let yourself become more childlike, playful and creative. Children can cut through the layers of obfuscation which adults use to excuse stupid decisions, procrastination and inaction. Children also don't mind displaying a sense of awe about the world around them, constantly delighting in new discoveries and in making amazing new connections \u2013 between ideas, people and the wider world. Recognize in your time spent with children that we are born as blank slates, not for causing harm or trouble to others. Having a fixed view of human beings as cruel, mean-spirited and selfishly adhering only to what's best for each person is both unhelpful and generally untrue.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Raise-a-Well%E2%80%90Rounded-Child-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Ask people to tell you about the happiest moments in their lives.\nHow often do you ask people to recall the happy memories and what makes them happy now? People love talking about what they care about, what motivates them and what makes them happy and yet it's not always an obvious topic for general conversation. It's really important to provide the space for people to open up about their happy moments \u2013 it helps them to articulate in front of an audience what matters most to them (and may thereby inspire them even further) and it will help you to see the lighter, brighter and happier side of the people in your life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Use-Taoism-in-Negotiation-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Focus on the good news stories, the stories of great kindness and virtuous actions.\nThere is a plethora of positive, inspiring and uplifting stories about the good that people do each day. Yet, much of this positive news gets buried under the sensational, negative coverage that news media seems to prefer. All the same, it is possible to actively choose to increase your exposure to positive news. For example, you can subscribe to news feeds online that only focus on positive stories. And you can selectively follow social media network friends and fans who deliberately choose to share good news rather than bad and who are regularly sharing inspiring things. Check out such sites as the Good News Network, Happy News, The Huffington Post Good News, or Daily Good. These sorts of sites focus on positive news stories and gather together many kind, caring and warm tales about the good things that human beings do.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Prepare-for-a-Job-Interview-Step-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Check out your favorite charities online and actually read what their staff and volunteers are doing.\nWhether it's the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, the local zoo trying to conserve animals or a faith-based charity, informing yourself about their activities will remind you that people are actively involved in helping others, conserving the environment, restoring the land, caring for animal welfare and lobbying government to make changes that will improve lives and livelihoods. Browse your local bookstore or library shelves for amazing stories about people in the business world who are transforming society at the same time as running a business. Such businesses are changing the way we \"do business\" and see the world, including in such areas as sharing of information, making games that educate as well as bring enjoyment, selling fair trade or fairly sourced products, producing eco-friendly items and financial projects that help people to borrow for or invest in small projects that benefit many people in local communities. Social entrepreneurs focus heavily on ensuring that their business makes a positive difference in the world.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Say-Goodbye-to-Coworkers-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Finding Gratitude", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Spend time helping people less fortunate than you.\nA reality check can come in the form of looking at people who are experiencing things 10 times or 100 times worse than you are and yet manage to meet each day with passion and positivity, believing that being alive is its own reward. You can help them, but they can just as much help you. Rather than simply reading about such people, get involved through volunteering so that you can see face-to-face the hardships experienced by others. For example, you might consider volunteering at a hospice, a hospital for children with terminal diseases or in a disaster relief community where people have lost homes and livelihoods. However bad things may seem for you, seeing the pluck and determination of those undergoing severe hardships can help you to realize that human beings really are amazing, resilient and deeply profound. It can also help you to balance your own woes and keep them in perspective.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Help-Your-Community-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Think about the things that people do for which you are profoundly grateful.\nIf you begin looking for reasons to be grateful, there is a big chance that you'll find them in other people's actions every single day. For example, the driver who kindly lets you into the lane instead of speeding up, the shopper who waves you in front of their place in the queue because you have less items, the fellow applicant who helps you fill out a form you find really challenging or the stranger who notices your tears in public and gently asks you what's wrong. People are good; it's just easy to forget. Then there are the occasions of incredible heroism, like when someone cuts you from a car wreck, dives in and rescues your drowning child or runs into your burning house and pulls out your pets. Whether the actions are small or grand, notice what others do and celebrate the milk of human kindness. Untold kindnesses happen every day that could be termed \"people just doing their job\" or truly be seen for the caring and connecting behaviors that they are.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Take-a-Leap-of-Faith-Step-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Read public gratitude journals available online.\nReading about how other people find gratitude in everyday things can inspire you to feel more hopeful generally and to see that many, many people genuinely care for the beauty and awe of this world and its beings. These are just a few common examples. Type \"gratitude journals\" or \"good news stories\" into Google to be bombarded with the wonderful things happening across our planet on the daily.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Started-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Keep a list of people who inspire you.\nMake a bookmark on your usual browser and start stockpiling people who inspire you through their actions. Check back regularly for updates they're making as they progress in their endeavors. And add people who are no longer with us too \u2013 past endeavors are just as valuable for they enabled human society to be as advanced as it is today. Mahatma Gandhi summed it up well when he implored that: \u201cYou must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.\u201d While cruel and nasty things do happen each day, so do many acts of kindness and joy.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Started-Step-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Making the World Better", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Encourage faith in your fellow humans through your actions.\nTry seeing the world in a more trusting, less demanding way. Implement Gandhi's famous line to \"be the change you wish to see in the world.\" When you model the kind of change you want to see spread, you spark virtuous ripples that, even if they don't obviously benefit you personally move forth to benefit others, thereby continuously improving the community of which you are a part. Ultimately, faith in humanity isn't predicated on what you get back \u2013 it's about knowing that you're making life a little better, a little easier and a little more livable for everyone you connect with. Trust more in others. For example, you may take a person at his or her word that he will pay you for a used item he or she has purchased off you. You might loan a neighbor or friend your tools or DVD series without specifying a return date, having faith that the things will return when they need to. Perhaps you have worried in the past as to where your charity donation ends up, or you're concerned that the homeless person will run off and buy beer rather than a place to rest his or her head for the night, causing you to not donate anything at all. Instead of imposing your will, just give. Have faith that that donation will do what it needs to do. Sometimes people will do the wrong thing by you, but on the whole, it's much more likely that you'll be surprised by how people repay your faith in them positively, returning trust with trust \u2013 and gratitude. Implementing this extent of faith in others can be very scary at first, especially if you've been very attached to things/money but when you've reached this stage, you will have traveled far in restoring your faith in humanity.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Take-Action-to-Fight-Human-Trafficking-Step-18.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Practice random acts of kindness.\nTry topping off your neighboring driver's parking meter when you see it's nearly empty, shouting a stranger an extra coffee while standing in line or wiping down the public shower at the pool after you've used it instead of leaving it all muddy. For more ideas, see How to Practice Random Acts of Kindness. Pay it forward. Instead of asking that your good deed be repaid in any way, ask that the return favor be \"paid forward\" to someone else in need. For example, perhaps you can afford to help a student attend a course that he or she would otherwise be unable to afford. In turn, ask that student to do likewise in the future for another student he or she comes across unable to afford a course.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Stronger-Person-Through-Caregiving-Step-21.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Be compassionate.\nWhile the inner goodness of every single human being you come across may not be evident all of the time, it is compassion that allows you to dig underneath the surface of the woes, injuries and ills of your fellow human beings. By looking deeper, you'll often discover what motivates or compels unkind, ruthless or thoughtless behavior. It is in the seeking to understand better why people behave as they do that you can empathize with them and learn tolerance. It is in forgiving people for their lesser self behavior that you learn to stop hurting and give them the gift of freedom to heal themselves from pain and fear and to become the best they can be. Find as many ways as possible to collaborate and cooperate with your fellow humans. Reduce conflict and competition by encouraging and facilitating collaborative ways to get things done \u2013 at work, at home, in your school or college, in the local park, wherever you may be. Make room for others, even though you don't know them. When the traffic is thick or the queue is long, let others in. They are human too, they feel as you do, and what a delightful shock to learn that someone else cares about them. Your thoughtfulness will reverberate as many of those you let in will feel the need to let someone else in some other time. And on it goes.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Cope-when-No-One-Cares-About-You-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Tell stories of human goodness to other people you know, in order to inspire them to see the good in humanity too.\nOnce you've cottoned on to finding positive stories about humanity, share your experience with others to help inspire their positive actions and thoughts. If you have your own blog or you update a social network stream with stories, share more stories that are positive and uplifting. What can you do right now, today, to pass on the stories that show people's goodwill, their acts of heroism and human virtues? Celebrate those awe-inspiring moments when people do something incredible, such as forgoing a race win to help an injured fellow athlete, rescuing a pet caught in a burning home, shaking hands with an enemy during a d\u00e9tente in hostilities, etc. By celebrating and sharing the stories, images and creative works that spring up around heroic and altruistic acts of human care and love, you become a part of spreading the power and worthiness of decent, kind and caring actions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-More-Family-Oriented-Step-5-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Restore your faith in yourself.\nRemember that you too form part of humanity. Your preferred world won't come about by distancing yourself from your fellow humans or by constantly deploring them.If you feel that most of humanity is doomed or facile, perhaps the problem lies within. Henry Miller once said, \"The man who is forever disturbed about the condition of humanity either has no problems of his own or has refused to face them.\" If you've had a hard life, stop being hard on yourself. Learn to forgive yourself and believe in yourself more. Step out of your comfort zone to learn new things and to push yourself to do things that you're worried you might fail at. Be bold\u2013\u2013the world deserves your talents. If you prefer despair over hope or complaining over action, then you will find negativity wherever you look. On the other hand, you can choose to have faith in humanity, in many of the ways described above. Moreover, you can choose to be kind as a form of taking a stand against the injustices, violence, wastage and hunger in the world. You may feel powerless in the face of what seems terrible at times but you are not. Kindness is quiet, unobtrusive empowerment of every individual; by being kind, you affirm the kind of world you want to be a part of.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Take-a-Leap-of-Faith-Step-11.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "2168926", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Choose Your Fate\nIf you\u2019ve felt like you don\u2019t have control over your fate, it can be frustrating. However, you do have the ability to choose what you want your fate to be. To get started, do some soul-searching to discover what you really want in life. Reflect on what\u2019s not going so well in your life and what would make your situation better. Then, set goals for yourself that you can work towards over time. Keep working towards your goals and reevaluating them as needed to achieve the fate you desire!", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Identifying What You Want", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Reflect on what you don\u2019t like about your current situation.\nBefore you identify what you want your fate to be, think about the aspects of your life that you are unhappy about. This is often easier than trying to set goals right off the bat. Think about what upsets you about your current situation and write it down. For example, you might feel as though your relationship with your significant other is unfulfilling. You might also dislike your job or your major in school and want to make a change.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Choose-Your-Fate-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Identifying What You Want", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Reflect on what you don\u2019t like about your current situation.\nBefore you identify what you want your fate to be, think about the aspects of your life that you are unhappy about. This is often easier than trying to set goals right off the bat. Think about what upsets you about your current situation and write it down. For example, you might feel as though your relationship with your significant other is unfulfilling. You might also dislike your job or your major in school and want to make a change.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Choose-Your-Fate-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Consider what would make your situation better than it is now.\nNow that you have identified what is making you unhappy, think about what changes would improve your situation. Write down the specific changes to your situation you\u2019d like to see. For example, you might think life would be better if you had more dates with your partner. On the other hand, you might see yourself being happier in a job where you have more creative agency and interactions with people.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Choose-Your-Fate-Step-2-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Ask yourself questions to pinpoint what you value most.\nOnce you have a general idea of what you want, go a little deeper. Think about your values, talents, special skills, and other relationships to start getting specific about what you want. Some questions you might ask yourself include:\nWhat do you do that sets you apart from other people in your profession or area of interest? What life experiences have you had that have shaped you into the person you are today? What do you value most in life? Friends? Family? Career? Money? What communities do you most love to engage with, serve, and support? What do you hope to have accomplished at the end of your life?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Choose-Your-Fate-Step-3-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: List your talents, achievements, and any special skills.\nThese can help you to make your goal for changing your fate even more specific, which will make it easier to accomplish. Make a list of anything that you have been told you\u2019re good at, received awards for, or earned a degree or certificate in as proof of your proficiency. For example, if you have always been complimented on your people skills, add this to the list! If you have a certification in computer repair, include this in the list as well.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Choose-Your-Fate-Step-4-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Write a mission statement based on what you've discovered.\nThis mission statement should be a reflection of what you want your fate to be. Include any details you have identified through this process of self-reflection and frame the statement in the positive. You can write a mission statement for all areas of your life, such as for your personal, professional, emotional, and spiritual goals. For example, you might write a professional mission statement that reads: \"I am a skilled public speaker who inspires other people by telling stories about my struggles with my weight and drug abuse.\" You might also write a personal mission statement that reads: \"I have trustworthy friends who love me and support me in all of my goals.\" Tip: Remember that no one else\u2019s opinion matters but yours when it comes to your dreams. If you share your dreams with someone and they discourage you, ignore them. Focus on what you want because this is how you will stay motivated.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Choose-Your-Fate-Step-5-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Accomplishing Goals", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Set a SMART goal to move you towards what you want.\nYour big goal might be something very different from your current situation, which can make it seem daunting. This is why it\u2019s important to set SMART goals. A SMART goal is one that is:\nSpecific. The goal is clearly defined and not vague or broad, such as \u201close 10 lb (4.5 kg)\u201d instead of simply \u201close weight.\u201d\nMeasurable. There are numbers involved in your goal or some other quantitative aspect that allows you to clearly determine when you have accomplished it. Attainable. It\u2019s possible for you to reach your goal. Relevant. The goal aligns well with your other goals and values. Time-based. You have set a date or time limit for your goal.Tip: Make sure that you break bigger goals into small, manageable chunks. It\u2019s fine to set a big goal, but then plan to break it into several smaller ones so you will be less likely to feel overwhelmed.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Choose-Your-Fate-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Create a plan for how you will work towards your goal.\nOnce you have your SMART goal written out, start thinking of what you will need to do to accomplish it. Create a specific plan for what you will do and when you will do it to reach your goal. For example, if your goal is to lose 10 lb (4.5 kg) over the course of 2 months, then you may identify behaviors such as counting your calories using a tracking app, exercising for 30 minutes per day, and avoiding alcohol to help you meet your goal. If your goal is to find a new job, then you might list things like updating your resume and applying for 1 new job every day.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Choose-Your-Fate-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Identify obstacles and specify how you\u2019ll overcome them.\nIt\u2019s normal to experience setbacks on your path towards achieving a goal, so make sure that you come up with a plan for how you\u2019ll handle any setbacks. Be as specific about how you will handle setbacks as you were about how to achieve your goals. For example, if your goal is to lose 10 lb (4.5 kg) over the course of 2 months, then a possible setback might be gaining weight one week. If this happens, you might specify that you will review your caloric intake for the week, reduce your intake if needed, and determine if you need more exercise. If you are trying to find a new job and you don\u2019t hear anything back from your applications after 2 weeks, you might decide to contact the employer via email to request an interview and apply to 3 more jobs.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Choose-Your-Fate-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Reevaluate your goals often and continue working towards them.\nYour goals may change as you work towards them, so it\u2019s important to take stock of your situation regularly. Try reading over your goals once per month to help you decide if you might need to tweak them. For example, if you made it your goal to lose 10 lb (4.5 kg) in 2 months and you reach the goal after only 6 weeks, then you could start working on the next 10 lb (4.5 kg) or shift into maintenance mode. If your goal is to find a new job and you have not been succeeding with your current plan, you might try something different, such as attending a job fair, contacting a former professor or boss for suggestions, or attending a networking event. EXPERT TIP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTara Divina\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVedic Astrologer\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTara Divina is a California-based Vedic Astrologer. Vedic Astrology, also known as Jyotish, is an ancient, sacred art of self-understanding and divination. With nearly 10 years of experience, Tara gives personalized readings that answer her clients' biggest questions about relationships, money, purpose, career, and other big life decisions. Tara Divina\t\t\tVedic Astrologer\t\t\t\tVedic or Hindu philosophy believes in multiple lifetimes. Even if you work hard in this lifetime to reach what you want, it might not happen. But if you believe in multiple lifetimes, you can accept that if what you want doesn't happen now, it might happen in the next lifetime. Then, you are more motivated to do work for long-term gratification instead of only short-term gratification.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Choose-Your-Fate-Step-9.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "234458", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Understand Yourself\nSometimes you find yourself doing things and you have no idea why. Why did you yell at your son? Why did you choose to stay with your current job instead of taking a new one? Why did you argue with your parents about something you don't even care about? Our subconscious controls a huge amount of our behavior and thus the reasoning behind many of our decisions in life can be shrouded in mystery. However, if you know how to look, you can gain a greater understanding of yourself: why you make the decisions that you do, what makes you happy, and how you might change for the better.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Getting to Know You", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Get an objective assessment.\nThe first thing you can do to gain a greater understanding of yourself is to get some objective assessment. Of course, you can ask people you know, but their experience of you will lead them to the same biases that you have. Getting some objective opinions will give you a more accurate picture and lead you to consider some things you might not even have thought of. There are a number of established tests that you can take to learn about the different aspects of yourself (and more than a few less-reputable ones): \nThe Myers-Briggs Personality type theory says that all people have 1 of 16 different basic personalities. These personalities can predict how you interact with people, the kinds of interpersonal problems and strengths that you have, and what kind of environment you live and work in best. A basic version of this test can be found online, if you want to find out what you can learn from better understanding your personality. If you're struggling to understand what makes you happy and what you should do with your life, consider taking a career test. These types of tests can help you decide what you might find the most satisfying, usually based on your personality and what you do for fun. There are lots of different ones available online, usually for free, but if you're in school you can probably get a more reputable one administered by your career counselor. There is a theory that every person learns and processes their experience of the world in one of a number of different ways. This is called your \u201clearning style\u201d. Knowing what learning style you have will help you even once you're out of school and can help you to understand why you struggle with some activities and excel at others. As with the others, there are a number of free tests that you can take online. Just be aware that this is a disputed science, with many theories about how many learning styles exist, and you may get different results depending on which test you take. You can also find lots of other tests covering many subjects at Psychology Today.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-1.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Getting to Know You", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Get an objective assessment.\nThe first thing you can do to gain a greater understanding of yourself is to get some objective assessment. Of course, you can ask people you know, but their experience of you will lead them to the same biases that you have. Getting some objective opinions will give you a more accurate picture and lead you to consider some things you might not even have thought of. There are a number of established tests that you can take to learn about the different aspects of yourself (and more than a few less-reputable ones): \nThe Myers-Briggs Personality type theory says that all people have 1 of 16 different basic personalities. These personalities can predict how you interact with people, the kinds of interpersonal problems and strengths that you have, and what kind of environment you live and work in best. A basic version of this test can be found online, if you want to find out what you can learn from better understanding your personality. If you're struggling to understand what makes you happy and what you should do with your life, consider taking a career test. These types of tests can help you decide what you might find the most satisfying, usually based on your personality and what you do for fun. There are lots of different ones available online, usually for free, but if you're in school you can probably get a more reputable one administered by your career counselor. There is a theory that every person learns and processes their experience of the world in one of a number of different ways. This is called your \u201clearning style\u201d. Knowing what learning style you have will help you even once you're out of school and can help you to understand why you struggle with some activities and excel at others. As with the others, there are a number of free tests that you can take online. Just be aware that this is a disputed science, with many theories about how many learning styles exist, and you may get different results depending on which test you take. You can also find lots of other tests covering many subjects at Psychology Today.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Do character writing exercises.\nWhen writers go to write a book, they will often do writing exercises which help them to better understand the characters that they're writing about. You can do these same exercises to get a better understanding of yourself and many can be found online for free. These exercises may not have anything official to say about you, often relying on you to draw your own conclusions about what your answers say about you, but they may lead you to think about things you never thought about before. Try answering the following questions to get an idea of what this is like: \nHow would you describe yourself in one sentence? What is your purpose in your life's story? What is the most important thing that has ever happened to you? How did it change you? How are you different than the people around you?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.\nYou can come to a better understanding of who you are and what is most important to you by thinking about your strengths and weaknesses. Importantly, you\u2019ll want to compare your perception with your strengths and weaknesses to the strengths and weaknesses identified by your friends, family, and coworkers. The things that they see that you don\u2019t can tell you a lot about yourself and how you see yourself. Examples of strengths include determination, devotion, self-discipline, thoughtfulness, decisiveness, patience, diplomacy, communication skills, and imagination or creativity. Examples of weaknesses include close-mindedness, self-centeredness, difficulty perceiving reality, judgement of others, and issues with control.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Examine your priorities.\nWhat you think is most important in life and in your day-to-day interactions can tell you a lot about yourself. Think about your priorities, compare them to the priorities of other people you respect, and think what your conclusions say about you. Of course, you need to be open to the idea that you might not have your priorities in the best order (many people don\u2019t), which can also teach you a lot about yourself. If your house were burning down, what would you do? What would you save? It\u2019s amazing how fire exposes our priorities. Even if you\u2019d save something practical, like your tax records, that still says something about you (probably that you prefer to be prepared and not meet resistance in life). Another way to tell what your priorities are is to imagine that someone you love was being openly criticized for something that you don\u2019t support (let\u2019s say, they\u2019re gay but you don\u2019t agree with the lifestyle). Do you support them? Protect them? How? What would you say? Our actions in the face of peer criticism and possible ostracization can reveal our priorities. Some examples of priorities that people often have include: money, family, sex, respect, security, stability, material possessions, and comfort.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Look at how you've changed.\nLook at your past and think about how what has happened to you over your lifetime has affected how you act and think today. Looking at how you\u2019ve changed as a person can reveal a lot about why you act the way that you do, because our current behaviors are built on our past experiences. For example, maybe you tend to get really defensive around shoplifters and are very harsh to people you perceive as stealing. When you think about it, you might remember stealing a candy from a store as a child and your parents punishing you very harshly, which would explain your stronger than normal reaction to that behavior now.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Analyzing Your Mind and Actions", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Check yourself when you experience strong emotions.\nSometimes, you\u2019ll find yourself getting really, strongly angry, sad, happy, or excited. Understanding what sets off these stronger-than-normal reactions, what their root cause is, can help you understand yourself better. For example, maybe you get really violently angry about people talking during a movie. Are you really angry about the talking or are you angry because you felt like it was a personal sign of disrespect towards you? Since this anger doesn\u2019t help the situation, you might be better off trying to find ways that you can be less concerned about people respecting you, just to keep your own blood pressure down.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Watch out for repression and transference.\nRepression is when you don\u2019t want to think about something, so you help yourself to forget it even happened. Transference is when you emotionally react to one thing, but what you\u2019re really reacting to is something else. Both of these behaviors, which are very common, are unhealthy and finding out why you do them and finding ways to handle those emotions in a healthier way will make you a much happier person. For example, you might think that you\u2019re not sad about your grandma dying, but when your family decides to get rid of her favorite old chair you get really angry and upset. You\u2019re not really upset about the chair being gone. It was stained, smelled funny, and probably contained radioactive foam for all you know. You\u2019re upset that your grandma is gone.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Notice how and when you talk about yourself.\nDo you turn every conversation you have into a conversation about yourself? Do you make jokes at your own expense whenever you talk about yourself? How and when you talk about yourself can reveal a lot about how you think and how you perceive yourself. It\u2019s healthy to talk about yourself sometimes and it\u2019s good to realize that you can\u2019t do everything, but you should pay attention to extremes and think about why you go to those extremes. For example, your friend might have just finished her PhD, but when you\u2019re all talking about it, you turn the conversation to be about when you were working on your master's. This might be because you feel embarrassed that you only got a master's and they finished a PhD, so you want to make yourself feel more important or accomplished by making the conversation about you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Look at how and why you interact with others.\nWhen you interact with people, do you tend to put them down? Maybe you\u2019ve noticed that you only choose to spend time with people that have more money than you. Behaviors like this can also teach you things about yourself and what is really important to you. For example, if you\u2019re choosing to only spend time with friends that have more money than you, it may show that you want to feel more wealthy by letting yourself pretend you\u2019re equal to your friends in that way. Think about what you \"hear\" vs what was said. This is another thing you can look out for when examining your interactions with your friends and family. You might find that what you hear is something like \u201cI need your help\u201d when what they actually said was \u201cI want your company\u201d, revealing that you have a strong need to feel useful to others.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Write your biography.\nWrite your biography in 500 words in 20 minutes. This will require you to type very fast and think less about what you will include, helping you to identify what your brain thinks is most important when defining who you are. For many people, 20 minutes won\u2019t even be enough time to type 500 words. Thinking about what you are upset you weren\u2019t able to get out vs what you did say can also tell you things about yourself.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: See how long you can wait for gratification.\nStudies have shown that people who can delay satisfaction have a generally better time getting through life, getting better grades, more education, and maintaining a healthier body. Think about situations where you could have delayed gratification. What did you do? If you have trouble delaying gratification, this is something to look out for a work on, since it often plays a role in success. Stanford did a famous experiment with this called the Marshmallow Experiment , where they watched how some kids reacted when presented with marshmallow treats and then followed their progress through life, over the course of many decades. The children who put off their treat in favor of a bigger reward did better in school, work, and health-related areas.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Analyze whether you need to tell or be told.\nWhen you\u2019re doing something, like work, think about whether you seek out your next task without having to be asked, whether you need someone else to tell you what to do before you act, or whether you\u2019d rather skip all of that in favor of just telling someone else what to do. Each of these things can say different things about you, depending on the situation. Remember that there\u2019s nothing wrong with needing someone to give you instructions and guidance before doing a task. It\u2019s just something to be aware of so that you can better understand and control your own behavior when important things come up. For example, if you know you\u2019re bad at taking control in a situation but you know you need to, you can think about how your reluctance is just \u201ca habit\u201d that you can break and not a necessity.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 8: Look at the way you react in tough or new situations.\nWhen things get really tough, such as when you lose your job, a loved one dies, or someone is threatening you, the more hidden or restrained parts of your character tend to come out. Think about how you\u2019ve reacted in the past when the tension has gotten high. Why did you react the way that you did? How do you wish that you\u2019d reacted? Would you be more likely to react that way now? You can also imagine these scenarios, but be aware that your hypothetical responses may be clouded by your bias and not accurate to how you\u2019d really react. For example, imagine you were moving to a new town where no one knows you. Where would you go to make friends? What kind of people would you try to make friends with? Is there anything you\u2019d change in terms of what you tell people about yourself vs what all your current friends know about you? This can reveal your priorities and what you\u2019re looking for in your social interactions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 9: Think about how having power influences your behavior.\nIf you\u2019re in any kind of position of power, you might want to think about the effect it has on your behavior. Many people, when put in a position of power, will become harsher, less open-minded, more controlling, and more suspicious. When you find yourself making decisions that affect others, think about why you\u2019re really making that choice: is it because it\u2019s the right thing to do or is it because you need to feel in-control of the situation? For example, when you\u2019re babysitting your little brother, do you put him in timeout just for a small problem? Does this really help him learn or are you just trying to find reasons to put him in timeout?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 10: Examine your influences.\nThe things that have an influence on how you think and how you see the world can say a lot about you, whether you actually conform to what they teach or not. In seeing where your influences have shaped your behavior, you can better understand the root of the behaviors you do have. In seeing where you deviate from those taught behaviors, you can also identify your uniqueness and your own personal thinking. Thinks that influence you include: \nYour media intake, such as TV shows, movies, books, and even what porn you watch. Your parents, who might teach you things varying from tolerance vs racism to material wealth vs spiritual wealth. Your friends, who will pressure you into enjoying certain things or introduce you to new and wonderful experiences.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Opening Yourself to Reflection", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Let go of your defensiveness.\nIf you want to really reflect and understand yourself better, you're going to need to think about parts of yourself that you really don't like and admit to some things you might not want to admit to. You'll be naturally defensive about admitting these kinds of things to yourself, but if you're really going to understand how you work, then you're going to need to let go of that defensiveness. Even if you don't let those barriers down for other people, you at least have to let them down for yourself. Becoming less defensive about your weaknesses can also mean opening yourself up to getting help from other people and making amends for past mistakes. If you're more open to discussion, criticism, and change, then other people can really help you understand and improve yourself.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be honest with yourself.\nWe lie to ourselves a lot more than we'd like to think about sometimes. We'll help ourselves to think that we made some questionable choices for noble or logical reasons, even when we were really just being vindictive or lazy. But hiding from the real reason behind our motives doesn't help us change and develop into better people. Remember: there's no point in lying to yourself. Even if you discover truths about yourself that you really don't like, this only give you the opportunity to take those problems head on instead of just pretending like they don't exist.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-17.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Listen to what others say to and about you.\nSometimes, especially when we do bad things, others will try to warn us against those behaviors. We also have a tendency not to listen. Sometimes this is good, because lots of people will say things about you just because they want to hurt you and their comment will have no basis in fact. But sometimes what they say is a good, outsider\u2019s analysis of how you behave. Think about what people have said in the past and ask for some new opinions about your behavior. For example, your sister might notice that you tend to exaggerate. But this is unintentional on your part, which can serve to show you that your perception of reality is a bit off. There\u2019s a big difference between evaluating what they say about you and letting that opinion control your life and actions. You shouldn't tailor your behavior to suit other people unless it is having a significantly negative impact on your life (and even then, you might want to consider that your environment might be the problem, not your behavior). Make changes because you want to change, not because someone else tells you that you should.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-18.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Give advice.\nGiving advice will often give you a great opportunity to think through your own problems and reevaluate them from the outside. When looking at someone else\u2019s situation, you will be more likely to think about situations and circumstances that you never thought of before. You don\u2019t even have to do this activity for real, although helping your friends, family, and even strangers is a nice thing to do. You can give advice to your older and younger selves, in the form of a letter. This will help you think through your past experiences and what you took away from them, as well as what is really important to you for the future.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-19.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Take time and experience life.\nThe best way to really get to know yourself, however, is to just experience life. Just like getting to know another person, understanding yourself takes time and you\u2019ll learn far more through experiencing life than by interviewing yourself and taking tests. You can try: \nTraveling. Traveling will put you in lots of different situations and test your ability to handle stress and adapt to change. You\u2019ll come to a greater understanding of your happiness, priorities, and dreams than you ever could just sitting in your same old boring life. Getting more education. Education, real education, challenges us to think in new ways. Getting education will open your mind and lead you to think about things you\u2019d never even considered. Your interests and how you feel about these new things you learn can reveal things about you. Letting go of expectations. Let go of other people\u2019s expectations for you. Let go of your expectations for yourself. Let go of your expectations for what life should be like. When you do this, you\u2019ll be more open to seeing what new experiences might make you happy and fulfilled. Life is a crazy roller-coaster and you're going to encounter a lot of things that scare you because they're new or different but don't close yourself to those experiences. They might make you happier than you've ever been.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-234458-20.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "2409989", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Develop a Child Care Philosophy\nA child care philosophy is typically a written statement developed by a child care provider or educator regarding its organization's values, priorities, values and beliefs regarding a child's development, care, and education. Having a child care philosophy is important so that all who work together are unified with the same priorities. A child care philosophy also helps parents and care givers select the child care program that fits their families' own philosophies of child rearing.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Considering Your Priorities", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Ask yourself about your child care beliefs.\nAs a care provider, how do you think about children's child care and development? It will help to define clearly what you believe about a child's developmental strengths and needs in order to develop a philosophy of child care. If you are partnering with others to develop your child care philosophy, this will give you an opportunity to better articulate your individual experiences and to learn about the perspective of others. Considering the role that you believe play, art, dramatic and academic activities should have in a child's life will help you think about your beliefs. An example of a statement regarding a program's beliefs regarding child care might be: \"We are committed to providing safe, affordable, high-quality service for children living in the South Lake community that is based in hands-on experiential learning.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Adopt-a-Child-if-You-Are-Gay-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Considering Your Priorities", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Ask yourself about your child care beliefs.\nAs a care provider, how do you think about children's child care and development? It will help to define clearly what you believe about a child's developmental strengths and needs in order to develop a philosophy of child care. If you are partnering with others to develop your child care philosophy, this will give you an opportunity to better articulate your individual experiences and to learn about the perspective of others. Considering the role that you believe play, art, dramatic and academic activities should have in a child's life will help you think about your beliefs. An example of a statement regarding a program's beliefs regarding child care might be: \"We are committed to providing safe, affordable, high-quality service for children living in the South Lake community that is based in hands-on experiential learning.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Adopt-a-Child-if-You-Are-Gay-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Consider partnering with parents and community.\nIncluding parents, community members and care providers at the outset of developing your child care philosophy can help support your child care program. Think about the ways that the community may hold values that inform the child care philosophy you're developing. Involving community partners in developing your child care philosophy may require language translators for non-English speakers. Children, families, and other child care professionals may all have a stake in the development of your child care philosophy.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Adopt-a-Child-if-You-Are-Gay-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Define the teacher's role.\nConsider whether you value teacher-led activities, or student-led activities. Teachers can actively lead a child's learning, structure playtime, and present new information, or they can allow the child more independence to explore these areas for herself. When developing your philosophy of child care, decide what sort of role the teacher should play, and why you feel this way. In a play-based program, the teacher's role is typically less dominant, while academic programs tend to be more teacher-led. Consider what you might want and expect for a child in your program. If you have certain academic goals that you will expect a child to meet, this will affect the role your teacher will be expected to play. An example of a child care statement regarding the role of a teacher might be: \"We believe our teachers are responsible for the well-being, safety, and learning of every child. Teachers provide information not only through mentorship and role modeling, but through lectures, small group activities and hands-on learning activities.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Change-Your-Community-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Talk about expectations for a child in your program.\nHow do you think a child learns best? You'll have to discuss your ideas about the range of activities included in your program that should lead to every child's benefit, regardless of learning style. Remember that every child has a unique learning style, and all learners will need to be accommodated. Include a variety of structured learning activities and open-ended ideas, thinking about what you believe is the ideal ratio of both types in the classroom. An example of a statement reflecting expectations for a child in a child care program might be: \"We believe that all children should have the opportunity to learn from peers of all abilities, and to serve as teachers for their peers.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-a-Good-Piano-Teacher-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Address issues of program diversity.\nConsidering how your program will serve a wide variety of children is an essential part of developing a childcare philosophy. Your students will come from a wide variety of cultural, economic and social backgrounds. They may have disabilities which require accommodation. Include a statement regarding the value that diversity brings to your program. Be clear regarding what specific strategies and supports you plan to employ to help nurture children in your program who have special needs. An example of a statement reflecting child care philosophy of diversity might be: \"We believe that every child has an equal value to our program, and actively work to support full inclusion of children with diverse abilities and disabilities, as well as those from all socio-economic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Child-Creativity-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Think about how you can offer a positive environment.\nWhen someone walks into your child care setting, what will they see? A classroom for children should include activities for appropriate child development, including sensory play, academic materials, activities for developing gross motor skills, and materials for dramatic play. Remember that your child care environment should include activities outside as well as inside. Sensory play materials include sand play, water tables, bubbles, vibrating toys, colorful lights, and play dough. Anything that engages the child's sensory interests can be included in sensory play materials. Dramatic play includes materials for role playing, costumes, puppets, and more. Include a statement regarding your belief about a positive setting for child care. For example, \"We support and encourage the development of creative and social skills through opportunities for sensory play through a wide variety of materials.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Deal-with-a-Meltdown-in-Children-with-Autism-or-Aspergers-Step-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Discuss curriculum priorities.\nDo you want your child care to be play-based, or would you prioritize academic goals? While all child care approaches use a mixture of both play and academic learning, different philosophies emphasize one over the other. If you're uncomfortable in unstructured settings, you're unlikely to be satisfied in an environment that prioritizes spontaneity. The curriculum priorities that you incorporate into your own philosophy of child care shouldn't conflict with your own priorities. Exploring a range of different child care philosophies may help you better understand the range of priorities that your own philosophy of child care may include. An example of a statement reflecting curriculum priorities might be: \"We believe that children should be treated with respect and dignity, to feel safe and secure, to have opportunities for learning through play, decision-making, and social interaction with their peers.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Deal-with-a-Meltdown-in-Children-with-Autism-or-Aspergers-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Comparing Philosophies of Child Care", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Learn about developmental child care.\nDevelopmental child care emphasizes all areas of a child's development, including physical, cognitive, social, emotional. This is the most common form of child care philosophy currently practiced in the United States. In a developmental child care classroom, you may expect to find a combination of hands-on activities, child-directed and teacher-led activities. Developmental child care is interactive, and has an informal sense. Learning through play is considered the central focus of the curriculum in a developmental child care program. The role of the teacher is to provide security, stimulation, support, limits, and affection.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Develop-Child-Creativity-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Find out more about progressive preschools.\nThis child-centered philosophy follows the child's interest and social curiosity. Experiential learning is prioritized over teacher-led learning. Progressive preschools are sometimes termed \"Bank Street Approach\" due to their initial development at the Bank Street College of Education. The teacher's role is to facilitate the child's interests and intellectual curiosity.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Bring-Up-Good-Children-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Try Montessori methods.\nMontessori philosophies were developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in her study of child development. These methods emphasize the individual child's initiative and independence. Children move through different activities, called \"work\", at their own rate of speed. The self-correcting tasks teach the child directly, while observing other children completing a task allows children to learn from each other. Montessori methods use \"manipulatives\" or small sensory items that the children use to complete a task. Colored blocks, for example, might be manipulatives matched to pictures of colored blocks in an activity. Montessori classrooms typically contain a range of ages, because each child is encouraged to learn at her own pace. Some parents choose Montessori methods because they feel it encourages their children to develop leadership skills.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-a-Child-to-Stop-Sucking-Fingers-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Explore Reggio-Emilio pedagogy.\nThis child care philosophy uses a combination of developmental and Montessori approaches. It emphasizes creativity and artistic expression, but also collaboration. Reggio-Emilio learning employs group projects based in child-directed curiosity. For example, if a child expresses interest in why a plant grows, a Reggio-Emilio response might be, \"Let's learn more about that!\" From this child-led curiosity, a collaborative interactive project including study of soil, plants, water, and sunlight might result. Reggio-Emilio is named after the area of Italy in which this pedagogical approach first developed. One of the goals of Reggio-Emilio is to use collaborative learning to help a child become a better citizen.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Identify-Whether-Your-Child-Has-Dyslexia-Step-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Learn more about Waldorf schools.\nThe Waldorf approach, developed by Rudolf Steiner, is a play-based approach. It's characterized by regular, structured routines. Certain days of the week, for instance, will always include the same activities. Creative activities, such as art, music, dance, singing and acting, are emphasized. The programs are well-known for their refusal to incorporate any media, such as reading, computers, videos or electronics into their curriculum. There are no grades in a Waldorf program. There are no hand-outs, homework, or tests. The Waldorf approach emphasized the holistic nature of the child: body, spirit, and soul.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Plan-Successful-Play-Dates-for-Your-ADD_ADHD-Child-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Try cooperative learning groups.\nParent-cooperative programs, known as co-ops,are formed by parents to offer a shared setting for their children. These programs are created by parents who desire a strong influence in their children's daily activities. The teachers, director and and helpers of the classes are chosen by the parents, and are parents of children in the program. Cooperative learning tends to prioritize values of cooperation and resolving conflicts. One of the ways in which cooperative learning emphasizes education is that your child sees your participation in the classroom. This allows the child to know that education is a priority for you, and encourages the message that learning is important.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Prepare-Your-Child-for-Kindergarten-Step-3.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "2621443", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Form a Spiritual Philosophy\nForming a spiritual philosophy takes time, thought, and dedication. You can begin by identifying your values and asking yourself questions about the human experience. It\u2019s important to keep an open mind and listen to your inner voice as you embark on your spiritual journey. Exploring different spiritual philosophies through scared texts, literature, music, and by visiting spiritual places will help you form your own spiritual philosophy.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Developing Your Own Spiritual Philosophy", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Make a list of your values.\nWhat you value in life is a critical component of your spiritual philosophy. Take some time to make a list of values and keep these values in mind as you explore different spiritual philosophies. Some example of values include honesty, respect, courage, and open-mindedness.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Form-a-Spiritual-Philosophy-Step-1-Version-4.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Developing Your Own Spiritual Philosophy", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Make a list of your values.\nWhat you value in life is a critical component of your spiritual philosophy. Take some time to make a list of values and keep these values in mind as you explore different spiritual philosophies. Some example of values include honesty, respect, courage, and open-mindedness.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Form-a-Spiritual-Philosophy-Step-1-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Ask yourself \u201cbig\u201d questions.\nAs you different spiritual philosophies, it\u2019s important to ask yourself how your thoughts and beliefs compare to what you are learning. Take time to ask yourself questions about your take on the human experience, the soul, afterlife, and the relationship of humans to the natural environment. Try asking yourself, \u201cWhat happens to the human soul after death?\u201d\nYou can ask yourself, \u201cWhat is the place of humans in the universe?\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Form-a-Spiritual-Philosophy-Step-2-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Keep an open mind.\nIt is important to approach the development of a spiritual philosophy with an open mind. While you might have been raised in a particular spiritual or religious tradition, you can benefit from learning about how others approach and philosophize about spirituality. Don\u2019t disregard anyone\u2019s approach until you have taken time to learn about it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Form-a-Spiritual-Philosophy-Step-3-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Pay attention to your inner voice.\nAs you develop your spiritual philosophy, it is important to pay attention to your inner voice. For example, if a certain approach to spirituality makes you feel uncomfortable, you should not push yourself into it. If something feels right to you, on the other hand, make an effort to continue exploring it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Form-a-Spiritual-Philosophy-Step-4-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Develop a writing practice.\nAs you are forming a spiritual philosophy, you will likely experience a vast array of emotions. Set aside time each day to write down your thoughts, feelings, and desires. Doing so will help you think through and experience all the emotions on your spiritual journey. Try making a list spiritual goals, ideas, and beliefs that are most important to you and use this list as a guide.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Form-a-Spiritual-Philosophy-Step-5-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Try adopting or modifying an existing spiritual philosophy.\nAfter you have identified what is important to you and taken the time to explore existing religions, consider adopting or modifying one of them. You can either fully adopt an existing religion or spiritual path, or take the elements of it that speak to you and use them to create your own spiritual philosophy.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Form-a-Spiritual-Philosophy-Step-6-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Learning About Spiritual Philosophies", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Read sacred texts.\nAs you explore different approaches to forming a spiritual philosophy, you should consider reading some of the world\u2019s most influential sacred texts. Doing so will help you gain a better understanding of how different peoples and cultures have philosophically approached spirituality across time. Some of the most influential sacred texts in world history include:\nThe Bible\nThe Torah\nThe Quran\nThe Vedas\nThe Egyptian Book of the Dead\nTao Te Ching\nThe Upanishads\nThe Bhagavad Gita\nThe Buddhist Sutras", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Form-a-Spiritual-Philosophy-Step-7-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Explore classic literature.\nReading classic and contemporary works of literature can help you learn about how others have formed their spiritual philosophies. You can learn from the spiritual experiences of characters and their authors, and this can help you form your own spiritual philosophy. Some great works of literature that explore spiritual philosophy include:\n'Journey to Ixtlan by Carlos Castaneda\n\n\nSiddhartha by Herman Hesse\n\nThe Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh\n\nWalden by Henry David Thoreau\n\nThe Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky\n\nFranny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger\n\nThe Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy\n\nA Passage to India by E.M. Forster", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Form-a-Spiritual-Philosophy-Step-8-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Listen to music.\nMusic can be a powerful component of spirituality, and can help you clarify your philosophical approach to spirituality. Try listening to a variety of genres and artists while paying particular attention to lyrics and composition. Seek out music that speaks to the human experience and that you feel a spiritual connection to as you listen. Doing so may help you get a few steps closer to forming your own spiritual philosophy. Try listening to John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Bob Dylan, or Johnny Cash. Experiment with music from religions you are exploring. For example, if you are learning about Judaism, you might try listening to klezmer music by Tempero.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Form-a-Spiritual-Philosophy-Step-9-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Visit spiritual places.\nAn important part of forming a spiritual philosophy is experiencing different environments where humans interact spiritually with the world around them. This can be as simple as going for a walk in the forest, or as complex as traveling to an ashram in South Asia. Explore as many different environments as you can, and pay attention to how you feel on your journeys. Try visiting religious centers to learn more about spirituality. For example, you can visit a church, mosque, or Buddhist temple.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Form-a-Spiritual-Philosophy-Step-10-Version-3.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "297680", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Find Meaning in Life\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Nurturing Your Connections with Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Remind yourself of the unique roles you play in other peoples\u2019 lives.\nTake some time to reflect on how much you matter to your loved ones. Make a mental list of your family and friends, and think about the unique role you play in their lives. Whether you're a parent, child, sibling, friend, teacher, or student, you play a unique role in each of your relationships, and those roles add meaning to your life. In each of these examples, you and your loved one matter to each other, and that gives your life meaning. For instance, if you're a parent, you play an incomparable role in your kids' lives. You and your best friend are special, unique parts of each other's lives. If you have a sibling, you share an irreplaceable bond with them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Nurturing Your Connections with Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Remind yourself of the unique roles you play in other peoples\u2019 lives.\nTake some time to reflect on how much you matter to your loved ones. Make a mental list of your family and friends, and think about the unique role you play in their lives. Whether you're a parent, child, sibling, friend, teacher, or student, you play a unique role in each of your relationships, and those roles add meaning to your life. In each of these examples, you and your loved one matter to each other, and that gives your life meaning. For instance, if you're a parent, you play an incomparable role in your kids' lives. You and your best friend are special, unique parts of each other's lives. If you have a sibling, you share an irreplaceable bond with them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Help others in small ways whenever you have the opportunity.\nEven the smallest acts of kindness can help you make a mark on other people\u2019s lives. From your loved ones to complete strangers, try to nurture your connections with others with kindness and generosity.Example acts of kindness: If your sibling just had a baby, offer to babysit so they can sleep, or do some household chores for them. If your partner is stressed out at work, you could cook them a nice, comforting meal. If your elderly neighbor has trouble bringing out their trash cans on garbage day, do it for them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Volunteer for a cause that\u2019s important to you.\nIn addition to small acts of kindness, volunteering can give you a greater sense of purpose and meaning. Devote your time to a worthy cause, and reflect on how your actions are making a real difference in someone\u2019s life. Volunteering for a cause you value is especially meaningful. For example, if you love animals, foster pets or volunteer at a local animal shelter. If a loved one is sick, you could volunteer for a charity related to their illness.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-3-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Think of your job as a meaningful act of service.\nFeeling like your job is pointless is normal, but the key is to change the way you think about your work. Draw connections between your day-to-day tasks and the people you\u2019re ultimately serving. No matter what you do for a living, take pride in the fact that your work improves someone\u2019s life, solves a problem, or makes the world a better place. You don\u2019t need to be a doctor or firefighter to make an important difference in someone\u2019s life. Suppose you\u2019re a waiter; focus on the roles you play in your guests\u2019 lives. Think about how you\u2019re helping your customers unwind after a long day or celebrate an important occasion. Additionally, if your job doesn\u2019t feel meaningful, remember why you work. Think about how the money you earn pays your bills. If you have kids or help support your parents, think about how your work is an invaluable service for someone you love.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Ask yourself how you want people to remember you.\nConsider how you can leave lasting impacts on the people in your life. You don\u2019t need to have a monument in your honor to leave a lasting legacy. From teaching someone a lesson or skill to helping a loved one through tough times, you can make a meaningful impact through positive actions. Thinking about topics like mortality and your legacy isn\u2019t easy. It\u2019s especially tough if you\u2019ve lost someone close to you or if you or a loved one are facing a life-threatening illness. Questioning life\u2019s meaning in these situations is normal, but don\u2019t let doubt overwhelm you. Accept that no one lives forever, but remember that your presence leaves a lasting impact on the world. Focus on making a positive, meaningful difference through your kindness, humor, service, and love.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Pursuing Purposeful Goals", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Write a list of your most important personal projects.\nThink of what gives you purpose on a day-to-day basis, and list projects and goals relate most to your core values. Examples include learning a new hobby, writing a book, getting into better shape, or being a great parent.What is purpose? In psychology, purpose is the intention to accomplish something that\u2019s both personally meaningful and engages the world beyond yourself. Making genuine connections is at the core of this definition, so come up with projects that sincerely express who you are.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-6-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Divide your projects and goals into achievable steps.\nNow that you\u2019ve written down your personal projects and goals, work on drawing concrete actions from them. Turn the abstract, big-picture things that give you purpose into specific actions that you can accomplish every day. For instance, reframe the goal \u201cwrite a book\u201d as \u201cwrite for half an hour every day.\u201d Divide a goal like \u201cbecome a dentist\u201d into steps, such as \u201cstudy every day to keep my grades up,\u201d \u201cshadow or intern at a dentist\u2019s office,\u201d and \u201ctake a prep course to ace the Dental Admission Test.\u201d\nWhen your goals don\u2019t seem achievable, it\u2019s easy to feel like you don\u2019t have a purpose. If you feel stuck in a rut, assess your current projects, and break them up into steps that can give you a sense of purpose on a daily basis.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Pursue your goals every day.\nAfter dividing big, unapproachable goals into more doable terms, commit to making them happen every day. Set reminders on your phone, place motivational words and pictures in prominent spots, and schedule blocks of undisturbed time every day for your personal projects. Whether you\u2019re practicing the piano, writing, or saving up to buy a house, accomplishing a concrete step every day can make your actions feel more meaningful. Turning abstract goals into concrete steps is a valuable skill, and people who\u2019ve learned how to do it tend to adapt better to bumps in the road. For instance, suppose someone who runs marathons gets sick or injured. Even if their ability to exercise is limited and they can only run for short distances, they can still pursue their goal of physical fitness without losing their sense of purpose.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Talk to trusted loved ones if you need clarity.\nDon\u2019t worry if you\u2019re having a hard time coming up with a list of goals and values. Getting to know yourself and your priorities take time, so have patience. The people who know you best can offer a helpful perspective, so get help clarifying your core values and goals from those closest to you. You could bring up the subject by saying, \u201cI\u2019ve been feeling a little confused lately about my purpose in life. I\u2019m trying to figure out what I value most and how I can come up with meaningful goals.\u201d\nAsk your confidante, \u201cWhat would you say is your purpose? How did you figure it out? What are the things that you associate most with me? From your perspective, what are some of my core drives and values?\u201d\nSeek advice from your trusted loved ones to broaden your perspective but don\u2019t look to them for all of the answers. They can only offer their point of view; defining yourself and your values are ultimately up to you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Making Sense of Life Experiences", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: List the core traits that define your identity.\nAsk yourself, \u201cWho am I?\u201d and make a mental list of what makes you who you are. Decide what personal traits, values, and qualities give your life a sense of continuity. For instance, you may love painting, treasure travel, or always put your family first. Cohesion, or things that are predictable and make sense, is one aspect of finding meaning in life. Try to come up with some aspects of yourself and your experience that remain constant over time. Favorites, likes, and dislikes change over time, but they might hint at your underlying passions. For instance, your favorite bands and singers may change, but your love for music is constant.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Remind yourself of your life\u2019s story.\nEvery now and then, remind yourself who you are, what you\u2019ve been through, and which lessons life has taught you. Recount how you grew up, times in your life that felt the most meaningful, and the most important people in your life. As you recall your life history, think about the biggest decisions you\u2019ve made and how those decisions steered you to where you are today. For instance, think to yourself, \u201cI am Noelle, and I\u2019m unique, passionate, and talented. I grew up in a big family, and they mean the world to me. My parents\u2019 hard work inspires me, my siblings look to me as a role model, and my baby niece constantly renews my sense of wonder.\u201dFinding meaning in your life story: Recounting your story is helpful if you\u2019re feeling lost in general. It\u2019s also an effective exercise for a range of specific situations. When someone learns they\u2019re adopted, for instance, recounting a personal narrative can help them respond to doubts about their identity.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Remember that suffering allows you to offer others compassion.\nDon\u2019t feel alone if you\u2019re going through a hard time and have been asking yourself \u201cWhat\u2019s the point?\u201d It\u2019s hard to find meaning when everything seems to go wrong or when bad things happen to good people. However, while many aspects of life are beyond your control, you have the power to turn seemingly senseless suffering into something meaningful. From spraining your ankle to losing a loved one, life\u2019s challenges can help you become a more compassionate person. For instance, if you\u2019ve been through a breakup, you\u2019ll be able to help a friend if their relationship ends.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: View tragedies and trauma from a \u201cbig picture\u201d perspective.\nWhen viewed in isolation, or up close, losing a loved one, being abused, or experiencing a serious illness can make life seem meaningless. Processing traumatic events isn't easy, but it can be helpful to understand trauma in the context of a broader life story. Seeing trauma and tragedy as opportunities to grow and be of service to others can help you find meaning in life\u2019s most difficult situations. For instance, making sense of life after surviving abuse is a difficult, gradual process. For many survivors, using their experience to help others in similar situations plays an essential role in healing.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Turn to your belief systems to make sense of big questions.\nFrom the vastness of the universe to the breadth of time, some things in life are beyond comprehension. Sometimes, thinking about these big topics can make life feel meaningless. When life is too much to process, chaotic, or unpredictable, turn to your spiritual and cultural traditions to renew your sense of order. Spirituality is one way to make sense of life\u2019s biggest questions, but it\u2019s not the only source of order. When the universe seems too big and too senseless, try taking a walk in nature. Think about how predictably trees flower, shed their leaves, endure winter, and begin the cycle all over again in the spring.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Find-Meaning-in-Life-Step-14.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "3040", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Live Life to the Fullest\nThe meaning of your life is something you create day after day with your own actions and thoughts. Always ask what you can learn, and how you can move forward, and stop yourself from blaming other people if things aren't the way you would like them to be. What living life to the \u201cfullest\u201d looks like is up to you. Here are some steps to get you started.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Finding Yourself", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Recognize that life is a journey, not a destination.\nThis saying is a clich\u00e9, but it\u2019s also true: life is as much about how you get where you\u2019re going as where you go. Living your life to the fullest is a process that will take you your whole life to develop. Don\u2019t get frustrated if it takes you a while to learn some things, or if you experience setbacks. This is a natural part of life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Finding Yourself", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Recognize that life is a journey, not a destination.\nThis saying is a clich\u00e9, but it\u2019s also true: life is as much about how you get where you\u2019re going as where you go. Living your life to the fullest is a process that will take you your whole life to develop. Don\u2019t get frustrated if it takes you a while to learn some things, or if you experience setbacks. This is a natural part of life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be honest with yourself and others.\nDishonesty saps away energy and happiness. When we aren\u2019t honest with ourselves, we hold ourselves back from learning and growth. When we aren\u2019t honest with others, we damage trust and intimacy. We may be dishonest for a variety of reasons. Research has shown that sometimes we lie because we\u2019re jealous and want to hurt others. Sometimes, we lie because we\u2019re afraid we will be hurt if we reveal the truth, or we\u2019re afraid of a confrontation. It can be hard to be honest, especially with yourself, but doing so will help you live a fuller, richer life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Learn to accept yourself.\nAll too often, we spend a lot of time looking at what we don\u2019t like about ourselves, what we\u2019d like to change, what we think should be different. Spending all your time focused on what you don\u2019t like or what happened in your past means that you aren\u2019t able to focus on your future. Make a conscious decision to learn to love yourself, just as you are. Make a list of your strengths. What are you good at? These can be lofty achievements, such as inventing a new technology, or \u201ceveryday\u201d skills, such as being friendly to others. Paying attention to what your strengths are can help you continue to develop them without focusing on yourself as a \u201cfailure.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Determine your values.\nYour core values are the beliefs that shape who you are and how you live your life. They may be spiritual beliefs or simply deeply-held beliefs that are important to you. Reflecting on your values will help you set goals for yourself that are \u201cvalue-congruent,\u201d meaning in line with your values. You are more likely to feel fulfilled and happy when you\u2019re living in accordance with your values. Stand up for what you believe in and don\u2019t let others push you around. It's possible to do this and still be open to other people's ideas, as they may surprise you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Challenge negative self-talk.\nSometimes, society confounds self-criticism with helping yourself improve. However, much research shows that the more hostile and critical you are of yourself, the more likely you are to be the same way toward others. Negative self-talk and self-criticism don\u2019t help you become a better person or achieve your goals. Try self-kindness and self-compassion instead. For example, if you find yourself consistently telling yourself what is wrong with you or what you don\u2019t like about yourself, be purposeful and challenge those thoughts with positive ones. Replace thoughts like \u201cI\u2019m such a loser\u201d with \u201cThat situation didn\u2019t go exactly the way I\u2019d planned. I\u2019ll go back to the drawing board and think of another way to approach it.\u201d\nTry to think logically about your self-criticisms. Criticizing ourselves can be all too easy. The next time you notice yourself being harsh, try to find a rational response to that criticism. For example, if you found yourself thinking \u201cI\u2019m so dumb, I don\u2019t know anything in this class and everyone\u2019s smarter than I am,\u201d examine that thought logically. Is everyone really smarter than you, or are some individuals just more prepared for the material than others? Is your performance in the class related to your intellect (not likely) or is it because you may not have the preparation you needed to excel? Are you studying effectively? Would you benefit from a tutor? Breaking things down in this logical manner can help you figure out steps to take to help yourself improve without writing yourself off.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Embrace flexibility.\nOne of the reasons we become frustrated is that we expect things to stay the same. However, life is full of change. Open yourself to the processes of change and growth, and learn to adapt to the new situations and challenges that happen. Fostering positive emotions, such as happiness and optimism, will help you develop flexibility. Look for patterns in how you respond to events and situations. Determine what\u2019s helpful and what isn\u2019t. This can help you learn to modify the responses that aren\u2019t helpful and learn to be more adaptive. Not only will you feel better yourself, but you will also be able to better interact with others. Learn to look at \u201cnegative\u201d events as learning experiences instead. Looking at setbacks or situations that appear as negative as \u201cfailures\u201d can lead you to obsess over them, rather than learn and grow from them. Rather than seeing a challenge or roadblock as a negative, see it as a positive space for learning and improvement. For example, famous entrepreneur Steve Jobs said that \u201cgetting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.\u201d J.K. Rowling, the author of the phenomenally successful Harry Potter series, has said that she sees failure as incredibly beneficial, something to be valued rather than feared.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Care for your body.\nPart of living life to the fullest is taking care of your body. You only get one; make sure it\u2019s able to carry you through your life of adventure and learning. Eat a healthy diet. Avoid foods that are high in sugar and empty calories. Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and lean proteins. Don\u2019t deprive yourself, though; it\u2019s perfectly healthy to have a slice of cake or a glass of wine from time to time. Stay hydrated. Men should drink about 13 cups (3 liters) of fluids per day. Women should drink about 9 cups (2.2 liters) of fluids per day. Get exercise. Studies have shown that regular exercise helps you feel healthier, happier, and more positive. Aim for about 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise every week.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 8: Learn mindfulness.\nLearning mindfulness can help you live your life to the fullest by keeping your focus on what is happening in the present moment. Mindfulness is rooted in Buddhist traditions and avoids judgment of your experiences; instead, it encourages you to accept them just as they are. You can\u2019t live your life to the fullest if you\u2019re constantly absorbed by what happened in the past or what might happen in the future. Learning to be mindful of what is going on right now will help you worry less about what has already happened or what may happen. There are many ways to learn mindfulness, including mindfulness meditation and spiritual study. Exercises such as yoga and Tai Chi incorporate mindfulness into their practice. Some of the many benefits of mindfulness include: improved physical and mental health, lower stress, better interactions with others, and a greater sense of overall well-being.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 9: Stop \u201cshoulding\u201d yourself.\nThis is a term coined by the psychologist Clayton Barbeau. It refers to humans\u2019 tendency to tell ourselves that we \u201chave to\u201d do something, even if it doesn\u2019t fit with our goals or values. \u201cShould\u201d statements can cause a lot of dissatisfaction and grief. Eliminating them from your life can help you live more fully. For example, consider this \u201cshould\u201d statement: \u201cI should lose more weight.\u201d Why do you feel that way? Is it because you have a fitness goal that you want to achieve for yourself? Because you\u2019ve consulted with your doctor and agreed that you need to get healthier? Or is it because someone has told you \u201cshould\u201d look a certain way? The same goal can be healthy and helpful or harmful, all depending on why you feel like you need to achieve it. Deciding not to \u201cshould\u201d yourself doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t set goals. Instead, it means that you set goals for yourself based on what is meaningful to you, not what others want for you or demand of you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Following Your Path", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Push yourself out of your comfort zone.\nResearch has consistently shown that people need to push themselves beyond their comfort zones to perform at their best. This is called embracing \u201coptimal anxiety.\u201d It turns out that the more you\u2019re willing to challenge yourself, the more comfortable you will become with new experiences. It can be terrifying to take risks because we\u2019re generally not comfortable with the idea of failure. Most people are afraid of risk in the short-term. However, people who don\u2019t take risks and push themselves are more likely to regret not doing so later in life. Getting out of your comfort zone occasionally can also help you develop the flexibility you need to deal with life\u2019s unexpected roadblocks. Start small and work your way up. Go to a restaurant without checking it out on Yelp first. Take an impromptu road trip with a loved one. Try something at work that you haven\u2019t done before.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be realistic.\nSet attainable goals according to your abilities and talents. Consider each effort to be an attainment. Achieve one step before the other towards stability and security. Set goals that are meaningful to you, and don\u2019t compare them to anyone else\u2019s. If a personally meaningful goal is to learn to play your favorite song on the guitar, don\u2019t feel bad if you don\u2019t become a rockstar guitarist. Keep your goals performance-based. Achieving your goals takes hard work, dedication, and motivation. However, you need to make sure that you can achieve your goals through your effort -- remember, you can\u2019t control anyone else. For example, \u201cBecome a movie star\u201d is a goal that relies on others\u2019 actions (casting agents have to cast you, people have to go to your movies, etc.). However, \u201cAudition for as many movies as I can\u201d is achievable because you control that action. Even if you never get a part, you can view your goal as a success, because you accomplished what you set out to do, which was work for what you want.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-11-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Embrace vulnerability.\nWhen you live life to the fullest, you take chances. You go after what you want. You make decisions that have consequences. And sometimes, these things don\u2019t go the way you\u2019d hoped. Embracing vulnerability, the possibility that things will go differently than we had planned, is crucial to experiencing life in a full, open, honest way. Vulnerability helps you take actions in all areas of your life. If you\u2019re afraid of being open and honest with another person because you might get hurt, you won\u2019t be able to develop a truly intimate relationship. If you\u2019re afraid of taking a chance because it might not work out, you may miss out on opportunities. For example, consider the example of Myshkin Ingawale, an inventor who wanted to develop technology to help reduce the child death rate in rural India. Ingawale frequently talks about how he failed the first 32 times he tried to create this invention. Only on the 33rd time was he finally successful. That willingness to be vulnerable, to accept the possibility of risk and failure, is what allowed him to develop this technology that is now saving lives.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-12-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Look for learning opportunities.\nDon\u2019t be content to let your life just happen. Be active and present in it. Always consider what you can learn from whatever situation you encounter. This will help you avoid stressing over challenges and will keep you focused on moving forward, not looking back. Learning new things also helps keep your brain at the top of its game. When you actively ask questions and investigate experiences, you\u2019re more likely to feel healthy mentally and emotionally.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-13-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Practice an attitude of gratitude.\nGratitude isn\u2019t just a feeling; it\u2019s a way of life that requires active practice. Research has shown that practicing gratitude makes you feel healthier, happier, and more positive. Gratitude can help you overcome past trauma and strengthen your relationships with others. Recognize daily the things you are grateful for. Let your family, friends, and other significant ones know how grateful you are to have them. Share and express love while you can. Your life will feel more fulfilling when you actively practice being grateful. Savor the moment. Humans have a bad tendency to focus on the negative aspects of life and ignore all the beauty and positivity around us. Take the time to acknowledge and savor the small moments of beauty in your everyday life. Think about what this experience means to you. Be mindful of the happiness it is bringing to your life in that moment. Writing these experiences down can be helpful. Even small things, such as an unexpected text from a friend or a beautiful sunny morning, can fill us with gratitude if we let them. Share your gratitude with others. You\u2019re more likely to \u201cstore\u201d positive things in your memory if you share them with other people. If you see a gorgeous flower while you\u2019re riding the bus, text a friend to let her know about it. If your partner did the dishes as a surprise for you, tell him how much you appreciate it. Sharing your gratitude can also help others feel positive and inclined to look for ways to be grateful in their lives. EXPERT TIP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnnie Lin, MBA\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLife & Career Coach\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnnie Lin is the founder of New York Life Coaching, a life and career coaching service based in New York City. Annie has over 10,000 hours of client coaching experience and her work has been featured in Elle Magazine, NBC News, New York Magazine, and BBC World News. She offers services in both one-on-one and group settings, focusing on careers, relationships, emotional well-being, and personal growth. She holds an MBA degree from Oxford Brooks University. Annie Lin, MBA\t\t\tLife & Career Coach\t\t\t\tTry this to help you practice daily gratitude: Every day, spend a few minutes in the morning and before bed thinking about what you appreciate in life. Also, learn to be present, curious, and observant in life, noticing the wonders around you instead of taking things for granted. For instance, if you go for a walk, spend time looking around you instead of just putting on headphones and closing out the world.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-14-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Keep a journal.\nKeeping a journal can help you reflect on your goals and values. It can also help you determine what\u2019s going well in your life and what you\u2019d like to continue to work on. Journaling can also be a great way to practice mindfulness. Journaling should be active, not simply a recording of your random thoughts and experiences. Rather than just recording every single thing that happened to you, use your journal to reflect on situations you experience. How did you initially react? How did that situation make you feel at first? Do you feel differently now? Would you do anything differently if you encounter a similar situation?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-15-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Laugh.\nLaughter really is the best medicine. Laughter lowers stress hormones and releases endorphins, your body\u2019s natural mood elevators. It burns calories and sends oxygen to your body, helping you feel more positive and healthy. Laughter is also contagious; when you express joy through laughter, others are likely to share it with you. Laughing together can create emotional and social bonds.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-16-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 8: Simplify your needs.\nYour possessions can end up possessing you. A cluttered house full of things won\u2019t make you happy. Make an active decision to have simple daily needs. Research has shown that often, a preoccupation with material goods is a way of covering up some deeper need. Have what you need, and need only what you have. Highly materialistic people are often less happy and fulfilled than others. Stuff won\u2019t make you happy, but the relationships you cultivate with others can. Get rid of things in your home that you don\u2019t use or don\u2019t like. Find a local charity to donate clothing, household goods, and other things that are just lying around your house. Simplify your personal life, too. It\u2019s okay to say \u201cno\u201d to commitments or invitations. Choose to spend time doing things that are meaningful or helpful to you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-17-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Interacting With Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Think about who surrounds you.\nBelieve it or not, humans can \u201ccatch\u201d emotions as easily as we catch colds. If you spend a lot of time with people who are happy and positive, you\u2019re more likely to feel that way yourself. If you spend a lot of time with people who are focused on negativity, that will rub off on you as well. Surround yourself with people who care for you, respect you and others, and enrich your life. Who do you spend your time with? How do they make you feel about yourself? Do you feel respected and validated by the people in your life? This isn\u2019t to suggest that your friends and loved ones shouldn\u2019t offer constructive critique. In fact, sometimes we need a friend to point out when we\u2019ve done something thoughtless or hurtful. However, you should always feel like your loved ones approach you with kindness and respect, and you should treat them the same way.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-18-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Discuss your needs with others.\nLearning to communicate assertively (but not aggressively) can help you feel stronger, more confident, and more fulfilled. Assertive communication acknowledges that both you and others have needs, and works to give everyone a way to be heard. Be open and honest but don\u2019t use judging or blaming language. If someone has hurt you, it\u2019s healthy to share your feelings with him or her. However, don\u2019t use language that puts blame on the other person, such as \u201cYou were so unkind to me\u201d or \u201cYou don\u2019t even care about my needs.\u201d\nUse \u201cI\u201d-statements. Using statements that focus on what you are feeling and experiencing keep you from sounding blaming or judging. For example, \u201cI felt hurt when you forgot to pick me up from work. I felt like my needs were not important to you.\u201d\nGive constructive criticism and accept it from others. Don\u2019t simply tell others to do or not to do something. Explain why you are asking. Invite others to share their needs and ideas with you. Use cooperative language, such as \u201cWhat would you like to do?\u201d or \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d\nInstead of automatically feeling a need to assert your own point of view, try saying something like \u201cTell me more\u201d when you hear something that at first seems like something you\u2019d normally disagree with. Try to see from his/her point of view.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-19-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Love everyone.\nBe selfless in your attitude towards others. One of the biggest things that holds us back in our lives is our focus on the idea that we \u201cdeserve\u201d certain things. This feeling can result in feelings of dissatisfaction and anger. Give love without expecting it to be returned. Love others even when it\u2019s hard. This doesn\u2019t mean you have to be a doormat for those who don\u2019t treat you right. You can love and accept someone and still recognize that they aren\u2019t good for you. Believe it or not, love is helpful even in the workplace. Workplaces that foster a culture that includes compassion, caring, and expressions of affection are more productive and have more satisfied workers.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-20-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Forgive yourself and others.\nForgiveness is good for your body and your soul. Forgiving can be incredibly difficult, but it also reduces stress, decreases your blood pressure, and lowers your heart rate. Forgiveness can help you feel fulfilled and happy even if the other person never acknowledges the wrongdoing. Think about whatever it is you want to forgive. Notice how those thoughts make you feel. Accept those feelings; judging them or trying to repress them will only make it worse. Transform that painful experience into a learning experience. What could you have done differently? What could the other person have done differently? What can you learn from this experience that can help you become a better person now? Remember that you can only control your actions, not others\u2019. One of the reasons forgiveness is so hard is because it\u2019s entirely dependent on you. The other person may never acknowledge the wrongdoing. S/he may never face consequences or learn from the experience. However, holding on to your anger about the situation ultimately only hurts you. Learning to forgive, regardless of whether the other person takes any action or experiences any result, will help you heal. Forgiving yourself is as important as forgiving others. When we dwell on things about our past lives or behavior that we regret, we can end up falling into an unproductive cycle of self-blame, rather than using those experiences as tools to help us focus on becoming better people in the present. Use the techniques in this article, such as challenging negative self-talk and practicing mindfulness, to help you forgive yourself and show yourself the same compassion you show others. While forgiving remember we need to forget certain situations in life which brought us negative emotions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-21-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Give back.\nBe selfless in service to others. Begin with your neighbor. Do charitable service outside of your immediate community as well. Giving back will not only make you better as a person, but it will also help others. Helping others not only benefits them, but it also has physical health benefits for you. Being charitable may cause what\u2019s known as a \u201chelper\u2019s high,\u201d an endorphin rush that we experience when we do something good for others. You don\u2019t have to start a soup kitchen or found a non-profit to help others. Even small acts of everyday kindness can have a huge effect. Research has found that the \u201cpay it forward\u201d effect really does exist: your kindness can inspire others to show generosity and kindness in turn, which then inspires more and more people to do the same.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-22-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Accept everyone.\nBe kind and courteous. Enjoy the company of others. Treat others as you would like to be treated. It may feel uncomfortable at first to talk with someone whom you see as \u201cdifferent\u201d than you. Remember that you can learn something from every person you encounter. And the more diversity you embrace in your daily life, the more you\u2019ll realize that we\u2019re all human.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-Life-to-the-Fullest-Step-23-Version-2.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "3620150", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Be a Virtuous Woman\nThe characteristics of a virtuous woman have been explored in religious texts and in the works of philosophers throughout the ages. While each source can vary on the exact details, there are a few common principles that most great thinkers agree on. If you are aiming to be a virtuous woman, here are a few principles you can review to get started.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Defining Beauty", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Understand that true beauty lies within.\nTrue beauty is virtuous because true beauty develops out of good character and caring about the world. Before you consider looking virtuous, you need to look internally so that you actually become virtuous. True inner beauty and virtue go hand-in-hand. If you practice the life of a virtuous woman, you will also be a beautiful woman. Your beauty will be authentic, unique and self-expressive rather than conformist.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Defining Beauty", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Understand that true beauty lies within.\nTrue beauty is virtuous because true beauty develops out of good character and caring about the world. Before you consider looking virtuous, you need to look internally so that you actually become virtuous. True inner beauty and virtue go hand-in-hand. If you practice the life of a virtuous woman, you will also be a beautiful woman. Your beauty will be authentic, unique and self-expressive rather than conformist.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Let your outward beauty reflect your inward beauty.\nMaintaining inner beauty does not mean that you cannot look beautiful on the outside, as well. Beauty is harmonious, so if you are beautiful on the inside, you should take care of your body and treat it with enough respect so that others can glimpse your beauty, as well. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, the three characteristics of beauty are radiance, harmony, and wholeness. Beautiful things shine, and their radiance can be seen externally. For beauty to be complete, outward beauty must harmonize with inward beauty. In order for beauty to be whole, it should exist outwardly and inwardly. Your beauty shines in the way you treat yourself, others, and life itself. This does not mean that you need to be supermodel-pretty or hung up on your looks. It does mean that you should not be afraid to look your best. There is a certain amount of self-satisfaction one feels when looking in the mirror and liking what one sees. Loving yourself enough to strive for this sensation is a healthy and virtuous amount of outward beauty.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Do not use your outward beauty to replace or make up for inner beauty.\nA difficult task for women nowadays is balancing the fine line between looking their best while dressing modestly. A revealing outfit might temporarily attract men, but men of character are won over by women of virtue. While men are responsible for their own thoughts and actions, they are also visual beings and tend to be influenced easily by what they see. Being kind enough and respectful enough to yourself to attract the attention and self-image you want to attract.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Treat your body well.\nThere is a certain amount of virtue in respecting your body and treating it well. Stay healthy by eating healthy foods. Of course, you can be a virtuous woman even if you are not in perfect shape or even if you indulge in the occasional piece of junk food. Respect is a virtue, however, and that includes self-respect. If you respect your body, you should at least try to care for it well enough to stay healthy and avoid exposing your body to things that are intentionally harmful, like drugs or abusive amounts of alcohol. Self-destructive behavior breeds more self-destructive behavior, so be wise enough to prevent it. If you do indulge, remember that the same mind that got you into trouble won't be the one to get you out of it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Using Other Outward Virtues", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Act in service to others.\nWhile you should not ignore your own needs, you should think highly of the needs of others and be there to take care of those needs when you can. An obvious example of service would be volunteering your time in a formal situation to help others. Less obvious, however, are informal ways you volunteer your time and energy. For example, a virtuous woman will be there for a friend who needs a shoulder to cry on, even if it means missing out on a favorite show or limited sale.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be hospitable, generous, and kind.\nKindness is about more than nice words and pleasant smiles. To be truly kind to someone, you need to approach that person with a giving spirit. To be kind means that you should be the sort of person whom others can turn to for positive words and actions. It is not enough to simply exchange a few nice words in passing.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Do not falter on your responsibilities.\nIf you are given a task at school or work, finish it in a timely manner and without procrastinating. Another way to look at this principle is to label it as self-discipline. Even if no one is watching and you are able to procrastinate on a task or put less than your best effort into it, you should still do your best with it and complete the task promptly. True virtue is not found merely in the actions that others can see, but in the actions you perform when no one is looking.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Use your money and the earth's resources wisely.\nYou can indulge occasionally, but on the whole, you should not be irresponsible with your money, spend it flippantly, or be wasteful. Frugality is a type of virtue which involves careful stewardship of resources and money. This does not mean that you should be stingy or cheap, though. It does mean that you should take care of your financial obligations before using your money on indulgences. In other words, you should not be spending money on an exotic vacation if it means leaving bills and loans unpaid.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Use your time wisely.\nEveryone needs time to relax, but overall, you should try to stay active rather than falling into lazy or slothful behavior. In short, you should be a good steward of the time that is allotted you. Take time to relax and recharge as needed, since you can only be at your best when you are sufficiently well-rested. Do not stay active simply for the sake of staying active, though. Be willing to do the work which needs to be done and take care to channel your efforts in ways that will most benefit you and those around you. Be not frivolous with your time.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Realizing Inward Virtue", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Have faith.\nTraditionally, having faith refers to faith in God or some religious principle. If you do not believe in God, however, you can still exercise the principle of faith by being faithful in your pursuit of virtue. A biblical example of a virtuous woman is Ruth, who chose to follow the God of Israel in spite of the difficulty it brought her, when it would have been easier for her to return to Moab and worship the gods of her childhood. This story can teach a valuable lesson even if you do not practice faith in Judeo-Christian contexts. Ruth had committed herself to faith in the God of Israel and was ready to face the consequences, even though backing down would have been easier. You, too, should commit yourself to your faith\u2014in God, or in the goodness of virtue\u2014and remain faithful in spite of the challenges.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Keep your body pure.\nAnother way to phrase this would be to respect your body. Treat your body as a treasure and do not give it away to just anyone. Traditionally, keeping your body pure means waiting until marriage before having sex. Nearly every major religion will agree on this point. Even if you have no religion to claim, the principle of purity still applies to you. Sex should be treated as something special that should only be cherished between two people in love.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-11-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Be receptive.\nInstead of stubbornly sticking to your own opinions regardless of whether they are right or wrong, you should be open to critique and advice. Weigh outside influence carefully to determine if it is beneficial or harmful and act accordingly.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-12-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Cultivate reason.\nWomen tend to be very emotional beings, and the downside of emotion is that it can often blind or cripple reason. A virtuous woman accepts her emotions but uses reason to temper her reactions. Govern yourself by wisdom rather than by folly. This is a biblical principle taken from the Book of Proverbs, but it can be applied to your life even if you are not a Christian. You can listen to your heart for guidance, but ultimately, you must judge a situation with your mind, using the wisdom you have built up throughout your life to accurately assess things.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-13-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 4: Displaying Virtue in the Home", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Respect your parents.\nYour parents are responsible for bringing you into the world and raising you to become the woman you currently are. To be a virtuous woman, you need to show them respect by adhering to their rules during your youth and by continuing to listen and respect their ideas as an adult. If your parents mistreat you, of course, this is another matter altogether. You need to love yourself as well as your parents, and if the best thing for you is to get away from an abusive situation, doing so is the most virtuous action you can take.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-14-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Respect your husband, if applicable.\nIf you are married, you need to love and listen to your husband. Your marriage is a partnership, and your husband is expected to respect you, as well, of course. You do not need to obey your husband's every command, but if you married a man of character, he will not want to do anything to cause you harm. As long as this is true, then you need to at least respect your husband by discussing points of disagreement and considering his perspective before mutually reaching a conclusion. Fidelity is another way for you to respect your husband. You need to be faithful to him, and must never cheat on him.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-15-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Be a loving mother, if applicable.\nIf you have children, you must put their needs above your own. Raise them according to a virtuous example and help them to develop into virtuous men and women themselves. You need to nurture your children and attend to their needs, even when it means self-sacrifice on your part. For instance, a virtuous woman and mother will tend to her ill child even if it means catching the bug herself. You also need to discipline your children with care and wisdom so that they know the difference between right and wrong.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-16-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 5: Developing Virtue", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Orient yourself to the mean, not the extremes.\nThis is a principle first discussed by Aristotle. Too much of a good thing can turn into something bad. Virtue can often be found in the middle ground, between two extremes of a characteristic. For example, take self-love. An extreme excess of this principle will result in narcissism, but an extreme deficiency will produce low self-esteem. You need to love and respect yourself to show love and respect to others, but you need to love yourself in moderation so that you do not get carried away.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-17-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Commit yourself to a virtuous life.\nIf you really want to be a virtuous woman, you need to prepare yourself for a lifetime commitment. A virtuous life is not an act you can put on for a few days. True virtue is a lifestyle.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-18-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Practice virtue until it becomes habit.\nYou can commit yourself to a virtuous life without becoming a perfectly virtuous woman overnight. The best way to create virtue in yourself is to practice virtuous behaviors so often that they become new habits. Do not be discouraged by past mistakes or mistakes you make along the way. Ultimately, if you practice principles of virtue long enough, they will become habits and characteristics of your overall person.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Virtuous-Woman-Step-19-Version-2.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "374720", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Live a Simple and Peaceful Life\nLife on the fast track will eventually take its toll on your health and your relationships with others. The pressure to perform and live up to unrealistic expectations often leaves you yearning for a simpler, more peaceful life. By adjusting your schedule, reprioritizing your life, and changing your physical environment you will attain the life you desire.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Adjusting Your Schedule", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Slow down.\nThere are times when you are so used to doing everything in a hurry that you don\u2019t notice how fast-paced your life has become. Simply reading the words, \u201cSlow down,\u201d will allow you to pause for a moment and notice. This step is mentioned first so you will carry the thought with you throughout this article and beyond. Avoid multi-tasking. It has become popular, if not clich\u00e9d, to multi-task. Research indicates, however, that there is a point where the quality of what you are doing declines when you try to focus on too many tasks at once. Just because everyone is doing it doesn\u2019t mean you have to. Find your threshold of diminishing return on the number of tasks you can work on. Your goal is to do things well so you can feel good about your accomplishments. Do nothing as if it were something. There is an art to doing nothing. Many people struggle with taking time to pause and regroup. Even if it is taking a five-minute break to do nothing, do it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-1-Version-4.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Adjusting Your Schedule", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Slow down.\nThere are times when you are so used to doing everything in a hurry that you don\u2019t notice how fast-paced your life has become. Simply reading the words, \u201cSlow down,\u201d will allow you to pause for a moment and notice. This step is mentioned first so you will carry the thought with you throughout this article and beyond. Avoid multi-tasking. It has become popular, if not clich\u00e9d, to multi-task. Research indicates, however, that there is a point where the quality of what you are doing declines when you try to focus on too many tasks at once. Just because everyone is doing it doesn\u2019t mean you have to. Find your threshold of diminishing return on the number of tasks you can work on. Your goal is to do things well so you can feel good about your accomplishments. Do nothing as if it were something. There is an art to doing nothing. Many people struggle with taking time to pause and regroup. Even if it is taking a five-minute break to do nothing, do it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-1-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Reduce your commitments.\nIf you have current commitments to do something, then follow through until the tasks or events are complete. However, from this point forward, take on fewer commitments. You may struggle at first, but focus your intent on simplifying your life, and this will bring about greater peace within you. Allow your end goal to motivate you and to quiet your feelings of guilt. Limit the number of times you say, \u201cYes\u201d by keeping a tally on your calendar. First, determine your \u201ccomfort level\u201d for how many events you can peacefully manage. Second, stick to that number. Do not always be the good guy who says, \u201cYes.\u201d Instead, pick your spots. When you are asked to participate in an event, try not to quickly answer. Instead, pause for a moment to work out if the event will truly enrich your life. If it won\u2019t, it is probably best to say, \u201cThank you for inviting me, but I need to pass.\u201d\nDevelop an ability to say, \u201cno\u201d by communicating your intent. There are times when some people will not take \u201cno\u201d for an answer. This is your cue to share a bit more information with the person and set your boundary. Consider reinforcing your \"no\" with something like, \u201cYou are so kind to think of me, but I\u2019m making some changes in my life that are really important to me, my family, and my health, so I am going to have to decline.\u201d The person will likely support your decision.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-2-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Eliminate extras.\nConspicuous consumption may describe your life, or at least you might practice excessive consumption. Conspicuous consumption entails lavish or wasteful spending in an attempt to show others your level of social prestige while excessive consumption is using more than is absolutely needed. Simplifying your life will drastically cut into the amount of \u201cextras\u201d you have grown accustomed to. The goal is to reduce the extra expenses so you won\u2019t be so tied down by financial obligations. Question if you really need that second iPad or newest electronic gadget, or that twice-a-day trip through the coffee retailer. Just say \u201cno\u201d to your overindulgence and \u201cyes\u201d to your desire to live a simpler, more peaceful, and satisfying life. Each time you are faced with a decision, try, consciously, to make a decision that will align with the long-term self-interests that you have worked out. Find fulfillment in the simple things in life\u2013 spending time with friends, in nature, or creating something with your own hands. You will find that intrinsic rewards will improve your motivation and overall satisfaction with your life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-3-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Declutter your living area.\nPeople create their world around them and fill it with items. If you want to simplify your life, survey your surroundings and get organized. A well-organized home is a healthy home. Eliminating surplus items that you no longer use will help declutter your home, your emotions, and your thoughts. When your external world is free of clutter, so will be your internal world. Take a minimum of 10 minutes a day to organize your surroundings. Use the weekend or your days off to take on bigger projects like cleaning closets, drawers and garages. Sort your items into three categories: Keep; donate; and throw away. Giving away lightly used items to charitable organizations gives others an opportunity to enjoy the items and provides jobs for the workers who process the donations. With each donation you make you are helping the community, which enhances your self-esteem.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-4-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Reprioritizing Your Life", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Identify your values.\nThink about the things that are important to you that influence the way you act and ultimately the person you are. These are values. They are a guiding force in decision making. Identifying your values can be a challenge, but it is worth the effort. To identify your values, think about the times in your life when you were the happiest, most proud, most fulfilled and satisfied. Make a list and determine what you valued about those situations. Perhaps you value the creativity, adventure, loyalty and hard work each of these situations provided. Maybe you realize that you value your family the most. These will be a driving force in everything you do. If you want to live a simple peaceful life, then you might value serenity, resourcefulness, stability, and health.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-5-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Align your activities with your values.\nParticipate in activities that are congruent with your values and desire to simplify your life. You will know if your activities are in line with your values by the way you feel. You will feel satisfied and content. When it comes to activities that conflict with your values, the opposite is true. You will have a strong feeling that something is wrong and you are unhappy. Decline offers to events that conflict with your intent to live peacefully. Make a decision to live a value-driven life. It will take discipline and focus, which can be enhanced by things such as a yoga and physical exercise.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-6-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Formulate a plan and commit to it.\nFollowing a problem solving model will give you structure for creating change. You have identified your desire to live a simple and peaceful life and now you must determine clear objectives, implement them, make adjustments as needed and monitor your progress. Determine clear objectives. One objective may be that you set a schedule and keep a log of your decluttering efforts. Self-monitoring leads to real change. Pick a start date for your plan and start. Don\u2019t delay the inevitable. Start as soon as possible. Recognize your growth and reward yourself. If you successfully meet your daily, weekly or monthly objectives, celebrate your accomplishments. Perhaps you could go to a movie, attend a sporting event or plant a tree in honor of someone you admire. Positive reinforcement will motivate you to continue with your plan. If a strategy isn\u2019t working for you, then stop using it. Find an alternative and plug it into your plan. Don\u2019t look at it as a failure; instead look at it as a correction in the course toward your goal. Your new behaviors will build over time and become second nature to you. As your behavior becomes more natural, you can lessen your strict adherence to your plan and still maintain positive outcomes.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-7-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Practice living in the present moment.\nDon\u2019t occupy your thoughts with too much about the past or too much about the future. A wandering mind is an unhappy mind. Simplifying your thoughts involves quieting your mind, and staying focused on what you are doing at that moment. Use visualization exercises to imagine yourself in a simple, peaceful stress-free environment. This will help quiet your mind. Engage in conversation or exercise. These are two of the most effective ways to stay in the present moment.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-8-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Write in a gratitude journal.\nThe benefits of keeping a gratitude journal include improved sleep, improved health and increased happiness \u2013 all factors that create peace in your life. There are things to consider to obtain the highest level of benefit:\nStart by deciding to become happier and more grateful. Provide the details about the things you are grateful for rather than stating simple phrases. Gear your gratitude toward people rather than things. Consider how your life would be different by removing something you care about. This will inspire you to think of additional aspects of your gratitude. Remember to include unexpected surprises. Don\u2019t lose your gumption to write by forcing yourself to write every day. Perhaps once or twice a week would be comfortable routine.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-9-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Practice empathy and compassion to create peace.\nThe ability to appreciate someone else\u2019s struggle is an important skill to develop. It comes easy to some people, and not to others. You know how you would like to be treated, so use that as a guide when trying to forgive someone. If you want to practice empathy and compassion start by reaching out to a family member or friend and offer to help her in some way. Perhaps you could run an errand for her, or do something simple like unload groceries, or water her plants. The point of this exercise is to provide to others the feelings and actions you appreciate when someone does the same for you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-10-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Switch from resentful to grateful to improve relationships.\nMuch of a person\u2019s internal and external unrest stems from conflicts with others. As they say, holding resentment toward someone is like drinking poison expecting the other person to be harmed. Thoughts of gratitude will help improve your mood and thus, lessen feelings of resentment. When you feel resentful stop yourself and ask the following questions:\nDo I feel good when I think about this person? Are my negative feelings helping me or hurting me? Do my thoughts aimed at retribution toward this person have any actual impact on the other person? The obvious answers to the questions are no, no and no. Next, respond with gratitude-filled statements: I feel good that I am letting go of my resentment for this person; My focus on moving forward is helping me feel better; I am focused on improving my life rather than destroying someone else\u2019s.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-11-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Changing Your World", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Move your residence.\nIf you are living in a high-density populated area it may be causing you undue stress. A change of scenery to a calm and peaceful location will enhance your efforts to live a simple life. Your home is your sanctuary. If you must stay close to where you currently live, then research prospective properties to rent or buy. Using a property manager can be very helpful. If you are interested in making a big leap, then research areas farther away that offer what you desire. You might feel better and more positive about living near the ocean, in the mountains, or on the top floor of a beautiful skyscraper. Consider buying a \"tiny house.\" This small scale version of a house has everything you could want. Designed for the minimalist who enjoys all the comforts of home in an extremely small space. The house can be placed on a piece of property, hooked up to water and sewer and you call it home. You can forego a large mortgage in exchange for a creatively designed little, peaceful, environmentally conscious home.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-12-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Simplify your transportation.\nThere are plenty of people who own a high-line car with a payment that is equivalent to a house payment. This is another instance where the extra income it requires to pay for this item could be re-purposed to free yourself from financial obligations. Small eco-friendly cars will get you where you want to go and decrease your carbon footprint. Less pollution means a simpler, cleaner existence. Get a bike and ride it to work. It is great exercise and you will always have a great parking spot.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-14-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Change careers.\nThere is nothing worse than going to a job every day that you hate. If all your attempts to make it more enjoyable have been unsuccessful, you would benefit from changing jobs and/or careers. If you are spending 80 hours a week cranking out sales quotas that leave you depleted and stressed, it is time for a change toward the simpler life. As you follow your plan you may find that you don\u2019t have to make as much money to support your new lifestyle. This will allow you the freedom to explore options that may be more in line with your goals, values and interests. Contact a career counselor at the local college, or in private practice to explore your options and discover what you would really like to do for work.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-15-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Adopt a practice for well-being.\nMaking yourself and your health a priority is essential to living a simple and peaceful life. Develop a lifestyle for yourself to follow. Use schedules and routines to maintain a healthy balance of work, play and rejuvenation. This includes a healthy eating plan that will fuel your body and provide you with energy to maintain an exercise regime. You may need to change perspectives about exercise, but you will benefit immensely. Meditate and rejuvenate and you will enjoy life that much more.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-16-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Be responsible for your own happiness.\nBe self-reliant. Happiness is an inside job and you are responsible to create it. You know what makes you happy, so participate in activities that will build a reservoir of positive feelings. It is easier to face difficult situations if you are filled with good vibes. A happier you will always make any situation and relationship better.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Simple-and-Peaceful-Life-Step-17-Version-2.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "3841340", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Discover Your Purpose and Fulfill Your Destiny\nIt can be really hard to feel like you're not sure what your purpose is in life. However, no matter what your situation is, there are things you can do to live in a more meaningful way. Start by reflecting on the things you feel the most strongly about\u2014what makes you really happy, and what are the things you most wish you could change in the world? Once you identify that, take small steps each day to be the person you want to be, and if necessary, make big changes along the way to make your dreams a reality.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Discovering Your Purpose", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Reflect on the things that makes you feel excited.\nEveryone has things that make them light up when they talk about them. To find yours, ask yourself questions like: \"What do I really love to do?\" and \"What do I like to talk about, read about, or post about on social media?\" These can be clues toward a path that will be fulfilling and meaningful for you. Try carrying a journal and write down every time you feel really engaged in something. You could also ask your family and friends if there are any subjects you seem really passionate about when you talk about them. For example, if you love reading about the latest technological developments, you might really enjoy a career as a software engineer. If you love spending time outdoors, you might enjoy working as a commercial fisherman, a farmer, or a park ranger, for instance.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Discovering Your Purpose", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Reflect on the things that makes you feel excited.\nEveryone has things that make them light up when they talk about them. To find yours, ask yourself questions like: \"What do I really love to do?\" and \"What do I like to talk about, read about, or post about on social media?\" These can be clues toward a path that will be fulfilling and meaningful for you. Try carrying a journal and write down every time you feel really engaged in something. You could also ask your family and friends if there are any subjects you seem really passionate about when you talk about them. For example, if you love reading about the latest technological developments, you might really enjoy a career as a software engineer. If you love spending time outdoors, you might enjoy working as a commercial fisherman, a farmer, or a park ranger, for instance.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Consider any special skills or talents you might have.\nWhen you're trying to discover your purpose, think about anything that comes especially easily to you. You'll be more likely to feel like you're living a purposeful life if you're using your unique talents, whether those are natural or learned. If you're naturally very organized, for instance, you might enjoy working as an event planner, which requires meticulous attention to detail. If you're especially stylish, you might enjoy working at a high-end boutique or as a personal stylist.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Take your education and training into account.\nWhile you might decide that your purpose will take you in a completely different direction from anything you've ever done before, you may discover there's a way to combine your passion with skills you've already learned. As you're contemplating what direction you want to go, think about any specialized skills you learned on-the-job, any certifications or degrees you've earned, or other training that might be useful. For instance, if you are really passionate about helping animals and you have a degree in English, you might decide to start a blog raising awareness about the needs of the different shelters, rescues, and wildlife preserves in your area. If you want to help homeless teens and you have a cosmetology degree, you might visit a youth shelter once a month to provide free haircuts.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Examine the things you wish you could change in the world.\nWhen you're reading the news or browsing social media, pay attention to the causes that really touch your heart. If something makes you feel especially upset or indignant, you might find purpose by helping others who are facing that issue. For instance, if you feel upset every time you see a picture of a dog that's chained up, you might find it rewarding to volunteer with an animal rescue. You might also find inspiration from situations you or your loved ones have been in. If you're a survivor of abuse, for example, you might choose a career in social work.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Imagine your life as a narrative and daydream about the ending.\nTry to look at your life so far from a big-picture perspective, and imagine yourself as the protagonist of your own story. Ask yourself where it would make sense for the story to end if your life continues on that path. If you're not happy with that outcome, ask yourself what ending would make you really happy. That can be a big clue toward your purpose. For instance, if you're unhappy in your job or in your current relationship, staying where you are isn't likely to give your story a happy ending. If that's the case, think about the changes you need to make to end up where you want to be. As you're trying this exercise, daydream about what you would do if you had no restrictions. Disregard any thoughts about what you \"should\" do or how other people might like you to live.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Make an inspiration board if you need help visualizing your path.\nIf you're a visual person, create an inspiration board full of pictures that inspire you. Don't think about what should or shouldn't be on the board\u2014if you see a picture you like, save it. Once you get about 15-20 pictures saved, start to look for recurring themes that might gives you clues to what you're most passionate about. For instance, if you notice that a lot of your pictures are of far-off places, you might be happiest if you work in a flexible career that leaves you plenty of time for traveling. If your pictures include a lot of music-related images, you might be most fulfilled working in the recording industry. Tip: To make a digital board, create an account on a site like Pinterest, then save pictures that you come across on various websites, blogs, and social media. If you'd prefer a physical board, try cutting out pictures from magazines and pinning them to a corkboard.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Use these insights to help you define what you want to do.\nTry to think creatively about how you can combine your education, passions, and strengths into a personal or career path that will fulfill you. Remember, there's no dream that's too silly or far-fetched\u2014you'll be happiest when you feel like you're living your purpose, whether that's bringing joy to others through performance art or running your own nonprofit organization. For example, you may discover that you get most excited about nature, you love working with kids, and you feel really strongly about giving back to your community. In that case, you might decide to start an after-school program serving underprivileged youth in your area. If you're still not sure what you can do, try reading career blogs or books by people who have been successful in their industries. Also, talk to as many people as you can about what they do for a living\u2014you might be surprised what professions are out there that you've never thought of before!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Putting Your Skills and Passions to Use", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Take up a hobby where you can use your skills.\nAfter you've identified your unique skills, think about different hobbies that might make good use of them. Not only will you get to enjoy being naturally inclined toward your new activity, but you'll also be reinforcing your natural talents by using them regularly. For instance, if you enjoy tending to your houseplants, you might start a raised bed or a balcony garden. If you love to read, you might join a book club, or you might even try your hand at writing your own book!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Look for opportunities to use your talents to help your loved ones.\nIf you find that there's something you're especially good at, think about ways that you could use that skill to help enrich the lives of your family and friends. Not only will you get the satisfaction of using your talent, but you'll also get to experience that happiness that comes from brightening someone else's day. For instance, if you're really great at crocheting, you might make a beautiful blanket to gift to a friend who's expecting a new baby. If you're extremely organized, you might offer to help the next time a family member is planning a garage sale.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Volunteer to help causes you believe in.\nIf you want to feel like your life has more purpose, consider donating time to an organization in your area that you feel strongly about. Spending your time helping others will not only give you a sense that you're contributing to your community, but it will also help you put your own problems in perspective. For instance, you might volunteer to help collect toy donations for children in need around the holidays, or you might spend your time serving food at a soup kitchen. If you're passionate about helping animals, you might volunteer at an animal shelter, or you could foster animals that are waiting to be adopted.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Try online classes or freelance work to break into a new career.\nEven if you discover that your true purpose lies in a different career path, it's not always feasible to just quit your job. However, you can take online classes or find freelance gigs to help you gain the skills and experience you'll need to eventually transition to doing what you love. For example, you can often find freelance jobs for writers, photographers, and web designers online. If you want to be a pastry chef, you might take baking classes in the evenings until you feel confident enough to start applying for jobs. Tip: Remember, there are plenty of ways to live a purposeful life, even if you don't have a certain dream career. Many people find fulfillment from working a steady job, then spending their free time engaging in their hobbies or being around family and friends.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Move to a new city if you need more opportunities.\nIf you feel like you're being held back because you live in a place that doesn't have many career opportunities, or even because you don't fit in with the local culture, it might be a good idea to consider a move. Starting over somewhere new can be scary, but it can also provide you with a whole new world of possibilities that wouldn't have been available if you stayed where you were. If you're considering a move, don't just move somewhere blindly. Visit different places until you find the one that feels like the right fit for you. If you can't do that, read as much as you can about the area before you go.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Living More Meaningfully", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Cultivate strong relationships with people you love.\nOne way to live a meaningful life is to have close relationships with others. Make an effort to spend time with people who make you feel good when they're around, whether that's your family, friends, or coworkers. If anyone puts you down or makes you feel bad about yourself, you don't necessarily have to cut them out entirely, but do try to limit the time you spend around them. Try to create a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Spending time around people who are different from you can help broaden your world view and help you define your place in it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Practice being grateful for the things you have.\nGet in the habit of finding at least one thing each day that you can be grateful for. Practicing gratitude is a great way to become more aware of the good things in your life, which can make you feel like your life is more meaningful. Try writing down whatever you're grateful for each day in a gratitude journal. Then, when you're having a bad day, you can read back over the journal to remember all the positive things you have in your life. Nothing is too big or too small to include in your gratitude practice. You can be grateful for everything from your family and home to your favorite iced coffee or a book you enjoyed reading.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Go on adventures.\nIt's hard to feel like your life has a purpose if you do the exact same thing day in and day out. To avoid that, look for any opportunity you can to do something out of the ordinary, no matter how small. Adding adventures to your life will help you break out of your status quo, and you might even come across new and exciting opportunities you wouldn't have found otherwise! For instance, instead of eating lunch at the same restaurant every day, you might go a little further out of your way to try a new spot that just opened. On your days off, you might go to a flea market, hike a nature trail, or take a day trip to a nearby town. If you have a longer holiday coming up, consider taking a cheap flight somewhere you've never been before!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Challenge yourself to try new things.\nIf you feel like you're coasting along comfortably, it can be hard to feel like you're living a meaningful life. To help overcome that, push yourself to learn something new, like a skill that could help you advance your career or a hobby that you've always wanted to try. For example, instead of surfing the web for an hour after work, you might use that time to learn woodworking, study a new programming language, or practice cross-stitching. You could also challenge yourself to try a harder version of something you already do. For instance, if you usually run a mile after work, you might push yourself to run 2 miles (3.2 km), instead.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Consider starting a spiritual practice to help you find meaning in your life.\nMany people find that opening themselves to a higher power can help them feel like their life has more meaning. If you consider yourself a spiritual person, or if you're at least open to learning, look up some of the different faith-based groups in your area. Read a little about each one to learn which ones fit your beliefs the best, then attend a few services to find the one where you feel the most comfortable. You might visit churches, synagogues, or temples in your area, for instance, depending on your faith. If you don't have any particular faith but you're open to the idea of a higher power, you might look for a non-denominational or Unitarian church in your area.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-17.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 4: Pursuing Your Dreams", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Start setting small goals once you define your purpose.\nAs you reflect on your greatest strengths and passions and you begin to get an idea of the type of future you'd love, start thinking of steps you can take to start on the path. These don't necessarily have to be big, life-changing shifts, especially at first\u2014start from where you are right now, and work your way toward your goals from there. For instance, if you've discovered you'd love to work as a fashion designer, you might take sewing lessons or practice making clothes for your friends. If you want to work in early childhood education, you might try to find work babysitting or working as a nanny to gain experience that will help you later on. If your goal is to make a living as a photographer, you might start by saving up for a really nice camera. Then, you could study online tutorials to learn all the features of your camera. From there, you might offer to take free photos of your family and friends as practice, then move up to freelance work, and eventually grow that into a full-time career.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-18.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Write down your goals to keep yourself focused on them.\nSometimes achieving your goals can take a long time, and it can seem hard to keep yourself motivated. However, if you write down the goal you want to accomplish and post it somewhere you'll see it often, it can help keep you on task\u2014especially as you start seeing progress! For instance, if your goal is to become an astronaut, you might write \"Travel to Space!\" on a piece of paper. Then, post it on your bedroom mirror so you can see it every day!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-19.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Don't let other people's opinions hold you back.\nNo matter what you decide to do, the choice should be your own. If you're really determined, don't let anyone tell you that you're not smart or talented enough or that the path will be too hard. Keep in mind that that's only their opinion, and you're the only one who can\u2014or should\u2014control your destiny. With that in mind, do seek counsel from people whose opinions you respect and trust. They may raise concerns that you haven't thought of before, and you might need to take those into consideration when you're making plans.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-20.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Be patient as you try to fulfill your purpose.\nFinding your purpose can be a life-long undertaking, so don't expect the answer to come to you all at once, and don't worry about rushing the process. Just look for opportunities to make small changes that will get you closer to feeling like you're fulfilling your purpose in life. You might even discover that your goals change after you've been doing something for a while. Constantly evaluate yourself, your interests, and your needs, and make adjustments along the way when you need to. EXPERT TIP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTara Divina\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVedic Astrologer\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTara Divina is a California-based Vedic Astrologer. Vedic Astrology, also known as Jyotish, is an ancient, sacred art of self-understanding and divination. With nearly 10 years of experience, Tara gives personalized readings that answer her clients' biggest questions about relationships, money, purpose, career, and other big life decisions. Tara Divina\t\t\tVedic Astrologer\t\t\t\tYour destiny and fate are things that are going to happen no matter what. Your path is full of events that will happen regardless of your choices, but you can still work to find your life's purpose and find peace within that.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-21.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Stay dedicated to your goals, even if it's hard.\nIf you really feel passionately that you've found the path you want to take, it's going to be worth it to keep pushing through, no matter what obstacles come your way. If you have a positive attitude, you're patient, and you're committed to hard work, chances are, you'll reach your goal in time. Remember, a setback isn't necessarily a dead end, so don't give up just because things don't go right the first time!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Discover-Your-Purpose-and-Fulfill-Your-Destiny-Step-22.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "389330", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Face Reality\nWhether you didn't get a job you really wanted, your relationship didn't work out, a close friend is doing something you don't approve of, or you got stopped for a speeding ticket, everyone has to deal with events and situations that are not ideal at some point. Sometimes facing reality isn't the easiest thing to do, but accepting your current situation can make you happier in the present and lead to a better future.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Accepting Your Present Situation", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Identify denial.\nAccepting your situation doesn\u2019t mean you have to like it or that you support the conditions that lead you there. Refusing to accept your current life, though, can have major consequences on your mental and physical health, leading to anxiety, chronic physical pain, or bodily harm caused by escapist behaviors like eating unhealthy foods or drinking too much alcohol. If you are in a situation that affects your well-being, then you might be using denial to cope with your feelings. You may need to seek professional help for certain types of denial, such as if you are in an abusive relationship or if you are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Try talking to a trustworthy friend to start moving towards acceptance and then find some tailored help for your situation. For example, if you have been denying that you have a problem controlling your drinking, but you drink on a daily basis and can\u2019t stop once you start, then you may need to admit you have a problem and enter a treatment program. If you have been denying that there is anything wrong with your relationship even though you have a verbally abusive partner, then you might need to ask your partner to visit a couples\u2019 counselor with you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enrich-Your-Life-Step-17.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Accepting Your Present Situation", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Identify denial.\nAccepting your situation doesn\u2019t mean you have to like it or that you support the conditions that lead you there. Refusing to accept your current life, though, can have major consequences on your mental and physical health, leading to anxiety, chronic physical pain, or bodily harm caused by escapist behaviors like eating unhealthy foods or drinking too much alcohol. If you are in a situation that affects your well-being, then you might be using denial to cope with your feelings. You may need to seek professional help for certain types of denial, such as if you are in an abusive relationship or if you are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Try talking to a trustworthy friend to start moving towards acceptance and then find some tailored help for your situation. For example, if you have been denying that you have a problem controlling your drinking, but you drink on a daily basis and can\u2019t stop once you start, then you may need to admit you have a problem and enter a treatment program. If you have been denying that there is anything wrong with your relationship even though you have a verbally abusive partner, then you might need to ask your partner to visit a couples\u2019 counselor with you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enrich-Your-Life-Step-17.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Practice radical acceptance.\nDenying a situation will not make it cease to exist. Denying can also have negative consequences, such as leading you to feel depressed or anxious. Some people also turn to substances to escape the pain caused by denying a situation. That is why the best way to move towards healing is to practice radical acceptance of a situation. Try creating an acceptance mantra for yourself and repeat it several times daily or whenever you have thoughts of denial. For example, you can say something like, \u201cThis is the situation. I may not like it, but I can\u2019t change it.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enrich-Your-Life-Step-19.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Identify your part in creating your situation.\nTo fully accept some situations, it is important to acknowledge the role that you played in causing the problem. Ask yourself questions related to your particular situation to help you work towards solutions. If you are overweight and wish you weighed less, think about the reasons you are overweight. Do you eat a healthy diet of natural vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains? Do you exercise regularly? If not, is there a valid medical reason why you cannot exercise in certain ways, and are there other types you could do instead? If you are unhappy with a relationship, consider why you continue to stay with this person. Are you afraid that you might end up alone? Do you worry that separating or divorcing will lead to financial problems? If you hate your job, ask yourself why you continue to work there. Do you need more education or training to do what you really want to do? And if so, why haven\u2019t you gotten it yet? Are there other jobs you could be applying for? Are you staying because it is convenient, even if unhealthy for your well-being?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Set-Goals-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Think about what you would like your life to be like.\nPlanning for a more positive future may help you to accept the situation you are in now and it can also give you something to look forward to. Consider what your ideal situation would be and write down some notes about what this ideal future might look like. For example, if you are in an abusive relationship, then you might imagine a future with a partner who is kind, caring, and loving towards you. If you are consumed by grief over the death of a loved one, then you might imagine feeling peace over your loss and celebrating your loved one\u2019s memory in a positive way.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Feel-Good-About-Yourself-Step-30.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Working Through Your Feelings", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Write in a journal.\nJournaling can help you to get through difficult situations and process your emotions. Journaling can also benefit your physical health and reduce stress. Especially with emotional situations, like losing someone you love or realizing you don\u2019t want to be a doctor after three years of medical school, facing the reality of your present situation changing so drastically is hard and takes time. Writing it down helps you acknowledge that the situation is real. If you already keep a journal, continue writing daily and add a new component such as a list of things you are grateful for every day. Or, write about your day as usual and then add a reflection of what you did that day to change your situation.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Feel-Good-About-Yourself-Step-28.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Practice mindfulness.\nMindfulness can help to reduce the amount of time that you spend ruminating. That means that it can prevent you from dwelling so much on the negative aspects of your situation. Among other benefits, practicing mindfulness is also a powerful way to relieve stress and it can improve your ability to focus. You can practice mindfulness as you do daily activities, such as brushing your teeth or washing the dishes. For example, as you brush your teeth, focus on the sound of the toothbrush, the feeling of the bristles, and the taste of the peppermint toothpaste. When you are doing dishes, think about the temperature of the water, the sounds you hear, the smell of the dish soap, and how you move your hands as you wash. Be present in the experience of doing the dishes instead of thinking about all the other things you need to do.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-on-Studies-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Express gratitude for what you have.\nWhether you start a gratitude journal, or just write three to five things you are grateful for on a dry-erase board every morning, start making it a daily practice to reflect on what you have instead of what you think you are missing. Gratitude can help you to let go of emotions such as regret, resentment, and frustration. Start out by jotting down basic things that make you feel grateful, such as having a place to live, clothes on your back, a good friend, or nice meal. As your list builds, look for smaller things that make you feel grateful, such as a beautiful sunset, a good cup of coffee, or sharing a laugh with a friend.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Journal-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Challenge negative thoughts.\nReplacing negative thoughts with positive ones is a good way to help yourself feel better. Whenever you have a negative thought, try to replace it with a positive version of that thought. If someone you love passes away, and you constantly think that your life will never be happy again, then this can affect your outlook on life. To counteract these thoughts, you might tell yourself something like, \u201cI will experience love and happiness again.\u201d\nOr, if you have lost your job and money is tight, then you might focus on something positive that you are doing to improve your situation, such as, \u201cI am learning effective ways to manage the money that I have.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Single-and-Happy-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Practice self-soothing.\nSelf-soothing is an important part of managing your emotions on a day-to-day basis. You might be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, angry, or just frustrated in general. To cope with the emotions you are feeling, you can use self-soothing strategies. Identify self-soothing activities that work for you and use them as needed. Try taking a bubble bath, watching a funny movie, or sipping a cup of tea when you are feeling sad or lonely. If you are feeling angry or anxious, then taking a long walk or going for a bike ride might be a good way to self-soothe.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-a-Cold-when-You-Feel-It-Coming-On-Step-14-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Creating a Better Future", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Focus on what you can control.\nYou can plan out your whole day ahead of time to go as smoothly and successfully as possible, but get a flat tire on the way to work that throws off your whole schedule. Adapting to changes like this and keeping your focus on how to alter your schedule can help you remain positive and mindful the rest of your day instead of feeling resentful or helpless. Learn how to tell the difference between what you can and cannot control to help you move forward with your life. Remember that you cannot control what other people do, but you have complete control over how you react to everything around you. Your emotions are solely your responsibility. Reflect on things that contributed to your current position. What could you have done differently then? Can you use this experience to apply such lessons to your future behaviors and actions to make sure you don\u2019t repeat yourself?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Set-Meaningful-Goals-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Decide what you want for yourself in the future.\nSince you have been able to fully assess and accept your current situation and what you don\u2019t like about it, as well as how your actions contributed to creating it, you can now decide how you want your life to be different in the future. Think of a general goal and then come up with a definite smaller goal that will help you get there. Do you want to find a new job, lose a healthy amount of weight, learn to better handle your finances, or develop stronger and healthier relationship skills? If you want a new job, do you need more training or education? Do you need to start practicing for interviews and hiring a resume consultant? Will you start spending an hour every morning looking through want-ads? If your goal is to lose weight, start with a specific goal, like fitting into those pants you love and haven\u2019t been able to wear in two years. How much lost weight will it take to get into those pants again? Avoid non-specific goals like, \u201cI want to be thin\u201d or long-term ones like \u201cI need to lose 100 lbs.\u201d Focus on specific goals you can obtain in the near future, such as \u201cI will walk for 30 minutes every day this week.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Achieve-Short-Term-Goals-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Make a plan for reaching your goal.\nInclude steps you will take to get there, how you plan to recognize and change negative thought patterns as they come up, and what you will do if you hit a stumbling block. Break your goal into small steps that you can accomplish one at a time to build your confidence and self-worth as you go. For example, if your goal is to stick to your budget for the next 30 days, then identify ways that you can do that. You might plan to make a grocery list and stick to it. Or, to cut out spending on extras such as entertainment. You might also plan for potential obstacles, such as an unexpected bill. Perhaps there is a way you can make $50 quickly if an emergency arises. Do you have anything valuable to sell on eBay? Can you work a few extra hours at your job or pick up a shift from someone? Can you set aside an emergency fund for unexpected expenses?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Achieve-Short-Term-Goals-Step-9.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "410218", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Be Free\nEach day is a battle. Learning to negotiate them is a challenge we all face. If you want to be free and become the most true, authentic version of yourself, you can start taking active steps to live the life you want to live, the way you want to live it. Take responsibility for your own life and situate yourself in it.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Becoming Your True Self", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Decide what total freedom means for you.\nCan you be free if you live at home with your parents? Can you be free if you're incarcerated in a jail, or live under a totalitarian regime? Can you be free if you work 9-5? It all depends on you. Only you can actively improve yourself and your station in life, moving toward the freest possible version of you. For lots of people, moving to college seems like total freedom: no parents, unlimited Xbox, and co-ed bathrooms! But college is still a campus-shaped bubble where meals arrive with the swipe of a card that someone else probably paid for, where you've got to live by the rules of the syllabus if you want to pass.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Becoming Your True Self", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Decide what total freedom means for you.\nCan you be free if you live at home with your parents? Can you be free if you're incarcerated in a jail, or live under a totalitarian regime? Can you be free if you work 9-5? It all depends on you. Only you can actively improve yourself and your station in life, moving toward the freest possible version of you. For lots of people, moving to college seems like total freedom: no parents, unlimited Xbox, and co-ed bathrooms! But college is still a campus-shaped bubble where meals arrive with the swipe of a card that someone else probably paid for, where you've got to live by the rules of the syllabus if you want to pass.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Identify what you want from life.\nThink forward to the end of your life. When you're looking back over it, what do you hope to see? A life of pleasure? Of accomplishment? Of family and success? Of endless parties? Do you want to be respected and feared, or do you want to live a quiet life of solitude and contemplation? Try to identify what will make you happy, in and of itself, and what kind of a life makes room for that happiness. Many people instinctively think large sums of money lead to limitless freedom and happiness. While that may be true, try to think instead about what it is you'd do with an unlimited supply of money. What would it make easier, specifically? What would you do if money were no object? How would you spend your time? There's your answer. If you struggle to decide, instead of focusing on an ideal day--which, let's face it, we'd probably all spend at the beach--Try to think of your ideal week. After a whole week on the beach, we'd all probably end up sunburned and bored. What kind of work would you do? When would you do it? Where?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Identify what is keeping you from getting what you want.\nAre you living your ideal life right now? If not, what stands in your way? What would need to change to get what you want? If you are living your ideal life, what would be necessary to sustain your lifestyle? Why aren't you doing what you want right now, today, this moment, this second? What's stopping you? Again, it's easy to blame money for our problems: \"If only I had the money, I could get that new guitar and my band would be great,\" we say, making excuses for why we're not signed to a lucrative record deal, forgetting that a new guitar has nothing to do with your ability to write a catchy melody, play well, and work hard on stage. If only you had the money, it's true, you could travel to Thailand, or write novels all day, or spend all your time gardening heirloom hot peppers. But it's probably not money that's really keeping you from doing those things--it's you giving up on the hand you've been dealt, and folding the cards.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Identify the steps necessary in achieving what you want.\nIt's hard to find total freedom and happiness overnight. It'll likely take some effort to get what you want and find your ideal environment in which to live your life. What efforts on your part will be necessary to getting what you want? Say you decided your ideal life involves having a small and loving family, who leads a quiet life in the country growing vegetables. If that would give you the type of freedom you desire, what can you do now that will actively move you toward that reality? In the long term, you might start studying permaculture, or wildlife management, or some other field that would involve work in the natural world. Where might you like to own a home? Would you build your own house or buy one? What do you need to save to make it a reality? In the short-term, you might check out rural co-ops or communes you could visit and exchange work for room and board. Or check out World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), a program that lets you volunteer on organic farms around the world, getting experience.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Surround yourself with people you admire.\nRole models are essential in finding your true self. As much as we like to think of ourselves as perfectly individual snowflakes, it's important to surround yourself with people who live as you would like to live, not to mimic their behavior, but to learn from it and apply their lessons in your own life. Be careful of constantly comparing yourself to other people if it makes you get down on yourself. Remember, you never know what hardships others really face, only the outside view. Competition can be good for some people and terrible for others. Know yourself and focus on your own life. Worry about your own backyard.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Being Responsible for Yourself", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Do it yourself.\nIf you can do something, do it. If you don't need help, don't ask for it. Taking more responsibility for your life and becoming accountable for yourself is the right and responsibility of a life lived freely. Volunteer for things that fall in your wheelhouse, and take on projects that might challenge your abilities, so you can improve yourself and your work. Try to actively expand the list of things you can do by yourself. While it's true you can take your car into the shop every time a light goes out, you'll save money and become more self-reliant if you learn to perform a basic tune-up. Alternatively, it's also good to accept help and learn to recognize when you need it. Being self-reliant doesn't mean being foolish and ignorant of your abilities. If you don't know how to change your car tire, learn how, so you can become more free and less reliant on others in the future. But in the moment, be honest with yourself.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Prioritize your wants and needs.\nIdentify the things you want and the things that you need to live your ideal life to help create perspective. \"Needs\" include anything necessary to sustain a comfortable life. This includes food, shelter, and basic health care. \"Wants\" might include travel funds, books and movies, or whatever it is that would improve your quality of life. Ideally, if you think about these things as a Venn diagram, they should look as close as possible like a single circle, overlapping almost entirely if you've structured your life in an ideal way. If what you need and what you want line-up, you'll be living the happy and free life you want to lead. What might you change to realign the diagram? Try to create a budget to account for all your needs and as much want as possible to live sustainably. The less you have to worry about money--the less you have to think about it at all--the better off and the more free you'll be.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Pay off all your debts and live within your means.\nStudent loans and credit card debt will keep you under a heavy curtain of debt that makes it very difficult to live by your own hand. If you're beholden to debtors, can you be truly free? It's a challenge that's unavoidable for some, but you can help yourself move toward freedom by paying down your debts as best you can and as quickly as you can, and by avoiding accruing new debt.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Be the boss of your life.\nFind work that you love and the work that will allow you to live freely and do what you want. Even if you have to report to a real \"boss,\" you're beholden to no one as long as you say so. You're in charge of your own life. If you work in an environment that doesn't afford you enough freedom, find a new job. How you choose to define work might be complicated. Plenty of people \"work\" during the day doing something that may or may not define their calling in life. Walt Whitman was an ambulance driver, but he also wrote some of the greatest American poems ever written. If your ideal life involves working only 15 or 20 hours a week, it might be difficult to sustain that life in Manhattan or Los Angeles. Prioritize the various aspects of your ideal life. If the desire to live in a cultural hub outweighs your desire to work less, get multiple jobs, 8 roommates, and move to the Big Apple. If your time is more precious to you, find somewhere the cost of living is cheap and you'll have your time.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Write your own code and live by it.\nWhat are the criteria of a life lived well? What is necessary to move through the world with dignity and poise? One person's rules may not be applicable for everyone, but it's helpful to have them for yourself. If you want to be free and call the shots, write your own code like the Klingon or the Samurai, and live by it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Seizing Each Day", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Allow yourself to act impulsively, sometimes.\nFried squid and bloody Marys for breakfast on a Wednesday--why not? Weekdays don't have to be plain oatmeal and black coffee. If it sounds good to you and there's no harm in doing it, do it. Breaking up monotony and listening to your own impulses can be a great way of keeping life fresh and exciting. As long as it's legal and not counterproductive to some necessary part of your life, act impulsively. Live in the moment. Sometimes, allowing yourself to break small rules of protocol or tact can be a good way of asserting your freedom in the world. Play what you want on the jukebox, even if the other bar patrons don't want all 11 minutes of \"Heard it Through the Grapevine.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Visit new places.\nExpanding your perspective of the world and learning to embrace freedom requires that you occasionally get outside your comfort zone and experience new things. Visit new places, try new activities, eat new foods. Explore the world and enjoy it. Traveling can be big or small. You don't have to hitchhike to South America to travel and experience something new. Visit new parts of town you've never visited, or explore the small town next to yours. Go somewhere you don't know anyone and learn everything you can. If it's new to you, Brooklyn might as well be Crawfordsville.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Celebrate every accomplishment, no matter how small.\nAllow yourself to be proud of yourself. Allow yourself to celebrate successes, or even to celebrate a lack of failures. Each day you've successfully negotiated is cause for reasonable celebrations. Spend time with people you enjoy and give yourself good reasons to work hard.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Start living freely right now.\nThe older you get and the more of the world you experience, the more one thing becomes clear: the only circumstance that's keeping you from happiness and freedom is yourself. Let go of your preconceptions, your hang-ups, and your fears. Free your mind by letting yourself experience the world fully and make each day count. Live the life you want to lead. There's no reason not to. Be careful of becoming a slave to your ideal version of yourself. It's easy to say, \"Everything will be better after I graduate\" or \"Everything will be better after I get this project done\" or \"Everything will be better when I move to Portland.\" Will it? How can you be free in spite of your challenges? How can you be free right now, where you live, right this second? How can you change your environment for the better?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Free-Step-14.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "4848614", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Understand the Human Condition\n\"The human condition\" is a term describing the essential facts of what it is to be human. It deals with things inherent to all humanity, regardless of race, class, gender, or culture. The study of the human involves asking questions like \"what is the meaning of life?\" and \"how do we cope with the inevitability of death?\" It is very difficult to fully understand the human condition, but trying to do so will lead you to important insights about yourself and those around you.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Finding Human Commonalities", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Learn about our common evolutionary origins.\nMost scientists and many people accept Darwin\u2019s theory of evolution. This theory holds that humans evolved from other species, and we are considered Great Apes, a type of primate. Regardless of race, culture, or religion, we are all biologically the same species with common ancestors.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Finding Human Commonalities", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Learn about our common evolutionary origins.\nMost scientists and many people accept Darwin\u2019s theory of evolution. This theory holds that humans evolved from other species, and we are considered Great Apes, a type of primate. Regardless of race, culture, or religion, we are all biologically the same species with common ancestors.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Notice social hierarchies.\nAll primates are hierarchical; they establish a system whereby there are leaders and subordinates. This system limits the number of conflicts among members of a group and keeps us generally cooperative. Note that hierarchical disputes can be common when individual members feel that the hierarchy or division of power or goods is unfair. Such disputes are common in both human and non-human primates such as capuchins. Humans have hierarchies that are nested. In your household, there is a dominant individual, but this person may be subordinate to someone at work or in the community.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-2-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Learn the importance of human communication.\nVocalization (speech) and written language is particularly important to humans, who share training in word use and the emotions associated with specific word choices. Human \u201ctraining\u201d in language use happens both formally, in school, and informally, in everyday life. The unfortunate human tendency to use language to bully others emphasizes the power of aggressive words. \\", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-3-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Get along with others.\nPart of the human condition is that each of the approximately 7 billion people on the planet has to get along with the other humans as well. Humans\u2019 tendency to be averse toward unusual behavior or appearance, combined with a high likelihood of encountering people different from us leads to high conflict. Being mean or at least not accepting of someone who is different is a way to discourage them, and encourage them to try to be more like you. Religion, television and radio help people have shared interests so when they get together, they can get along.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-4-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Try to fit in.\nOne way to minimize conflict among humans is to attempt to act like those around you. This tends to make everyone more similar and reduce conflict among individuals. When a trait that doesn\u2019t match the majority is unchangeable, like ethnicity or sexual preference, people can campaign to increase acceptance. For example, some areas have a non-discriminatory culture, which discourages people who are aggressive toward ethnic minorities, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people, women, or people who are disabled.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-5-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Cultivating Empathy", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Step outside of yourself.\nTo do this, turn your focus outward. Instead of thinking primarily about what you need or want, look around you and think about the needs and wants of others. The first step to doing this may be simply to become more social; joining clubs or groups and cultivating relationships can keep you from feeling isolated, which can hinder empathy.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-6-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Question your comfort zone.\nIf you feel as though you lack empathy, think about your childhood environment. Many times, a lack of empathy or the presence of prejudice begins at home. Becoming aware of the limitations or biases that you grew up with can lead you to break the cycle and become empathetic of others yourself. This will help you understand the humanity of others. For example, you may have grown up hearing your mother and father making racial slurs. Acknowledge that your parents\u2019 views were prejudiced, then think about what you can do to minimize or eliminate any lingering feelings about people of a different race in your own mind. You may also want to resolve that your own children will not have similar memories of their parents.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Volunteer for charitable organizations.\nDonating your time and money for an organization that helps other people can give you a broader view of the human condition. Find an organization that places volunteers \u201cin the field,\u201d talking to people who need help.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Live in someone else\u2019s environment for a time.\nVolunteering or spending time around people with different cultures or circumstances can give you a window into the living situations of others. To develop more empathy, try living the way that someone else lives for a while. For example, if you wish to develop empathy for people who are living in poverty, find out what an individual\u2019s weekly budget is. Then put away all of your comfort items (such as your cell phone, your tablet computer, your television, and your fancy crystal stemware). Try to live for 2 weeks the way someone in poverty would live. Even if you don\u2019t give up the roof over your head, sacrificing your luxuries and trying to feed yourself on an extremely limited budget can give you a good impression of the way other people have to live every day.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Talk to people whose situations make you feel uncomfortable.\nIf a particular type of person makes you feel somewhat uncomfortable, try talking to him. Finding the common humanity of people who we see as \u201cothers\u201d can help us feel empathy towards them. For example, if dirty homeless people make you feel uncomfortable, try talking to someone who is homeless. Ask him what his name is and whether he has any family. Ask him his favorite food and what his favorite weather is. Then ask him about how he became homeless, where he sleeps at night, and how he gets regular meals.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Experiencing Other Cultures", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Recognize your discomfort with cultural differences.\nHumans tend to be more accepting of what is similar to ourselves than what is different. We often feel afraid and uncertain when we interact with someone who is very different from ourselves, making us less likely to cooperate. You can acknowledge this reluctance and push past it in order to become more comfortable with cultural differences. The best way to do this is to experience other cultures.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-11-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Travel to new places.\nThe best way to experience other cultures is to travel. If you are able to travel to new places to experience culture, try doing what the natives do instead of visiting tourist attractions. Eat at restaurants where the locals eat and participate in activities that the locals attend. As you experience more and more cultures, you will develop a greater picture in your mind of what it means to be human. While you celebrate the differences among cultures, you can also see the similarities among them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-12-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Look at a globe or a map of the Earth.\nUnderstanding the human condition means knowing that humans live almost everywhere on our world. The fact that humans have been able to migrate and inhabit everywhere on Earth that has at least a moderate climate means that humans are an adaptable species. It also means that the survival skills we have developed vary greatly from place to place. From the Midwestern U.S. to Western Europe, central Africa, northern Alaska, China and Indonesia, people have different challenges from the environment in terms of getting food and shelter. What they have in common is living with other people in a social network.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-13-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Use technology to learn about other cultures.\nIf you are unable to travel yourself, you can still learn about other cultures. You can watch television programming that introduces the customs and people of distant places. You can use the internet to find details about countries you may never have heard of before. Be aware that if you are experiencing culture through media such as television, you are necessarily experiencing it through someone else\u2019s \u201clens.\u201d Some organizations or sources of information may have a particular agenda when presenting alternate cultures, and a savvy viewer should be aware of potential biases.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-14-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Develop friendships with people from other cultures.\nBecoming friends with someone from a different culture can be a great way to broaden your view of humanity. Spend time with your friend and her family. Ask your friend to be a sort of \u201ctour guide\u201d for her culture. You\u2019ll likely find that there are similarities between your families that you would never have guessed.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-15-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Read literature written in and about other cultures.\nLiterature can be like a window into another world. Reading literature can help you develop a sense of empathy and expose you to cultures other than your own. Select literature that was written by a member of a cultural or ethnic group rather than an outsider.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-16-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Define humanity.\nOnce you have experienced a variety of cultures, ask yourself what it is to be human. Gather your own experiences to find a common thread that crosses the lines between seemingly different cultures.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Understand-the-Human-Condition-Step-17-Version-2.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "48891", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Become Enlightened\nBecoming enlightened can mean different things to different people. In general, most people think of enlightenment as a greater awareness of the world or a higher consciousness. Although becoming enlightened may not be an easy task, you can move a little closer to enlightenment every day. You can become enlightened by being in the present moment, expanding your understanding of life and the world around you, and meditating to expand your awareness.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Being in the Present", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Stop trying to escape from your life.\nIt\u2019s normal to want to distract yourself from your life and your feelings with activities like drinking or overeating. However, these strategies won\u2019t make you feel better. In fact, they might make you feel worse over time. Instead, start being present in your life so you can change the way you think about it. Think about the distractions you use to escape. They might include things like shopping, drugs, sex, alcohol, partying, or sleeping too much. Consider if these things are helping or hurting you. Then, decide if you want to make any changes to your habits.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Being in the Present", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Stop trying to escape from your life.\nIt\u2019s normal to want to distract yourself from your life and your feelings with activities like drinking or overeating. However, these strategies won\u2019t make you feel better. In fact, they might make you feel worse over time. Instead, start being present in your life so you can change the way you think about it. Think about the distractions you use to escape. They might include things like shopping, drugs, sex, alcohol, partying, or sleeping too much. Consider if these things are helping or hurting you. Then, decide if you want to make any changes to your habits.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Practice mindfulness to help you focus on the present.\nSimply put, being mindful means being rooted in the present moment. To practice mindfulness, shift your thoughts to what\u2019s happening in the here and now, not in the past or future. You can become more mindful by doing the following:\nThink about what you\u2019re doing right now. Describe the environment around you. Notice what you\u2019re feeling. Actively listen to others when they speak. Focus on your breath to root yourself in the moment.Tip: If you want to become more mindful in your daily life, you can find books, magazines, and websites to help you. Additionally, there are apps with mindfulness help, such as The Mindfulness App, Headspace, and MINDBODY.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Engage your 5 senses to help you engage with your surroundings.\nYour senses of sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste will help you root yourself in your present environment. Go through each sense and list what you notice around you. Then, think about how that makes you feel. For example, you might say to yourself, \u201cI see pale gray paint and mustard-colored curtains, as well as abstract art prints with black, gray, yellow, white, and red paint. I hear crickets outside the window and the faint hum of an air conditioner. I smell fresh baked cookies, and I can almost taste them on my tongue. Also, I feel cool from the fan.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Set aside time each day to take pleasure in the moment.\nYou likely live a busy life, so it\u2019s helpful to designate time for yourself. As little as 15-30 minutes is all you need to have a nice experience every day. Use this time to do something that reminds you why you enjoy living your life, such as listening to a favorite record, playing with your pet, or enjoying a special treat. For example, you might set aside 30 minutes after dinner for a pleasurable activity.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Let your thoughts pass without judgement instead of fighting them.\nThoughts can be a great source of distress, especially if you hold onto them. Overthinking will prevent you from finding wisdom and mental peace. However, fighting your thoughts won\u2019t make them go away. Instead, acknowledge what you think and feel, then let it pass. For example, let\u2019s say you\u2019re worried that you won\u2019t do a good job in an upcoming presentation. Instead of dwelling on that thought and letting it upset you, acknowledge how you feel. Say to yourself, \u201cIt makes sense that I\u2019m nervous because this is important to me.\u201d Then, try to let the thought go.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Express your gratitude for what you have in your life every day.\nPracticing gratitude will help you combat negative emotions, like envy and jealousy, that can block your path to enlightenment. Instead of focusing on what you lack, acknowledge what you have in your life. Think about the people you know, the talents you possess, and the opportunities you\u2019ve been given, as well as your possessions. For example, you might list three things you\u2019re grateful for every morning. You might say, \u201cI\u2019m grateful for a warm breakfast, a cat who loves me, and comfortable bed.\u201dTip: Listing things you\u2019re grateful for is a great way to remember all of the blessings in your life. You could write your list on paper, speak it aloud, or record it in your phone. To keep track of your gratitude lists, try keeping a gratitude journal!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Expanding Your Understanding", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Be kind to yourself and others.\nExtending loving kindness to yourself and the people around you can improve the way you think. Plus, it spreads goodness around you. Change the way you speak to yourself by replacing negative self-talk with positive self-talk. Additionally, assume the best about others, and forgive people when they slip up. Instead of judging people, you can \u201cassess\u201d them. For example, you might notice that a particular coworker is often late in meeting deadlines. It\u2019s okay to recognize this habit and adjust your expectations when working with them. However, you don\u2019t need to judge them by making assumptions about why they are late or thinking badly about them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Act according to your beliefs and values.\nTo figure out what\u2019s important to you, do a self-inventory. List your goals, core beliefs, and what you want in life. Additionally, think about what you think is most important in life, such as how you want to live and how you think people should be treated. Then, make choices that reflect what\u2019s important to you. For example, you might believe experiences are more important than things, people deserve respect, and animals aren\u2019t meant to be used by humans. To reflect these ideals, you might spend any extra money you make on travels, volunteer or donate to help others, treat others as you would like to be treated, and become a vegetarian.Tip: When you catch a negative thought, like \u201cI can\u2019t do this,\u201d pause and question the thought. Say, \u201cWhy do I believe this?\u201d Then, replace that thought with something positive, such as, \u201cIf I keep practicing, I\u2019ll improve.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Keep an open mind when learning about the world and other people.\nIt\u2019s really easy to get trapped in a narrow perspective of the world, but this can block you from becoming enlightened. Every person is filtering the world through their own mind, so each person\u2019s experience of the world and how it works is a little different. In some ways, this means that truth is relative. The only way you can really understand things is to open your mind to how others see the world. For example, approach cultures and religions outside your own with a goal of learning and understanding, not judging. Similarly, don\u2019t assume everyone has had the same experiences as you have. Be open to learning more about how others live and why. You can be more open minded by reading more and venturing outside your comfort zone.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Find the lesson in your mistakes.\nEvery person makes mistakes, but there can be value in your slip-ups. Instead of being down on yourself, think about how that mistake can help you grow and progress toward enlightenment. Additionally, look for ways you can avoid making that mistake again in the future. You have to make mistakes in life in order to learn the lessons you need in order to become the person you\u2019re meant to be. Sometimes experience is the best teacher. Ask yourself questions like, \u201cWhat can I learn from this?\u201d \u201cHow has this changed me?\u201d or \u201cWhat can I do differently next time?\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Read what others have written about enlightenment.\nYou may not be able to become enlightened purely by reading the words of others, but learning what others think can help you understand more about your own thoughts. Read books written by great philosophers and teachers, especially those you believe have reached enlightenment. Remember, you don\u2019t have to believe everything someone says. For example, study great philosophers and teachers, such as Gautama Buddha, Jesus, Lao Tzu, Shunryu Suzuki, Mohammed, Dante Alighieri, and Sir Francis Bacon. Similarly, it\u2019s helpful to learn about the Noble Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths, which can help you find enlightenment.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-11-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Meditating", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Commit to mediating at least 10 minutes every day.\nWhile meditation can help you gain enlightenment, you\u2019ll need to do it on a regular basis. Luckily, you don\u2019t need any special tools or massive amounts of time to mediate. You can sit or walk in meditation wherever you are. Just focus on your breath. Initially, set a goal of doing 5-10 minutes of meditation a day. Over time, you can expand the length of your meditations if you desire.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-12-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Do a sitting meditation to calm your mind.\nSit in a calm, quiet environment with your legs crossed or in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and notice how your body feels. Then, focus on the sensation of your breath. When your mind wanders, return your thoughts to your breath as soon as you notice. Don\u2019t judge yourself for letting your mind wander, as it\u2019s a normal part of meditation.Tip: If you\u2019re struggling to stay focused on your breath, try counting each inhale or exhale.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-13-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Do a walking meditation to encourage greater awareness.\nA walking meditation changes the way you think. You can either wander or walk in an established path. As you walk, thoughts will come into your mind. Let them pass without judgement or holding onto them. This allows enlightened thoughts to enter your mind and raise your awareness. Don\u2019t try to think about anything in particular. Just let your thoughts come and go. You might also focus on your breath or on your footsteps to help you calm your mind, if it\u2019s racing.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Look for guided meditations online or through free apps.\nYou may prefer a guided meditation, depending on your experience level and goals. Fortunately, you can find many options online or through the app store. Experiment with different meditations until you find one that works for you. For example, Headspace, Calm, and Insight Timer are all meditation apps that offer a free version.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Join a meditation class or center if you want to work with a teacher.\nAlthough you can meditate on your own at home, you may prefer to work with a teacher. You can find one by searching for classes in your area or looking for a local meditation center. As another option, you might go to your local buddhist temple or community center. You may be able to take classes online. Additionally, check sites like Meetup.com or Facebook.com for meditation groups that meet in your area.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-Enlightened-Step-16.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "5414616", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Love Everybody\nIs it possible to love everybody? That all depends on what you mean by \"love\". If it means tolerating and respecting others, then it may be possible to love many people while still being realistic. It certainly doesn't mean liking or agreeing with everyone but you can do your best to respect every person's dignity, to listen to their story and to use love as the pathway to gaining, at the very least, an understanding of the other. Here are some suggestions for ways in which you might find the capacity to \"love everybody\".", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Your Thoughts of Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Find the good, on purpose.\nTo be able to love everybody, even people you've just met, you need to find something you like, admire or appreciate about them. This means setting aside judgment, bias and prejudices so that you can connect with the person at a similar level. To do this is difficult. Acknowledge that it is difficult but work through that to do your best and show love. Find at least one to three things about the other person that strike you as being interesting, admirable, inspiring, cool, special, etc. It must be something that you consider a positive aspect. Keep trying until you manage this. It becomes a fun thing to do, to challenge yourself to this task until it is achieved.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Friends-with-Everyone-Step-5.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Your Thoughts of Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Find the good, on purpose.\nTo be able to love everybody, even people you've just met, you need to find something you like, admire or appreciate about them. This means setting aside judgment, bias and prejudices so that you can connect with the person at a similar level. To do this is difficult. Acknowledge that it is difficult but work through that to do your best and show love. Find at least one to three things about the other person that strike you as being interesting, admirable, inspiring, cool, special, etc. It must be something that you consider a positive aspect. Keep trying until you manage this. It becomes a fun thing to do, to challenge yourself to this task until it is achieved.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Friends-with-Everyone-Step-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Learn to let go of judgmental approaches toward others.\nAgain, this is a hard thing to do. From early on, human beings are trained in \"us\" and \"them\" thinking. It's how families, suburbs, towns, cities, regions, states and countries define themselves. By making some people \"other\" or \"them\", it becomes easier to fault them, to dismiss them and to even hate them. Yet, they are human beings, just like you. Some of the ways to help yourself pass this style of thinking, here are things to try:\nCatch your mean thoughts as they arise. You know the ones, the ones that put people into boxes. Avoid judging the \"book by its cover\". How do you truly know a person until you've taken the time to get to know them? Remind yourself that everyone consists of layers. Some layers show to some people, other layers to other people. Think about the situation you meet this person in, or the manner in which you have come to know this person. Might those external factors be influencing your opinion of them? Accept your differences. If every human being looked like and acted like every other human being, you wouldn't be reading this. There'd be no point. Everyone would be of one bland mind, all shuffling along focused merely on surviving, not creating or sparking off one another and not trying valiantly to work out one's place in the world. The differences between human beings enable people to thrive, to create and to innovate. Celebrate this fact rather than finding it something to be feared.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Make-Yourself-Happy-Step-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Make a decision to turn your mind to liking other people.\nPut people you meet into positive terms in your mind, using the good things that you've found in them. For example, if you classify people by their outlook, tell yourself that \"she/he is pretty\". Not too much detail, just \"pretty\" is sufficient. And say this loud in your head. Sooner or later you will start to automatically look for and repeat the nice and the kind things about people to yourself, and therefore you will start to like other people better. Remember, if you think of people in ways that is clearly wrong, like calling morbidly obese folks skinny, this ritual becomes more like something you have to say, rather than something you mean. Look for the good parts of each person, and say those \"aloud\" in your head.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Make-Yourself-Happy-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Making Positive Judgements Instead", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Bond with your loved ones and friends.\nKnowing what being supported feels like and how to support others close to you can help to make it easier to love and bond with others less close to you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Make-Yourself-Happy-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Think kindly of the new people you meet.\nThis is a kind of judging, only it is one with positive input.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Friends-with-Everyone-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Persevere, especially with the least likable.\nIf you have a nemesis, learning to love him/her will take time. However, it is possible to turn negative thoughts about anyone, into positive ones.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reconnect-With-Old-Friends-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Deal with confrontational, difficult and mean people with good spirit.\nIt's easy to react angrily and to feel spite toward the person who delivers nasty comments, who insists on being difficult to get along with or who is itching for a fight. Be the better person and stay calm. Do not respond to their provocations but pretend that you have not even noticed that aspect of their attitude toward you. Talk kindly to this person and focus on facts, leaving emotional outbursts far behind. Harsh words usually lead to more harsh words, and increased anger.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reconnect-With-Old-Friends-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Consult with others on what to do, as they may have good ideas to help you.\nAn honest discussion with someone you trust about how hard you find it to like \"X\" (a mutual acquaintance/a friend/someone you know but they don't, etc.) can provide you with a sounding board that reveals what you might be doing to make things worse or it might help you to see what you're missing or perceiving incorrectly. Or, it may just be good to talk it through and find new ways of trying again with the person you're finding it hard to like.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Friends-with-Everyone-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Be willing to acknowledge other people's flaws.\nRemember, no human is perfect; they may say a bad idea but mean well. Determine people's characters through their actions rather than merely the words they speak. Understanding people's flaws does not mean accepting their bad attitude or poor behavior. It means seeking to understand so that you don't become embittered, feel blamed or take the burdens of that person onto yourself.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Friends-with-Everyone-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Be kind to yourself.\nIt is hard to not judge others. It is a habit and you may well fall back into it. Recognize this and don't quit. Give it your best.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Make-Yourself-Happy-Step-1.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "650592", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Reverse Bad Karma\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Making Amends", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Apologize.\nIf you know you have done something wrong, or offended someone, you should directly apologize. Be sincere about your mistakes and what you have learned from them. This will help put you on the right track for good karma. Try some of the following conversations:\n\u201dI am very sorry about what I said about your cooking last week; I did not mean to hurt your feelings. Can you please forgive me?\u201d\n\u201dI am sorry for not calling you last week. Why don\u2019t we get coffee on Friday?\u201d\n\u201dI am truly sorry for my actions yesterday. I can understand why you were mad at me.I will never do anything like that again .\u201d\n\u201dI didn\u2019t mean what I said last week. I\u2019m sorry I was in such a bad mood. Can you forgive me?\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Apologize-to-Your-Guy-Friend-Step-6.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Making Amends", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Apologize.\nIf you know you have done something wrong, or offended someone, you should directly apologize. Be sincere about your mistakes and what you have learned from them. This will help put you on the right track for good karma. Try some of the following conversations:\n\u201dI am very sorry about what I said about your cooking last week; I did not mean to hurt your feelings. Can you please forgive me?\u201d\n\u201dI am sorry for not calling you last week. Why don\u2019t we get coffee on Friday?\u201d\n\u201dI am truly sorry for my actions yesterday. I can understand why you were mad at me.I will never do anything like that again .\u201d\n\u201dI didn\u2019t mean what I said last week. I\u2019m sorry I was in such a bad mood. Can you forgive me?\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Apologize-to-Your-Guy-Friend-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Write down your transgressions.\nIf you feel you have bad karma but are not sure of the direct reasons, a good place to start is to write down what you feel you have done wrong. Think about a specific time in the past, like a day or a week, and list out what you\u2019ve done that may have given you negative karma. This will give you a good starting point on how you can repair your negative karma. Think about:\nDid you offend someone by your words? Did you offend someone by your actions? Did you neglect or forget to do something you were supposed to? Did you lie or cheat about something? Did you break a set rule or law? Have you been selfish or neglectful?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Into-a-Morning-Routine-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Reflect or meditate.\nYou may know what you have done to receive bad karma. However, you must also understand why your actions negatively impacted you and those around you. To do this, you can meditate or reflect on your actions. There are different meditation techniques:\nBreathing meditations -- This type of meditation focuses on controlling your breathing.This will calm your mind and promote inner peace. In a quiet place, sit in a comfortable position. Partially close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Become aware of the sensation of breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Practice this movement until your mind starts to clear and you begin to relax. Transforming meditations -- This type of meditation is designed to bring peacefulness to your mind by training your body not to worry about mental or physical discomforts. This type of meditation is done by studying and considering the philosophy that drives your morality. You can do this by: reading the works of your religions or religious figures, reading the works of philosophers, or studying science and the construction of the universe. Loving kindness meditations -- This type of meditation is practiced in four steps: preparation, contemplation, meditation, and dedication. The first step requires you to prepare for meditation by sitting in a comfortable position and breathe deeply. The contemplation stage requires you to think about how all life should be cherished and that happiness comes from your kind actions. Meditation allows you to come up with concrete ways to practice kind actions such as: \u201cI will cherish each day that I am given\u201d or \u201cI will be kinder to myself and others.\u201d Dedication is living up to those promises made in the meditation stage.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Do-Sexual-Meditation-Step-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Be charitable.\nMahatma Gandhi famously said: \u201cThe best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.\u201d You can reverse bad karma by practicing positive actions. This may include:\nDonating your time to a cause that you believe in (i.e. volunteering at an animal shelter or a soup kitchen)\nGiving money to a cause you believe in (i.e. American Diabetes Foundation)\nGiving more compliments\nDoing kind favors for someone (i.e. Making a dinner for a loved one or doing home repairs for an elderly neighbors.)", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Help-Homeless-Citizens-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Moving Forward", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Break the routine.\nIf you have identified the actions that have led you to bad karma, realize it is time for you to change your actions. If you find yourself being negative toward a specific person or people, resolve to start a conversation with a compliment next time. Develop this as a new positive habit. If you find yourself being selfish, resolve to do a charitable action each day even if it is a small one. Try something small like holding a door open for someone. Practice this to develop a new routine of positive actions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Tell-if-Someone-Is-Using-You-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Stay positive.\nLife is difficult and frustrating events happen. Thinking positive may not reverse bad events, but it can help you better cope with stress in your life. Try and reflect on the positive things in life to help you reverse bad karma by seeing the good and kindness in life. Take a moment to enjoy the weather. If the weather is nice, reflect that not everyday will be like this. Give thanks to your good health. Enjoy a meal. Sometimes we eat without thinking; take a few moments to savor a well-prepared dish.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Think-Positively-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Take responsibility for your own actions.\nAs \u201ckarma\u201d means action, you must be accountable for the actions that you take. Try to:\nStop blaming others. This is a bad habit. Really consider the action and try and move on from it. Blaming others only slows down this process. Practice self-focusing. Worrying about the future will not help you in the present. Focus on the daily tasks that you can control to live a more positive life. Be accountable. You are the only one responsible for your actions. If, for example, you are in an argument with a loved one, you can control how you respond. Focus on how you respond.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Change-Your-Life-for-the-Better-Step-26.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Generate Good Karma", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Be mindful.\nBuddha writes: \u201cMind precedes all mental states.\u201d This means that you must reflect on your own actions and how they affect other actions around you. Like practicing self-focusing, you should be mindful of your actions and decisions. They reflect on how others respond to you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Hypnotize-Someone-with-Your-Eyes-Step-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be kind.\nThere is an old adage of: \u201ctreat others like you want to be treated.\u201d This golden rule can help to reverse bad karma by promoting goodness and kindness. Give compliments to people such as: \u201cWhat you said about [x] was really intelligent.\u201d or \u201cThis dinner is really good. Thanks for cooking for me!\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Change-Your-Life-for-the-Better-Step-20.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Practice chanting a mantra.\nLanguage can be a powerful tool. To create a positive mindset, you can practice a chant or mantra. Try practicing a self-affirmation in front of a mirror on a daily basis. You can say something like: \u201cI will be a more positive person today\u201d or \u201cI will complain less about my problems.\u201d This will help build up your self-confidence and develop a positive routine. Chant a mantra related to your spiritualism. For example, Catholicism repeats words on a rosary. Nianfo (mindful repetition/recollection of the name of Amit\u0101bha Buddha) is an Eastern Asian Buddhist act . Whatever your religion or spirituality is, find if there is a chant or mantra that you can use to feel closer to your faith.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Begin-Zen-Meditation-%28Zazen%29-Step-10-Version-3.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "6978980", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Be an Effective Altruist\nMany effective altruists consider helping people in extreme poverty to be the most effective way they can do good, but others are concerned with climate change, with reducing the suffering of non-human animals, and even with reducing the risk of the extinction of intelligent life on our planet. If you are interested in amplifying the impact that you have on the world, then learning more about how to be an effective altruist may be the best step you can take.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Maximizing Your Potential Impact on the World", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Pursue a career where you have the potential to make a big impact.\nSome effective altruists choose jobs that provide the highest wage because a high income allows one to donate more money to effective charities and, therefore, to have a greater impact. Some good options to consider include:\nInvestment banking, computer programming, hedge fund management, or engineering. High wage jobs like these will mean that you have lots of money to donate and that you will be able to make a bigger impact with your donations. Government jobs where you might rise into a decision making position, such as a position with the World Bank, UNICEF, etc. Although you may not make as much money working for a government organization, by moving up in the ranks, you will be able to make decisions about how money is allocated and thereby you could find yourself in a position to multiply by 5 or 10 times the cost-effectiveness of a budget in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Prioritization research is an emerging field that may be well suited to someone with research experience. Prioritization researchers conduct research on organizations, interventions, and policies to figure out which ones are the most effective and beneficial.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Convince-Your-Boss-to-Let-You-Work-from-Home-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Maximizing Your Potential Impact on the World", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Pursue a career where you have the potential to make a big impact.\nSome effective altruists choose jobs that provide the highest wage because a high income allows one to donate more money to effective charities and, therefore, to have a greater impact. Some good options to consider include:\nInvestment banking, computer programming, hedge fund management, or engineering. High wage jobs like these will mean that you have lots of money to donate and that you will be able to make a bigger impact with your donations. Government jobs where you might rise into a decision making position, such as a position with the World Bank, UNICEF, etc. Although you may not make as much money working for a government organization, by moving up in the ranks, you will be able to make decisions about how money is allocated and thereby you could find yourself in a position to multiply by 5 or 10 times the cost-effectiveness of a budget in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Prioritization research is an emerging field that may be well suited to someone with research experience. Prioritization researchers conduct research on organizations, interventions, and policies to figure out which ones are the most effective and beneficial.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Convince-Your-Boss-to-Let-You-Work-from-Home-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Avoid lower impact career options.\nSteer clear of careers that seem like you will be able to help people, but realistically your total impact on the world will be small. Although traditional altruists may gravitate towards helping professions, effective altruists question whether these careers allow one to make the greatest possible impact in the lives of others.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Deal-With-Being-Hated-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Consider the impact that your income may have over your lifetime.\nEven if a job seems like it will allow you to help others, compare your potential impact in a low wage helping career versus a high wage career. For example, if you earn $50,000 per year you may only be able to donate $5,000 per year over the course of your career, which would amount to $150,000 in 30 years. However, if you earned $150,000 per year, you might be able to donate half of that income or $75,000 per year, which would make your lifetime contribution $2,250,000. That amount of money, if donated to the most effective charities, could have a much more significant impact on the lives of many people. Check www.80000hours.org for more effective altruism career advice.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Say-Goodbye-to-Coworkers-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Live modestly.\nAlthough some effective altruists seek jobs that provide the highest wage that they can make, they do not do so in order to enjoy a lavish lifestyle. Effective altruists live modestly despite earning a high wage, so that others may benefit. It is up to you to decide what a modest lifestyle will be like for you, but many of the effective altruists that Singer discusses live on a small fraction of what they make. One of the most influential effective altruists that Singer describes is Matt Wage, an outstanding philosophy student who turned down an opportunity to study for a doctorate at Oxford University in order to take a job on Wall Street. He has been donating more than $100,000 a year to effective charities ever since. As another example, Singer describes a couple whose annual income was $40,000, yet they donated 1/3 of their income at first, and then, when their income rose, increased their donations until they were donating half of their income to charities. To keep their cost of living down, the couple used public transportation and rented part of a house rather than living alone.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Help-Save-the-Environment-Step-23-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Consider taking a pledge to give what you can to charity.\nFor some people, going forward with intentions to live modestly and donate large amounts of money to charity may require some external motivation. To make your intentions into a commitment, you can visit GivingWhatWeCan.org and take their pledge. By taking this pledge, you will be expressing your intent to contribute at least 10% of your income to effective charities. If you prefer suggested by Singer in his book The Life You Can Save. With Singer\u2019s pledge the suggested percentage starts off lower than at GivingWhatWeCan, but rises as your income rises. You can take this pledge at http://www.thelifeyoucansave.org/Take-the-Pledge,\nSinger discusses the psychological toll of earning money only to give it away. He explains that for some people, making their commitment public helps them to keep going.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Help-Typhoon-Haiyan-Victims-Step-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Donating Effectively", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Research charities to determine how many lives you can save or improve with your donations.\nOne of the central considerations for determining whether or not to give to a charity is to consider the impact that your donation will have. You should look for charities that will maximize your donation and provide the most benefit for the largest number of people. For example, Singer presents the ethical dilemma of whether to donate $1,000,000 to a charity that will provide a life-saving surgery for a pair of conjoined twins, or donating the money to a charity that would provide measles vaccines to thousands of children. The most good would come from donating the money to the charity that would provide measles vaccinations because more lives would be prolonged and improved as a result. Singer also acknowledges that it is important to consider the impact that a donation would have on the lives of people, which sometimes requires going beyond the numbers. For example, if you had to choose between donating $100,000 to a museum or to a charity that cures poor people of blindness, there is a clear choice without even consulting the numbers. You could save 1,000 people from a life of blindness with $100,000, but even if the number were much lower, the impact of saving someone from a lifetime of blindness is far more beneficial than providing a nicer museum experience for thousands of people.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Conduct-Research-Step-21.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Avoid emotion-based donations.\nMany charities use emotional appeals to get people to donate money to them. Using emotional appeals to get donations is often effective, but the money that goes to these charities does not always provide tangible benefits. Set your emotions aside before you donate money to a charity and examine the impact that your donation would have on one charity compared to another charity. For example, Singer notes that you may have a strong emotional response to a charity that is requesting donations to help train guide dogs for the blind. However, before donating to such a cause, consider the dollars and cents of your donation. It costs about $40,000 to train a guide dog in the United States, but it only costs $20-$100 to prevent someone from going blind as a result of trachoma. So while $40,000 would improve the life of one person if it went to the guide dog charity, the same $40,000 could prevent between 400 and 2,000 people from going blind if given to the trachoma charity.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Help-Your-Community-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Use effective charity evaluation websites.\nAn important part of being an effective altruist is making sure that your money goes to the charities that do the most good. To figure out whether or not a charity uses its money well, use all of the tools at your disposal. Singer recommends several websites, but he endorses GiveWell.org as one of the best ways to research and evaluate charities. GiveWell looks at the way that charities spend their donations so that you can see how much of your donation will go to those in need as well as what your donation will provide. GiveWell identifies interventions that have been proven to be effective in solving a particular problem, such as providing insecticide treated bed nets to help prevent malaria. Then, GiveWell investigates charities that focus on providing these effective interventions, such as the Against Malaria Foundation. If you are not sure where to start, the LifeYouCanSave.org and GivingWhatWeCan.org offer effective charity recommendations. Some of their recommendations include the Against Malaria Foundation, Give Directly, Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, and Project Healthy Children. If you want to support charities that help animals, you can also check out Animal Charity Evaluators to find out about the most effective animal welfare charities. Try the impact calculator on TheLifeYouCanSave.org. This calculator will show you how ten of the most effective charities will use your donation.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Conduct-Research-Step-1Bullet1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Steer clear of charity evaluation websites that provide limited data.\nNot all charity evaluation websites are equal in what they provide. For example, Charity Navigator is not an effective way to evaluate charities because it does not provide enough information about how charities use the money they receive. Although, Singer notes that the website may be helpful in warning potential donors away from charities that use only a small percentage of their donations to benefit their cause, for most charities, the information provided by this website does not help potential donors to determine whether or not a charity uses its money effectively. For example, Singer explains that if given the choice of a charity that dedicates 92% of its revenue to programs and another charity that dedicates 72% of its revenue to programs, then one might be inclined to go with the charity that dedicates 92% of its revenue to programs. However, this decision would not take into account which programs are more effective. The charity that dedicates 72% of its revenue to programs may, because it employs more highly-qualified staff, be making a bigger impact, but it would be impossible to know without more data.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Conduct-Research-Step-7.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "70137", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Enjoy Life\nEnjoying life is often thought to be a mindset, the result of reflection, action and gratitude. And while most of us lack sufficient free time to escape to some mountaintop temple to follow our bliss, the best way to find happiness is to make practical, everyday changes. Coupled with conscious choices to appreciate the people in your life and making space to do the things you're best at, small changes to your life soon add up to greater enjoyment in life.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Cultivating Emotional Well-Being", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Get a pet (optional).\nOwning a pet provides love, companionship, and hours of entertainment. Pet ownership has health benefits, too, such as reducing your blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, increasing your feelings of well-being and connectedness, and teaching you lessons in empathy and nurturing. For extra warm and fuzzy feelings, consider rescuing a pet from your local shelter. However, only get a pet if you know you can take care of it knowledgeably. Don't just keep an animal for your own benefit.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Cultivating Emotional Well-Being", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Get a pet (optional).\nOwning a pet provides love, companionship, and hours of entertainment. Pet ownership has health benefits, too, such as reducing your blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, increasing your feelings of well-being and connectedness, and teaching you lessons in empathy and nurturing. For extra warm and fuzzy feelings, consider rescuing a pet from your local shelter. However, only get a pet if you know you can take care of it knowledgeably. Don't just keep an animal for your own benefit.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Develop an interest in music.\nListening to music taps into your brain\u2019s imagination and sense of self-identity, boosts your self-esteem, and lessens feelings of isolation. Listening to music feels empowering. Put on your favorite album \u2013 or that one you keep meaning to dive into, turn up the volume, and cut out all other distractions so that you can really experience the wonders of the music. In some cases, music has been shown to help people coping with dementia, giving them a greater sense of empowerment. Music therapy is also useful in people suffering from anxiety and depression.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-2-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Start the day with a smile.\nYour facial expression is traditionally thought of as a window into how you feel, but it's also thought that your facial expression can influence your mood. Therefore, be sure to smile freely, to ensure that your mood is upbeat. You might even want to greet yourself in the mirror with a smile first thing in the morning\u2013\u2013that happy face may be just enough to keep that mood flowing all day long.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-3-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Take a break.\nA decent break doesn\u2019t mean zoning out to the TV or going down the internet rabbit hole. It means setting some time aside and making it special. As a thank-you to yourself, give yourself a vacation or \u201cstaycation\u201d, a change of scenery \u2013 even if it just means having a picnic in your backyard or building a fort with your kids in the living room. Taking a break that is different from the ordinary and lets you \"hang loose\" can do wonders for your sense of fun, escape, and fulfillment.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-4-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Spend time with interesting people.\nIt is well known that people with a wide circle of friends tend to live longer.Of course, birds of a feather flock together, and it\u2019s also been shown that your friends\u2019 behavior can actually have a big impact on yours. Make sure you hang around with positive, interesting people to inspire yourself to live a richer life. Are you putting off getting in touch with an old friend? Make that call today! If you can\u2019t reach the person by phone, set some time aside to write a long email, or go old-school and pen a letter. Do you feel like you are being dragged down by an unhealthy friendship? Enabling your friend\u2019s bad behavior doesn\u2019t do either of you any good. Do some soul-searching and decide whether to resolve things with a heart-to-heart or to simply end the relationship. Are you having trouble meeting new people? Get outside your comfort zone by going to new places, striking up conversations with strangers, taking on a new hobby, or even joining a social activity group on something like Meetup.com. EXPERT TIP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnnie Lin, MBA\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLife & Career Coach\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnnie Lin is the founder of New York Life Coaching, a life and career coaching service based in New York City. Annie has over 10,000 hours of client coaching experience and her work has been featured in Elle Magazine, NBC News, New York Magazine, and BBC World News. She offers services in both one-on-one and group settings, focusing on careers, relationships, emotional well-being, and personal growth. She holds an MBA degree from Oxford Brooks University. Annie Lin, MBA\t\t\tLife & Career Coach\t\t\t\tLearn to process and express your emotions. Stay aware of how you feel instead of distracting yourself with work, entertainment, or substances, all of which dull your emotions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-5-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Nurturing Mental Well-Being", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Reduce stress.\nYou don\u2019t need a clinician to tell you that stress is no fun, but did you know that even a mild stress-induced mood disorder like sub-clinical depression can wreak havoc on your immune system? In fact, the duration of a stressful period has more effect on immunity than its severity.To fight stress, first recognize it and stop trying to battle it alone. Find ways to ground yourself and to let off steam constructively. Sports, exercise, a hobby and spending time with friends are all good ways to counteract stress. You might like to try guided imagery, yoga, or tai-chi; if you have a severe mood disorder, seek counseling and/or medication.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-6-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Improve your stress management, if you cannot remove the stress.\nCan you change the cause of the stress? Then, do so. In many cases though, stress links back to your job, money, or family. In uncertain times, changing jobs can be difficult, in which case, you must find ways to manage it better. Managing stress that comes from work or family can be done by being more assertive about your needs and setting boundaries. Assertion and boundary-setting include learning to say \"no\" to tasks that overload your schedule, getting regular \"me\" time, and avoiding taking work calls when you are relaxing at home with family or friends, or vice versa. Other ways to manage work-related stress consist of working smarter not harder, which means breaking down larger tasks into smaller increments and delegating tasks to others, if necessary. Also, make sure to use workplace resources like trainings and professional development events to counteract detrimental practices that may impact your health and well-being.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-7-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Learn new things.\nGetting a higher education can bolster your self-esteem and interest in the world. But it's not for everyone and it's not the only solution. Reading, traveling, taking fun classes, attending guest lectures, and meeting people from other cultures will do the same thing. Or try MOOCs\u2013\u2013massive online open courses\u2013\u2013these courses offer very stimulating ways of stretching your knowledge and abilities, in your own time. Ultimately, instead of running from new experiences, engage in them, and seek more whenever you can. After all, you only live once.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-8-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Find a hobby.\nWhether you choose stamp collecting or kickboxing, hobbies and extracurricular activities are necessary in the pursuit to enjoy life. Hard routines are counterproductive to spontaneity and surprise\u2013\u2013leave a little flexibility in your schedule so that it doesn't become routine and humdrum. Do your hobby or activity because you love it, and because it gets you \"into the flow\", and not for reasons such as keeping up with other people or conforming to unrealistic social standards. Research demonstrates that participating in leisure activities can have a positive impact on your physical and mental health and wellness. Benefits of hobbies include lower blood pressure, less cortisol, lower body mass index and greater perception of physical abilities.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-9-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Read a good book.\nPutting your feet up and watching your favorite show at the end of the day is definitely a treat, but since passively watching a story doesn\u2019t do much to stimulate your imagination, it can also leave you feeling restless and 'zombified'. For a change of pace, find a book that you can lose yourself in for a while. If you don\u2019t consider yourself much of a reader, think outside the box and find something that relates to your hobbies: if you\u2019re a baseball fan, pick up Bill Veeck\u2019s autobiography; if you\u2019re a biker, try Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Keep notes of passages or ideas that really resonate with you. If you keep a notebook in your usual reading spot, ready to jot down such inspirations, you'll soon amass an inspirational collection of ideas that matter to you and may help direct your sense of purpose for years to come.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-10-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Practice meditation.\nMeditation reduces stress and promotes a calm feeling. Participating in a few minutes of meditation daily can promote a positive outlook and keep you feeling balanced and relaxed. It is important to maintain a good body posture and perform meditation in a distraction-free zone. EXPERT TIP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnnie Lin, MBA\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLife & Career Coach\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnnie Lin is the founder of New York Life Coaching, a life and career coaching service based in New York City. Annie has over 10,000 hours of client coaching experience and her work has been featured in Elle Magazine, NBC News, New York Magazine, and BBC World News. She offers services in both one-on-one and group settings, focusing on careers, relationships, emotional well-being, and personal growth. She holds an MBA degree from Oxford Brooks University. Annie Lin, MBA\t\t\tLife & Career Coach\t\t\t\tOur Expert Agrees: Meditation helps you learn to create some distance between your emotions and yourself as the 'observer.' Emotions are energies that move through your body, just like clouds that move across the sky, but you can learn to just be the space in which those emotions happen, like the sky is there for the clouds.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-11-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Enhancing Physical Well-Being", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Strengthen your immune system.\nNobody feels happy when they\u2019re sick! Even doing something as simple as taking a multivitamin with vitamins C, E, and A, selenium, and beta-carotene might help to boost your immunity. Having a strong immune system allows you to respond better to stress or physical illness. Other strategies such as regular exercise, getting adequate rest, and maintaining a healthy diet are also important for boosting immunity.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-12-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Exercise.\nExercising affects the release of endorphins, which transmit messages to the brain, translating into positive feelings. Regular exercise not only combats depression, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness, but also strengthens your immune system. Even walking for exercise can increase your antibody and T-killer cell response.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-13-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Sleep well.\nSleep is strongly linked to a person\u2019s health, stress levels, weight and quality of life. Moreover, while you sleep, your body produces cells that fight infection, inflammation, and stress, which means that getting too little sleep makes you more prone to getting sick and increases the time you need to recover from illness. Exercising is one of the absolute best ways to sleep better at night.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-14-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Play in the dirt.\nScientists are finding that friendly bacteria in the soil actually trigger the brain to produce serotonin (much like how antidepressants work). If you have a garden, get out there and dig. If you don\u2019t, consider starting one \u2013 if not for flowers, for vegetables and herbs that you can use in making healthy recipes. Even designing a container garden can create a spot of sunshine in your life. Obviously, not-so-friendly bacteria are also in your garden. Wear gloves to protect your hands, especially if you have cats or if neighboring cats use your garden as a toilet. And wash your hands well after playing in dirt!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-15-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Eat healthy.\nIt\u2019s a no-brainer that eating well (fresh, unprocessed, real foods) has a huge variety of health benefits. In addition, taking the time to cook fresh foods for yourself gives you an emotional boost: it smells good, it looks good, it tastes good, and, when you become proficient at cooking, it can even provide a fun, creative break from your routine. In addition to being a form of self-pampering, cooking is also good for your wallet. If you\u2019re new to it, start with a few fast, foolproof recipes that won\u2019t turn you off cooking forever. The less processed foods in your diet, the healthier you'll be, which in turn will ensure a good deal more happiness for you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Enjoy-Life-Step-16.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "725296", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Live a Good Life\nLiving a good life depends on what matters to you. Take the time to define your values, priorities, and goals for life. Work to fulfill the desires you want to achieve. Build your relationships and be a good family member and friend. Serve your community and mankind and stay true to yourself.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Emphasizing Your Life Desires", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Make a list of what people or things matter to you.\nWhen looking for a life plan, it makes sense to prioritize some areas of your life. List all the things that you value in your life. You might list your family, friends, a certain hobby, nature, or career. Take the time to think deeply about the things without which you could not imagine living. For example, while you might like playing basketball, is this one of the most important things in your life? Perhaps it is. If not, it is likely a hobby.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Emphasizing Your Life Desires", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Make a list of what people or things matter to you.\nWhen looking for a life plan, it makes sense to prioritize some areas of your life. List all the things that you value in your life. You might list your family, friends, a certain hobby, nature, or career. Take the time to think deeply about the things without which you could not imagine living. For example, while you might like playing basketball, is this one of the most important things in your life? Perhaps it is. If not, it is likely a hobby.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Determine your core values.\nYou have your own moral compass, which guides you through life. What are the values you want your life to reflect? Do you strive to be honest? Perhaps you want to be caring and considerate towards others. Maybe you have a strong sense of social justice. Defining your values will help you determine your future actions. For example, if you prize honesty, there are some careers that might not be the best for you. CIA agents, for example, cannot disclose to others what they really do. On the other hand, if you care passionately about social justice, perhaps you could consider studying social work. For additional tips, see Live Life to the Fullest.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Find your calling.\nEvery person has his or her own talents and strengths. Aim to live your life in reflection of your unique calling. Finding your calling does not mean following someone else\u2019s path. Instead, seek to define what you do well and how you can live a life that incorporates your strength and perhaps helps other people as well. For example, you might be a talented teacher and musician. Perhaps your calling is to teach children piano lessons. On the other hand, you might be a great listener and care about helping others. You might be well-suited to be a psychologist. If dinosaur bones excite you to no end, perhaps your calling is paleontology and spreading knowledge about dinosaurs and environmental change to a new generation.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Name your goals.\nBy making goals for life, we can live with a purpose. Do know that at any given time, your goals might change. You can adapt your goals as you move through life. If you have some structure, however, your life likely will be a bit easier. For example, you might want to become a physician. Your mini goals could be attending college, gaining entrance to medical school, graduating, and beginning to practice medicine. Each of these goals will have sub-goals. If your goal, on the other hand, is to have children, first you should think about how you want to have them. Do you want a partner with whom you can raise them? Do you prefer to adopt? What are the different strategies you can pursue to fulfill this goal?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Prioritize.\nAfter you have ascertained the people who matter to you, your values, and your goals, create priorities. At different points in life, you might prioritize different aspects. For example, while in school, your studies might take precedence. Later, your relationship or children might take more of your focus. By keeping your priorities in mind, you can better schedule your life. See Prioritize for additional tips.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Living In the Company of Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Build strong relationships with close ones.\nTake the time to build solid relationships with the people about whom you care. Listen to their problems. Help them when necessary. When you offend them, apologize and strive to do better. Practice kind gestures like giving people rides or birthday cards. See Have a Healthy Relationship for more advice. Additionally, practice these behaviors:\nBuild a circle of trust. Make sure your family members and friends know they can share their thoughts openly with you. Do not tell other people's secrets. If someone asks you to keep a confidence, do so. Be compassionate towards others. Even if someone wrongs you, if they are sincere in their repentance, show them forgiveness. Do not bring up their past transgressions in moments of anger.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Promote healthy communication.\nBe direct when speaking to others. Listen carefully and attentively. If you have disagreements, try to fight effectively. That is, do not call each other names. Instead, discuss your problems calmly. Make sure you listen to the other person's point of view. For example, it might be wise during arguments to repeat the other person's point of view. This shows you understand. You might say, \"What I'm hearing you say is that you are annoyed by the fact that I am always home so late.\" Ask rather than assume. If you feel a relationship is suffering in some way, talk to the other person openly and candidly.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Be a good neighbor.\nPart of living a good life comes from building a tight-knit local network. If you have neighbors, be helpful to them. Watch their cat when they go on vacation. Offer to shovel an elderly neighbor\u2019s driveway. Practice neighborliness and you might find it is contagious.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Serve your community.\nOne way to live a good life is to contribute to the community in which you live. You might volunteer at a soup kitchen or run a clothes drive for refugees. Ask your local government representatives or religious organizations for tips on which causes could use help. You also could plan a fundraiser for a cause in the global community.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Enjoying Life", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Travel.\nSee what there is to see in the world around you. Explore new areas in your neighborhood or town or if your budget allows, travel farther. There is no way we can visit every place in our lifetime. We can create awareness and develop empathy by traveling to other places, though.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Practice hobbies.\nIn addition to your calling and life purpose, you also need to have plain fun! Find hobbies that interest you and incorporate them into your routine. For example, you might join a knitting group or start rock climbing. By doing hobbies, you also will meet more people and have a more fulfilled life. See Find a Hobby.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Aim to eat healthy foods.\nEat fresh fruits and vegetables and look for whole-grain pastas and breads. Incorporate more poultry and fish into your diet (unless you\u2019re vegetarian). Beans, nuts, and eggs also offer you good nutrition. Do not overdo your sodium, carbohydrate, or saturated fat intakes. Drink 9 cups of fluids per day if you are female and 13 cups a day if you are male.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Exercise moderately.\nTry to incorporate 2.5 hours of moderate or 1.25 hours of strenuous cardio exercise per week. To strengthen your muscles, lift twice a week. By exercising regularly, you likely will lead a longer and healthier life. Your heart, muscles, and bones will all benefit. Moderate exercise could be walking, yoga, dancing, or swimming. Strenuous exercise could be running or doing a spin class.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Tap into your spirituality.\nWhether or not you follow a particular religion, find what gives you meaning in your life. Why are you on earth? What nurtures your soul? Particularly when you face difficult moments in life, practicing spirituality can help you cope. Being spiritual also helps you forgive others. Prayer and meditation can help you relax and refocus. Having a community built around spirituality or religion can support you when you are in need.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 4: Being Grateful for Life", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Contemplate gratitude.\nEvery day, when you wake up, express three things for which you are grateful. Perhaps you have a job you love. Maybe you have a very supportive partner. You might have no illnesses. Always taking a moment to reflect on the things for which you are grateful can be very helpful. See Express Gratitude for ideas on how to express your gratitude to others. Practice counting your blessings before bedtime by journalling about three positive moments from your day. Contemplate why these moments occurred and what actions of yours did or did not lead to them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Keep problems relative.\nPart of living a good life is not getting wrapped up in the daily problems we all face. While it is important to Handle Problems, take a moment to think about what is going well in your world. Perhaps you saw someone escort an elderly lady across the street. Maybe the children at your local school are collecting food for the homeless. Do you still have your health? Are you not penniless? Do you still have loved ones? Though you might be missing some of these things, keeping your problems in a relative position is helpful.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Get outside.\nOne way to be grateful for life and to enjoy life is to engage with nature. Ride your bike along the river or take a walk in the forest. Listen carefully for the different animals\u2019 and insects\u2019 noises. Smell the plants or fresh rain. The world is filled with amazing attributes. Take a moment to let it sink in. Consider taking a reflective, multi-sensory walk in which you do not focus on any technology. Rather, look around you, notice different buildings or trees in your environment. Focus on the smells coming from a bakery or fresh-cut grass. Listen to people's voices or the wind in the trees.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-17.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Abstain from pleasurable activities temporarily.\nSometimes to appreciate the good things we have in life, we need to take a pause from them. The pause could be a week or a month. When we return to our activities, we are more likely to realize how lucky we are to have them. For example, perhaps you have a pumpkin latte every day in October. Try taking a week off. You will appreciate the drink and its impact on your happiness even more.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Live-a-Good-Life-Step-18.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "755397", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Become a Curmudgeon\nCurmudgeons are usually cast as grumpy old men, along the lines of Walter Matthau or Andy Rooney. The truth is that they can be any gender or any age, though. It's a mindset! There are positives to being a curmudgeon, and they are necessary in any society. Here's how you can be one.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Having a Curmudgeon's Personality", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Become an independent thinker, and go against the grain.\nCurmudgeons take pride in being contrarians. They don't just take the popular positions or the easy ones. They aren't scared to go against the grain. Most settings actually need contrarians, although they can ruffle feathers. Academia is one field that some experts believe has a lot of curmudgeons. Of course, if you have the job protection tenure affords, you can afford to risk being contrary to people in power. Curmudgeons do not go along with the group in order to get along. They are willing to tick everyone off to voice their stance on an issue, even if they become unpopular as a result. The old Winston Churchill quote comes to mind: \u201cYou have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-1.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Having a Curmudgeon's Personality", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Become an independent thinker, and go against the grain.\nCurmudgeons take pride in being contrarians. They don't just take the popular positions or the easy ones. They aren't scared to go against the grain. Most settings actually need contrarians, although they can ruffle feathers. Academia is one field that some experts believe has a lot of curmudgeons. Of course, if you have the job protection tenure affords, you can afford to risk being contrary to people in power. Curmudgeons do not go along with the group in order to get along. They are willing to tick everyone off to voice their stance on an issue, even if they become unpopular as a result. The old Winston Churchill quote comes to mind: \u201cYou have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be a leader, not a follower of trends!\nLearn to think for yourself. If a popular media figure says something is great, you don't care for it. Curmudgeons don't need to have the newest gadget or the biggest house. Curmudgeons are the setters of trends. They have their own minds, values, and trends. They are willing to be the one person wearing the bow tie in the group. Their dress often highlights the fact they stand outside the group. Curmudgeons cultivate their individuality in literature, movies, and food, as well as dress. Above all, they stay true to their own likes. They aren't chameleons who adopt the interests of others or the whole.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Focus on the greater good.\nAt their best, curmudgeons can be the way they are because they are caring people working for a cause or to champion a set of principles. There is such a thing as a \u201clovable curmudgeon.\u201d The kind of curmudgeon you should want to be is the grumpy guy (or gal) who's willing to say what it takes to make things right even if he or she gets painted in a negative fashion as a result, but who does it for a greater good, not to harm someone else. Deep down, many curmudgeons are caring people who put the interests of others first, and in fact think they are serving some greater good by complaining. They are willing to risk their jobs and reputations to advance values they hold dear. There is something admirable about that. What curmudgeons are not is cruel. They don't try to punish or hurt individuals; they are too busy warring against systems for that. They aren't mean. Grouchy? Yes. Cruel? No.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Develop a sense of humor.\nCurmudgeons aren't always super serious. They can dominate a stage with a big, charismatic personality. They like attention. Tell good stories. Work up some good short stories that tell about interesting experiences you've had or people you've known. Learn how to time them so they are never boring or repetitive. An ironic twist at the end is helpful. Find the humor in at least five things you see every day. Smile or laugh and catch someone's eye to share the moment.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Stay traditional, even when society changes around you.\nCurmudgeons are throwbacks. They are the guys who stick to the old ways as the world changes around them. Poke around the attic, garage or basement until you find that old thing you used to use, rather than buying something new. You will see this in the way they dress. The typical curmudgeon wears a flannel shirt and grumpy old man hat. You don't have to do this. Just be aware that you won't find a curmudgeon acting slavish to a trend. They don't care about \u201cfitting in\u201d or seeming modern. They might prefer vintage dress. In terms of attitude and values, curmudgeons will stick to a core set of principles even if, at times, the world changes around them. Sometimes they advance the positions of their childhood. Curmudgeons know who they are and what they believe in. They aren't insecure.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Acting Like a Curmudgeon", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Avoid collaboration and being part of \u201cthe group.\u201d Curmudgeons are known for rejecting collaboration, and civility is not always their strong suit.\nAt the same time, curmudgeons will at times build alliances with friends and allies on the side. With their own unique flair and pizzazz, curmudgeons will occupy the center stage with humor or sarcasm. They prefer a heated debate or engaging in lengthy discussion before reaching any consensus with others (if they ever do). Curmudgeons sometimes style themselves as gadflies or whistle blowers who are willing to say things that other people dare not. Although this can make them very disliked, there are times when they spot things that are real problems. Thus, while written off as cranks sometimes, they can at times offer valuable advice to an institution by playing the role of constant devil's advocate.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Reject authority or at least don't buy into the notion that authority is always right.\nCurmudgeons are the sort that constantly pokes at administrators or bosses. They don't naturally accept that people are right just because they have ascended to power. Sometimes curmudgeons become such because they have become outcasts or don't belong to the internal network that produces leaders in an institution through \u201cwho you know.\u201d They want to have a voice, and they think they have ideas to contribute, but they have no other way to make their voice heard. At times, leaders aren't doing a good job but everyone else fears confronting them. Curmudgeons are willing to call out problems that others look the other way on. The leaders may dismiss their complaints.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-7.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Make sure you pick your battles.\nIf you want to be a curmudgeon who plays an important role versus one who is a negative whiner, you should make sure you ground your complaints in knowledge. Have legitimate and rational concerns when you do express your opinions. Don't go to war over everything or people will start tuning you out. Take a stand when you think it really matters. Ground your complaints in evidence. If you back up what you say instead of just complaining all the time, you will be taken more seriously.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-8.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Present a grumpy, or at least a serious vibe.\nCurmudgeons are not known for their joyous, happy or vibrant personalities. They are more likely to see the world through negative blinders. There are young curmudgeons. They are the kind of people that others deem to be \u201cold souls.\u201d They seem to have a window into aspects of the world that others miss as they go about their happy ways. Even if curmudgeons do experience happiness and joy, they don't wear those emotions on their sleeves. They're introverted about sharing emotions, other than crabbiness or concern, although they periodically break that up with sarcastic humor.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-9.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Show that you have standards.\nCurmudgeons stick to the rules, and they aren't afraid to hold people to them. In a world where sometimes it seems like \u201canything goes,\u201d curmudgeons aren't afraid of hurting people's feelings. A memo from a curmudgeon might explain that they expect to see no grammatical or typographical errors in your text. They will likely present a lengthy list of rules. In fact, they will use rules as their key weapon. They will know the rules better than anyone else does. They sometimes overplay their hands, though. Still, at a law firm, a curmudgeon might justify his (or her) sticking to the rules because it's important to win for a client. And you know what? They can be right.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Determine the Kind of Curmudgeon You Want to Be", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Figure out the kind of curmudgeon you are emulating.\nSome dictionaries say the word stems from the word crab and the word cur, which meant dog or a \u201cdisagreeable person\u201d in Gaelic. Some of the definitions of curmudgeon are not positive. For example, a curmudgeon is defined at times as a \u201ccrusty, ill-tempered\u201d old man. In popular culture, curmudgeons are typically older men with grouchy attitudes. However, not all definitions of the word are negative. For example, an alternative definition says curmudgeons are people with stubborn ideas or opinions. This might be laughed at by some, but it can be a strength at times. It's certainly necessary for any institution or society to have people willing to say what no one else will.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-11.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Realize that sometimes grumpiness is camouflaging a medical issue.\nStudies show that curmudgeons are more likely to be males and over the age of 70 - although they do exist among all demographics. There are physiological changes that occur with age and that can cause a worsening of mood. Sometimes men are really experiencing physical symptoms \u2013 like declining testosterone levels \u2013 that make them grumpier. If you feel like a curmudgeon, but don't want to be one, see a doctor. Maybe there is a medical issue that a doctor can address. If you are feeling depressed on a constant basis, that's not a good place to be. It's different if you are choosing to be a curmudgeon and are happy in that state (even if you don't show it). But if you are suffering signs of clinical depression, contact a doctor or therapist. There are many resources available to help you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Study famous curmudgeons to get a sense of how to do it with style.\nStart paying attention, and you will see curmudgeons in public life everywhere. They are a common character in movies and politics, for starters. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is sometimes considered a curmudgeon. This is because he will often play the iconoclast, and his contrary opinions are often filled with words that are designed to have an attention-getting flair. However, he has an underlying mission and stays true to his stated values - he wants to make a point about the problems with the majority decision. Curmudgeons consider themselves lonely arbiters of common sense \u2013 and sometimes they are right. Clint Eastwood in the movie \u201cGran Torino\u201d is a curmudgeon. \u201cGet off my lawn,\u201d is his famous catchphrase. Walter Matthau is a curmudgeon in the movie \u201cGrumpy Old Men.\u201d Bill Murray in the movie \"St. Vincent\". Dana Carvey's character \u201cGrumpy Old Man\u201d on Saturday Night Live is a curmudgeon.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Become-a-Curmudgeon-Step-13.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "81090", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Write a Philosophy Paper (for Beginners)\nWriting a philosophy paper is different from writing other papers. Instead of simply summarizing ideas or information, in a philosophy paper you must present and defend an argument. To write a strong philosophy paper, start by outlining your paper. Support your argument with multiple points of view and relevant context, present your argument clearly, and anticipate objections others might bring up. Polish your paper and proofread before you turn it in!", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Creating an Outline", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Find reliable, relevant sources, and read them carefully.\nUse your school's library or search online to find reliable sources. Try philosophy textbooks, articles published in scholarly journals, and texts written by philosophers. When using the internet, be sure to only use scholarly articles. Ask your instructor if your school offers access to an academic search engine like JSTOR or LexisNexis. Avoid blogs or websites which are crowdsourced, as they may contain inaccuracies. When you're doing your research, look for references to other scholars or experts. What do they have to say about the subject? The more points of view you find, the stronger your own paper will be.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Creating an Outline", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Find reliable, relevant sources, and read them carefully.\nUse your school's library or search online to find reliable sources. Try philosophy textbooks, articles published in scholarly journals, and texts written by philosophers. When using the internet, be sure to only use scholarly articles. Ask your instructor if your school offers access to an academic search engine like JSTOR or LexisNexis. Avoid blogs or websites which are crowdsourced, as they may contain inaccuracies. When you're doing your research, look for references to other scholars or experts. What do they have to say about the subject? The more points of view you find, the stronger your own paper will be.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-1-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Make thorough notes as you read.\nWrite down relevant quotes, interesting points, and your own thoughts as you read through your sources. These notes will be the basis for your outline.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Choose your thesis.\nYour thesis is the main argument that you are making. Read through your notes and see what themes emerge, and use this to come up with your thesis. A philosophy paper should attempt to answer a question. Choose one that is relevant and interesting, and which can be successfully addressed in the amount of time (or pages) you have. A thesis may change several times during the research process. That's fine, as long as you can fully support your position in the final paper. Some examples of a strong thesis include: \"It is immoral to deny oneself anything which brings happiness, even at the expense of others,\u201d \"Mercy has more value than justice,\u201d or \"Humans have a soul which exists both before and after death.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Organize your notes into a rough outline.\nDecide in which order you'll present terms, definitions, and criticisms. You may decide to (i) present your entire argument first, then the objections, then your counters or (ii) present your argument with objections as you go. If there are many objections to deal with, go with the first option.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Include context for your arguments.\nContext helps the reader understand the factors that may have influenced a person's philosophical opinions. For instance, a person's philosophy might be shaped by certain social or political climates, the influence of a teacher, or their own personal experiences.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Making Your Argument", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Clearly state the thesis early in the paper.\nThis is the central theme of the whole paper, so include it in the first or second paragraph. After you state your thesis, tell the reader why they should care about the points you are making, and explain the arguments you are critiquing. Occasionally, some papers will present all of the arguments first and state the thesis at the end, but this is not recommended for college-level papers. If your thesis is \u201cMercy has more value than justice,\u201d you could follow that with a motivating statement such as: \u201cIn a system rules purely by justice, there is no room for humanity. A mother who steals a loaf of bread for her starving child would be treated as harshly as a person who shoplifts for a thrill. Although both should face consequences, mercy would dictate that the mother be given a lesser penalty than the shoplifter.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Define technical or ambiguous terms.\nDon't make the reader guess what you're talking about. If you are using a highly technical term, one with a very specific meaning, or a phrase which may be interpreted in different ways, take the time to define it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Use phrases like \u201cI will argue\u2026\u201d or \u201cMy next objection\u2026\u201d.\nThis will help the reader can easily follow your train of thought. Use these pronouns as signposts to announce what you are arguing.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Don't be a \u201cfence-sitter\u201d.\nEven if you pick an argument without a clear right or wrong answer, you should always pick a side and stick to it throughout your paper. In the case of the paper on mercy vs justice, you would keep coming back to your position that mercy has more value than justice no matter how many objections you address. There will certainly be situations where justice must be implemented and a merciful approach is not appropriate. You can acknowledge that, because your argument is not that justice is never necessary, but that the quality of mercy has more intrinsic value than retributive justice.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Anticipate and answer questions.\nAs you write your paper, think about what you're saying from the perspective of your reader. Think about any questions they might have and try to answer them in advance. Some questions your readers might have could include: \u201cHow do you define the terms 'mercy' and 'justice'?\u201d, \u201cDoes an emphasis on mercy only apply to everyday situations or does it extend to the justice system?\u201d, or \u201cIn what situations would you choose justice over mercy?\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Use examples and analogies to support your point.\nPhilosophy can cover a lot of complex topics. Use analogies and metaphor to draw parallels between abstract ideas and everyday experiences. An analogy demonstrating the value of mercy might be that of a mother who forgives her child when the child has misbehaved, not because the child is blameless but because the mother loves the child and believes the child is remorseful and will do better next time.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-11-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Anticipating Objections", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Anticipate objections to your arguments.\nOne of the most important aspects of writing a philosophy paper is anticipating objections to your statements. These are called 'counter-objections' (or simply 'counters'). Imagine that you are having a rational argument with an educated person who disagrees with you. What might that person say to each of the points that you make? A counter to your thesis that \u201cMercy has more value than justice\u201d might be that a serial killer who preyed on children does not deserve mercy.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Respond to each counter-objection.\nIf you only acknowledge a counter but you do not respond to it, your main point will be weakened. Make sure to clearly and thoroughly explain why you believe the counter is invalid. One response to the counter about the serial killer could be that by serving the serial killer with a just sentence, you are showing mercy to the family and friends of his victims.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Do not ignore any obvious criticisms against your thesis.\nFailing to address objections to your arguments will make your paper seem weak, and this will be reflected in your grade. Address the major relevant criticisms thoroughly.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Follow counter-objections with a positive argument.\nOnce you have addressed and defended against relevant counters, make your own positive argument supporting your thesis. If this raises more counter-objections, address those as well. After addressing the counter about the serial killer, follow up with a strong argument in defense of a merciful approach. Use specific examples, such as a case of a reformed criminal who changed his ways, was pardoned from prison, and went on to do great things. Another example could be the Biblical story of Moses and the Egyptians - God showed mercy to Moses and the Hebrews by freeing them from slavery. This resulted in punishment for the Egyptians who were holding the Hebrews captive.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 4: Polishing the Piece", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Be consistent in your language.\nIf you refer to a concept by a certain term in your paper, use that same term consistently. For instance, if you are discussing Harry Frankfurt's first-order desires vs second-order desires, refer to them that way throughout the whole paper, rather than switching to different terminology such as \u201cprimary wants\u201d or \u201cinner desires\u201d.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-16.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Make sure you have clearly explained your thoughts.\nRead through your paper from beginning to end to ensure that it is easy to follow and that each thought is fully explained.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-17.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Round out your examples.\nMake sure each example connects to the point you were making immediately before, then transition into the next argument.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-18.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Be concise.\nExplain yourself fully, but do so as concisely as possible. Use simple prose whenever you can, so that the reader is easily able to follow you from point to point.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-19.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: End with a brief conclusion.\nAs with any paper, you should end with a concluding paragraph. Finish with a brief summary of the points you made in the body of the paper and a restating of your thesis. You should not offer any new information in your concluding paragraph; all of the information you want included in your paper should be presented in the body.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-20.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Proofread your paper carefully before you turn it in.\nTry reading your paper sentence by sentence starting at the end and working to the beginning. This will help you read more slowly and you'll be more likely to catch any errors.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Write-a-Philosophy-Paper-%28for-Beginners%29-Step-21.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "818499", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Stop Being Unlucky\nPeople often assume good luck is a result of pure chance. However, multiple factors affect your ability to encounter good fortune. Most people encounter the same number of opportunities each day. However, harboring a negative or self-defeating mindset can keep you from seeing the good fortune surrounding you. You can increase your chance of good fortune by breaking out of your comfort zone and trying new things. You can change your mindset to avoid self-defeating thought patterns. Lastly, seek outside help from friends and others. Surrounding yourself with positive people can help you be more open to good fortune in your own life.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Increasing Your Chance of Good Luck", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Be on the lookout for opportunities.\nOftentimes, we miss opportunities presented to us. You can chalk this up to bad luck, but it may be a result of how you view the world. If you feel unattractive, for example, you may miss the fact the bartender serving you is flirting with you. People who see each new experience as a chance for good luck or good fortune are more likely to notice opportunities. Studies show chance encounters and lucky breaks happen to everyone over the course of a lifetime. However, lucky people are the people who take advantage of these encounters. If you go into every situation looking for potential opportunity, you're more likely to recognize good fortune. For example, say you have to attend a networking event. If you go into the situation viewing it as a burden, you'll be less likely to branch out and interact with others. If you go into the situation expecting to find good fortune, you'll talk, make connections, and may end up impressing a potential employer. In order to find lucky breaks, you need to be on the lookout. View every new experience as a chance for good fortune. If you're new to a city, for example, see taking your dog for a walk as an opportunity to meet new friends. If you're just starting school, see the review session after your science class as a chance to get to know your professor. Connections you make from day-to-day encounters can bring you good luck in your personal and professional life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Act-Like-a-Rich-Girl-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Increasing Your Chance of Good Luck", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Be on the lookout for opportunities.\nOftentimes, we miss opportunities presented to us. You can chalk this up to bad luck, but it may be a result of how you view the world. If you feel unattractive, for example, you may miss the fact the bartender serving you is flirting with you. People who see each new experience as a chance for good luck or good fortune are more likely to notice opportunities. Studies show chance encounters and lucky breaks happen to everyone over the course of a lifetime. However, lucky people are the people who take advantage of these encounters. If you go into every situation looking for potential opportunity, you're more likely to recognize good fortune. For example, say you have to attend a networking event. If you go into the situation viewing it as a burden, you'll be less likely to branch out and interact with others. If you go into the situation expecting to find good fortune, you'll talk, make connections, and may end up impressing a potential employer. In order to find lucky breaks, you need to be on the lookout. View every new experience as a chance for good fortune. If you're new to a city, for example, see taking your dog for a walk as an opportunity to meet new friends. If you're just starting school, see the review session after your science class as a chance to get to know your professor. Connections you make from day-to-day encounters can bring you good luck in your personal and professional life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Act-Like-a-Rich-Girl-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Embrace new experiences.\nThose who are prone to good luck put their eggs in a variety of baskets. If you're open to new experiences, and say \"Yes\" to chances you are given, you're more likely to find good fortune. Try to take new opportunities as they come. Curiosity and anxiety are usually the two emotions people experience when presented with a new opportunity. For many people, anxiety eventually wins out. While you may be wildly curious about a new job opening, you may find yourself quickly listing a thousand ways the new job could go wrong. You may convince yourself it's not worth applying. Try to silence the voice of anxiety when presented with a new opportunity. Do not give into worry over what may go wrong in a new situation. Instead, think to yourself, \"This could be interesting to try. I'll give it a chance.\" Not every new chance you take will result in good fortune. However, your chance of good luck increases when you expose yourself to more things. Look at Steve Jobs, a famously fortunate entrepreneur. He audited a calligraphy course after dropping out of college. Later, he would use that knowledge for the design of many Apple products. While a new experience may not be directly related to your idea of success, opening yourself up to new experiences may pay off in unexpected ways down the road.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Unlucky-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Interact with many different people.\nIn our modern era, a solid social network is vital to success. If you know a lot of different people, this can lead to good luck down the road. Studies show extroverted people tend to have higher rates of good luck and good fortune. Success, especially career success, often comes from networking. The bigger your social network, the higher your chance of catching a lucky break. There are many ways to meet people. You can join a club in your town or city. You can look online, on sites like MeetUp, to try and find groups related to your interests. You should also get online. If you don't already have active social media accounts, build them. Many people build relationships with acquaintances through sites like Twitter and Facebook.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Unlucky-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Change your routine.\nMany people who view themselves as chronically unlucky stick to rigid routines. If you do the same thing every day, or every week, you may miss out on chance encounters and opportunities. Make an effort each week to break your routine slightly. Variety increases your chance for random encounters, which can often lead to good fortune. If you only talk to your friends when going to a party, you'll miss out on the opportunity to meet new people, for example. Try to make room for variety in your life. Small changes, even ones not related to your goals, can alter your mindset. Simply, say, biking to work instead of driving can get your mind used to variety and change. If you keep making tiny changes each day, you may open yourself up to new things and new opportunities. This can increase your chance of finding good luck.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Unlucky-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Changing Your Mindset", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Avoid self-sabotage.\nOftentimes, your mindset can lead to self-sabotage. If you expect things to go bad, or for certain patterns to repeat, you may prematurely throw away opportunities. Try to be aware of what you are thinking, and embrace the fact you cannot predict how an event or relationship will play out. If you see yourself as unlucky, you may unconsciously be uncomfortable when you encounter positive situations. For example, if you've been in bad relationships in the past, a relationship with fighting and distrust is your normal. You may shy away from decent, kind partners as you're only comfortable with people who are not nice to you. Try to be aware of the assumptions you're making in any given situation. When you're meeting a new person, for example, do you assume they'll treat you a certain way? Why? You may be bringing in baggage from past friendships and romantic relationships. When you start a new job, do you expect it go bad? If you've had bad work experiences in the past, you may unconsciously expect those patterns to repeat. This can lead you to avoiding good opportunities in favor of repeating the same negative behaviors. Try to remind yourself you cannot predict the future. When encountering something new, pause and say to yourself, \"This is a new experience and I don't know how it will unfold.\" People are pattern-makers by nature, looking for signs in events and occurrences. Remind yourself predicting how something will turn out is irrational. The fact is, you do not know how a new job will play out. You do not know if a new friendship will prove negative. For all you know, this could be a new, exciting, and positive opportunity.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Unlucky-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Have a positive mentality.\nLucky people often view events differently than unlucky people. For example, say you fall down a flight of stairs. It hurt, but you're okay. You can think, \"I have the worst luck!\" or you can think, \"I'm so lucky that I didn't break my neck.\" Fostering a positive outlook can help you open yourself up to good fortune. If you foster a positive mentality, you'll be more perceptive about the good around you. Internalizing negative situations, like the above accidents, can lead you to see yourself as an ultimately unlucky person. This can skew your perspective, resulting in you convincing yourself you're doomed to misfortune. Let's return to an example we talked about earlier. If you assume you're socially awkward and unattractive, you'll go to a bar expecting to be ignored. This may lead you to missing the fact the attractive bartender is flirting with you. You'll fail to notice this chance encounter as you went into the situation with a negative attitude. Instead, go into a social situation with a positive attitude. Instead of thinking, \"I can't wait to see how I make an ass out of myself,\" think to yourself, \"I'm so excited for an opportunity to connect with new people.\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Unlucky-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Reduce anxiety.\nAnxiety has a negative effect on perception. If you're worried about your work, job, school, or social life, that stress can prevent you from seeing the good around you. Taking steps to reduce your anxiety can greatly help you open yourself up to good fortune. Exercise can greatly curb anxiety. Strive to be physically active most days of the week. Take a long bike ride after work. Stop by a community school for a swim before your morning classes. If you're new to physical activity, start with an easy routine and work your way up. Cut back on alcohol and caffeine. Both these substances can cause you to have an increase in anxiety. Stick to only a couple of caffeinated beverages each day, and only have one to two drinks a night. Look into meditation, visualization, and yoga. All these activities can help curb anxiety. You can find guided meditation and yoga routines online. You should also consider taking a class in yoga or meditation.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Unlucky-Step-7-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Cut yourself some slack.\nPeople prone to good luck and good fortune adopt a go-with-the-flow mentality. Working too hard can actually prevent good fortune. You may, for example, keep at a task you'd be better off abandoning. Try to follow you intuition and pursue your passions. This is far more effective than pushing yourself beyond reasonable limits. Give yourself a few hours a day to work on activities unrelated to work or personal goals. This allows you to recharge and re-energize, both of which can allow you to be more perceptive of opportunities around you. It's okay to give up sometimes. Staying the course when things are not working will block your ability to be innovative. Experimenting with new methods can lead to better fortune. For example, say you've been working on an article for work for hours. The writing still feels muddled and repetitive. At this point, scrap it and start over. You'll be frustrated at first, but you may find an even better approach after stepping away from the task for a few days.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Unlucky-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Accept setbacks.\nNot everything you do will turn out well. Embracing this fact can lead to an increase in good luck. If you're not afraid to fail, you'll pursue a variety of opportunities. The more you pursue, the more likely something will eventually turn out for you. Do not listen to the voice of hesitance when you encounter an opportunity. For example, say you live in Los Angeles and are a budding screenwriter. A producer asks to see your portfolio. You may never hear back after sending him your writing portfolio, and you may worry about the emotional toll of rejection. However, you will likely regret not trying even more. Studies show you'll be happier pursuing multiple things at once. While many of your pursuits will fail, people are happier with variety in their life. In addition to increasing your chance of good luck, you may be a happier individual if you embrace variety.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Unlucky-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Seeking Support", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Surround yourself with positive people.\nPositivity is contagious. If you surround yourself with genuine, encouraging people, you'll have more self confidence. This can allow you to be more open to the kinds of opportunities that can lead to good luck and good fortune. Seek out friends who look on the bright side of life. Make plans with the co-worker who always has nice things to say. Invite your friend Tina, who's known for her bright and sunny attitude, out for a cup of coffee. Call family members who tend to be more positive. If your brother has a gloomy outlook on life, do not phone him after a bad day. Instead, call up your mother who always sees the positive.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Unlucky-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Limit contact with negative people.\nIt's very hard to be open to good fortune when you're surrounded by negative people. Negativity, like positivity, can be contagious. You may be unable to embrace new opportunities if you're surrounded by people with a defeatist attitude. Learn to disengage with negativity. People who are chronically negative usually do not actually want help. They just want to continually complain. If a friend or family member is going on about a problem ceaselessly, do not try to offer solutions. Instead, say something like, \"I'm sorry you feel that way, but I'm sure you'll figure it out.\" Then, end the conversation. Limit your contact with draining people. You do not have to end a friendship or relationship completely. However, see that person less. Do not call, text, or interact with a negative person every day or every week. You'll end up getting dragged into their worldview, resulting in you missing chances for good luck.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Unlucky-Step-11-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Seek therapy, if necessary.\nIf you believe you're chronically unlucky, you may have an underlying psychological condition. Depression, for example, can often lead to a negative overall outlook about oneself and one's prospects. If you worry you suffer from depression or another mental health issue, see a therapist. You can find a therapist by going through your insurance provider. You can also ask your regular doctor for a referral. If you're a student, you may be entitled to free counseling from your college or university.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Stop-Being-Unlucky-Step-12.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "832280", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Focus in Life\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Focusing on What\u2019s Most Important", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Write down a list of the things you value most in your life.\nYour life may be so full of distractions, decisions, and surprises that you\u2019ve lost sight of what is most important to you. Focusing in life means focusing on what you value most in life, and you can start by identifying the specific things that are most valuable to you. You can make a long list or a short list, but creating a list of 5 things that you value most might work out well. Your list should be completely unique to you, but might include things like spending quality time with your loved ones, staying healthy as you age, making a positive contribution in your community, being a good role model for your children, and maintaining a strong religious or spiritual practice.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-1-Version-5.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Focusing on What\u2019s Most Important", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Write down a list of the things you value most in your life.\nYour life may be so full of distractions, decisions, and surprises that you\u2019ve lost sight of what is most important to you. Focusing in life means focusing on what you value most in life, and you can start by identifying the specific things that are most valuable to you. You can make a long list or a short list, but creating a list of 5 things that you value most might work out well. Your list should be completely unique to you, but might include things like spending quality time with your loved ones, staying healthy as you age, making a positive contribution in your community, being a good role model for your children, and maintaining a strong religious or spiritual practice.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-1-Version-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: List the most important commitments in your life.\nYour life is probably full of commitments and obligations, but how many of them are truly important to you? Take some time to evaluate and rank your commitments, so you\u2019re clear on which ones deserve your greatest focus. Try listing your top 5 commitments, for example, although your list may end up a bit shorter or longer. Your list might include things like completing your college degree, your reputation for reliability, your marriage, your kids\u2019 health and wellbeing, and your aging parents.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-2-Version-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Cut back on the time you spend on less important things.\nOnce you\u2019ve identified your most important values and commitments, take a look at how much of your time you spend focused on what\u2019s most important. Estimate how much of your time and focus is wasted on unimportant things, then commit yourself on cutting back in these areas. For example, you might find that you spend 3 hours each day scrolling through social media and checking out the news of the day, when neither of these are things that you highly value. Try scheduling 1 hour each day for these activities, for instance, so you can free up 2 hours each day for more important things.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-3-Version-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Boost the time you spend each day on important things.\nAs you identify and cut back on less important things, make sure you apply your added time and focus toward truly important things. Create a detailed daily schedule, if needed, to make sure you divide up your time and focus wisely. For instance, you might commit yourself to spending the first hour after you get home from work interacting exclusively with your children. If so, put away your phone, forget about work, and really focus on them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Remove clutter that takes up space, time, or focus.\nClutter is anything that gets in your way or distracts you. It might be physical clutter, like a home full of stuff you don\u2019t use, and it can also be psychological clutter, like spending time worrying about others\u2019 opinions of you. De-cluttering your life makes it easier to find and hold onto the truly important things. When it comes to physical clutter, consider instituting a rule by which you get rid of anything that you haven\u2019t used in the last 2 years. You can use a similar strategy with psychological clutter. Ask yourself if the thing you're obsessing over is now, or has ever really been, important to your life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-5-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Imagine your \u201cbest life\u201d to get a boost of positive feelings.\nThis may sound like a silly exercise at first, but give it a try. Imagine your life as a book, and envision the ideal way you\u2019d like your story to end. If you\u2019re being honest with yourself, you\u2019ll find that your ideal \u201chappy ending\u201d involves the things you value most in life. Picturing your best life will give you a passing feeling that might include satisfaction, accomplishment, appreciation, and joy. Remember this feeling and nurture it whenever you feel touches of it during your everyday life. The more often you experience your \u201cbest life feeling\u201d during your daily life, the more proof you\u2019ll have that you're placing your focus on the proper areas.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-6-Version-5.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Bringing Focus to Each Day", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Take care of easy decisions the night before.\nEach day is full of countless decisions that require varying degrees of focus, but very few of them are truly important. By getting many of the easy and unimportant choices out of the way the evening before, you\u2019ll free up more of your time and focus on what is important\u2014both for the day ahead and for your life in general. For instance, lay out your clothes, pack your lunch and your bag, and write down your shopping list. If a seemingly-easy decision becomes unexpectedly difficult\u2014deciding what to wear tomorrow, for example\u2014set it aside for first thing tomorrow. Don\u2019t let it interfere with your sleep!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-7-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Plan out tomorrow and put the hardest tasks first.\nOnce you\u2019ve gotten several of tomorrow\u2019s easy decisions out of the way, create a plan for the day to come. Plot out where you\u2019ll need to be and when, and jot down the tasks, choices, obstacles, and opportunities you know you\u2019ll face. Whenever possible, front-load your schedule by putting your most difficult and/or important tasks first. If you leave your tough tasks for later in the day, they\u2019ll hang over your head and distract your focus. If you don\u2019t get to choose when a tough task comes up\u2014for example, a difficult exam or a meeting with your boss\u2014use your schedule to help maintain your focus on the task in front of you. Tackling your tough tasks first is a good daily strategy and a good life strategy\u2014confront your challenges instead of constantly putting them off.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-8-Version-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Imagine your best possible next day before falling asleep.\nAlways try to end your day on a positive note. It will help you to sleep better, and having a positive visualization of the day to come \u201cpre-loaded\u201d will make it easier to start tomorrow on the right track. You may even want to quietly repeat to yourself, \u201cTomorrow will be a great day.\u201d\nThis is also a good time to imagine your \u201cbest life\u201d\u2014the way you\u2019d want your life to appear if given the chance to look back on it at the end.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-9-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Wake up each morning with enthusiasm.\nStart your day on the right note! Instead of hitting the snooze, take a few moments to envision the day ahead going very well. After that, get up and start right into your morning routine. If you\u2019re groggy and tired at wake-up time, you\u2019re not getting enough sleep (or at least not enough high-quality sleep). Take measures to improve your sleep routine, sleep schedule, and amount of time you dedicate to sleep.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-10-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Focus on your daily goals, not the obstacles that arise.\nConsider a kayaking analogy: instead of focusing on the boulders that are in your path, focus on the route that will carry you around or between them. The more you obsess over the obstacle that\u2019s in your way, the easier it is to lose sight of your actual goal. Say, for example, that a technical problem is interfering with your final preparations for a big client meeting. Instead of thinking, \u201cThis network outage is going to run everything,\u201d keep reminding yourself of your goal: \u201cI\u2019ll perfect my presentation with the material I have now so I can impress the client no matter what happens.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-11-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Learn from today\u2019s successes and shortcomings, then focus on tomorrow.\nBefore flipping the page to your preparations for tomorrow, take a few minutes in the evening to reflect on the day you just had. Did you achieve your daily goals? What obstacles arose? What lessons can you take from the ways in which you dealt with them? The goal here isn\u2019t to berate yourself for mistakes. Instead, view every instance in which you lost focus or came up short today as a learning opportunity that you can put to use tomorrow. When you\u2019re done taking lessons from today, let it go. Put the day behind you and turn your mind and energy toward getting ready for tomorrow. This is an important \u201cbig picture\u201d life strategy as well. Learn from the past, but keep your focus on the present and future.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-12-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Helping Yourself to Refocus", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Breathe deeply and bring your focus inward when you feel overwhelmed.\nWhenever it feels like you\u2019ve lost your focus and are off track, take a step back to collect yourself. Take several slow, deep breaths, and focus at first only on the sound of your breaths and the feel of your chest expanding and contracting. Then, slowly restore your focus toward your true goals. This is a great practice to try several times throughout the day, even if you don\u2019t feel overwhelmed or off track. EXPERT TIP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRahti Gorfien, PCC\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLife Coach\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRahti Gorfien is a Life Coach and the Founder of Creative Calling Coaching, LLC. Rahti is an International Coach Federation accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC), ACCG Accredited ADHD Coach by the ADD Coach Academy, and a Career Specialty Services Provider (CSS). She was voted one of the 15 Best Life Coaches in New York City by Expertise in 2018. She is an alumni of the New York University Graduate Acting program and has been a working theater artist for over 30 years. Rahti Gorfien, PCC\t\t\tLife Coach\t\t\t\tSome people struggle more with hyperfocusing. Hyperfocusing is when you give all your attention to one thing, especially something that causes you pain. For some people, it's extremely difficult not to hyperfocus on these thoughts, but you need to learn to steer your brain away from them. Some people need help to do it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-13-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Set aside \u201cme time\u201d and stick to it each day.\nIt\u2019s impossible to permanently maintain a laser focus on a specific goal\u2014you\u2019ll wear yourself out physically and emotionally. If you schedule out your day, make sure to pencil in times just for you so that you can refocus and recharge. You might, for instance, set aside time to take a walk in the park, do some knitting, meditate, or do a crossword puzzle.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-14-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Share your feelings by talking to people you trust.\nIt\u2019s easy to get trapped in a cycle of trying really hard to find your focus and then berating yourself for losing it. Instead of fighting this endless battle within your own head, try talking to someone you trust\u2014a friend, a mentor, or possibly a professional therapist. You might say to a friend, \u201cI feel like I\u2019m really struggling to find my focus in life. Can I talk to you about what I\u2019m going through?\u201d\nA therapist may be able to introduce approaches that help you to identify your priorities and goals and maintain your focus on them.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Focus-in-Life-Step-15-Version-3.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "8580739", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Analyze Your Intentions\nYour intentions are defined as your aim, goal or plan in completing an objective. Sometimes, you might do something with good intentions, but have a bad result or be perceived negatively. Other times, you may not understand why you did something at all. However, through asking yourself \u201cwhy\u201d, analyzing the outcomes of your actions, and working to align your intent with your behavior, you can fully understand your intentions.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Discovering the \u201cWhy\u201d", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Identify your interests.\nOften times, your interests will align with the choices that you make. Your passion tends to lead you even more than you may be conscious of and may drive you to make certain decisions. For instance, if you love dancing, you might prioritize a dance event over something else you need to do, like work or studying. Just because you have interests, however, this is not a reason to skip out on your responsibilities. If you have made promises to others or have responsibilities, then you should attend to those first and seek fun later. Also, perhaps for you, work is priority over all. This could explain why you choose to work late some nights and find it difficult to make it in time for dinner or other family events. Remember that being successful in life is about finding balance.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Discovering the \u201cWhy\u201d", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Identify your interests.\nOften times, your interests will align with the choices that you make. Your passion tends to lead you even more than you may be conscious of and may drive you to make certain decisions. For instance, if you love dancing, you might prioritize a dance event over something else you need to do, like work or studying. Just because you have interests, however, this is not a reason to skip out on your responsibilities. If you have made promises to others or have responsibilities, then you should attend to those first and seek fun later. Also, perhaps for you, work is priority over all. This could explain why you choose to work late some nights and find it difficult to make it in time for dinner or other family events. Remember that being successful in life is about finding balance.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Determine obligations.\nIn assessing why you do the things you do, consider your responsibilities. This is perhaps the easiest and most straightforward way to determine your intentions. If you were not obligated, however, know that your decision was driven by other factors. For instance, if you fired an employee, you may have been mandated to do so by someone higher up than you. Also, if you chose to find a second job, you might have done so because your money is tight and you needed another source of income.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Assess outside influences.\nYour intentions might be to help, please or impress another person. Reflect on whether or not your actions have been influenced by someone. Perhaps this person has asked you for a favor and you feel obligated to complete it. The person might also be a significant other or family member to whom you feel a great deal of responsibility. Try to spend more time around people who are positive and who have similar values to you. Consider whether or not you would have done something had another person not been involved. Remember that outside influences are not inherently bad. You might, for instance, keep your Tuesday evenings clear because that is the day you take your grandmother out shopping. Your intention could be to please and help your grandmother.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Evaluate how well you understand a situation.\nSometimes, we make certain decisions and choices without having all of the facts. And sometimes we research extensively before acting. Having an awareness of your level of consciousness of a situation will help illuminate why you acted as you did. In assessing your intentions, be sure to be aware of what facts you may or may not have had in that situation. For instance, perhaps you leave a party with a friend who told you that they would not be drinking, but then they were pulled over and got a DUI. Though you intended to have a safe trip home, you were not aware that you friend had any drinks. Also, perhaps before you chose your classes you researched your teachers extensively and assessed your level of interest or need for the topic. In this case, your intentions would clearly have been to choose the best class and coursework for yourself. Be sure to gather all information possible, particularly when making major decisions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Journal out your thoughts.\nTake a moment to really think about why you do the things that you do, what motivates you, and what your purpose is and was. Ask yourself \u201cwhy\u201d you have done something, and be as honest as possible. Write down your responses to yourself.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Analyzing Your Impact", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Talk to others.\nIn addition to doing some self-assessment, you should also have conversations with others. Perhaps you have affected people in ways you may be unaware of, both positive and negative. If there is a specific situation that you are seeking clarity on, ask your friends, family, and coworkers what they think, especially if they were involved. They will be able to give you a perspective you may not have considered. You might say something like \u201cdo you remember when I didn\u2019t go on family vacation that year? I\u2019ve been thinking about that lately. We never talked about it much. What did you think about it?\u201d\nThe insights of others might be hard to deal with, but try not to take it personally. Take it as an opportunity to learn, grow and improve.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Be aware of other\u2019s responses to you.\nSometimes, you might be so focused on yourself and your own life that you forget to pay attention to others and the effect you have on them. Tune in more to other\u2019s responses to you. Notice their facial expressions and body language when you speak. Notice whether they smile or not when they see you. Practice being more present in the moments that you interact with others. If someone smiles and looks happy to see you or talk to you, then you likely have positive impacts on people and have good intentions that align with it. However, if you see your friends or coworkers tense up when they see you or if they don\u2019t speak, then perhaps you should do a bit more soul searching.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Complete a personality assessment.\nThere are many different personality assessments available to help assess your inner motivations. One such that is particularly popular at the moment is the \u201clove languages\u201d assessment. This quiz helps determine how you express and receive love. For example, some receive love through \u201cwords of affirmation.\u201d If you received this result, it will mean that you tend to be more verbally expressive. It can help you understand why you choose to say or not say certain things or help you understand why you have a need for certain things. Another personality assessment that might be useful is the Myers-Briggs. This assessment indicates psychological preferences and assesses how people make decisions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Assess the feedback you\u2019re getting.\nAnother way to further understand your intentions and analyze the impact you have is the assess the feedback that you elicit from others. For instance, if your boss or coworkers are constantly telling you that they don\u2019t feel that you are a team player, this should create some cause for pause for you. It might mean that you are not truly invested in the work or perhaps your office culture is not a natural fit for you. Think about the feedback that you get from family and friends, as well. They know you better than anyone.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Accept responsibility for your actions.\nThe responses you get from others will perhaps align with thoughts that you already had about yourself or stand in contrast with them. You may find that those close to you have issues with you that you did not know about. If so, you should listen to them and apologize for any wrongdoing at your hands. Having a greater knowledge of the impact you have and acknowledging it is the first step in aligning the person you want to be with the person you are currently. Accept responsibility for the positive effects you have had on others, as well, and continue to make such an impact.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Aligning Your Actions with Your Intent", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Keep your promises.\nAfter you have successfully considered your behaviors and garnered a greater understanding of the consequences, both positive and negative, of your actions, it is time to work to align those actions with your intentions. One of the first ways to ensure that you are doing that is to keep your promises. Your word should mean something and others should be able to trust that you will do what you say you\u2019ll do. Honor your promises, responsibilities, and commitments. For instance, if you tell a friend that you will pick them up at 7:00PM, do all that is within your power to be there at that time. If you find, however, that you will not be able to keep your promise then you should tell the other person as soon as possible and work to rectify the situation. Try to keep things in perspective and in balance.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-11-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Monitor your behavior.\nRemember that, though you would perhaps prefer to be judged by your intentions rather than your actions and their consequences, that you are always being observed by others. Though first impressions are important, remember that people\u2019s opinion of you is constantly in flux and is dependant upon everything you do and say. Be sure to always act in ways that are positive, kind and productive. Show kindness to everyone you meet and avoid gossiping or speaking negatively of others. Maintain high ethical standards and attend to your responsibilities.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-12-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Follow your passion.\nIf you are doing what you love, then your intentions and actions will often align well. Strive to live a life that is joyful and fulfilling for you and it will be all the easier to understand your inner desires. Remember to still attend to your obligations, however. For instance, though you may love to paint, you should not necessarily quit your day job to do so. Find a way to balance your obligations with your interests.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-13-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Be who you want to become.\nEvery day of your life, you should make decisions and actions that will direct you into becoming a better person. Don\u2019t set yourself back by making poor choices or falling into bad habits. Instead, work to improve yourself and good decisions will naturally come from you. Consider reading self help books or becoming more spiritual. Capture your accomplishments and progress in your journal.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-14-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Surround yourself with positive people.\nThey say that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Be very mindful of the company you keep and only keep positive and uplifting people close to you. Negative people can be a poison and can lead you to do things that are out of your character. Choose your friends carefully!", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Analyze-Your-Intentions-Step-15-Version-2.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "88373", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Follow Gandhian Principles Without Feeling Restricted\nGandhian principles can sometimes feel too restrictive, especially in the present day. While ideally, someone looking to follow Gandhian principles should follow them to the T, sometimes it can feel overly and lead to you abandoning Gandhism altogether. This wikiHow will teach you how to apply the teachings of Gandhi in modern life in a non-restrictive manner, without losing their essence.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Learning About Gandhi's Principles", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Learn about Gandhi's principles.\nThere are 6 principles that Mahatma Gandhi followed:Truth: learning from your own mistakes and conducting experiments on yourself. Nonviolence: nonviolent resistance connected in a way to religion. Vegetarianism: carved in the Hindu and Jain traditions in India. Brahmacharya: spiritual and practical purity. Simplicity: giving up unnecessary spending. Faith: belief in a higher power and that all religions are real and are equal.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-Gandhi%27s-Principles-Step-1.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Learning About Gandhi's Principles", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Learn about Gandhi's principles.\nThere are 6 principles that Mahatma Gandhi followed:Truth: learning from your own mistakes and conducting experiments on yourself. Nonviolence: nonviolent resistance connected in a way to religion. Vegetarianism: carved in the Hindu and Jain traditions in India. Brahmacharya: spiritual and practical purity. Simplicity: giving up unnecessary spending. Faith: belief in a higher power and that all religions are real and are equal.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-Gandhi%27s-Principles-Step-1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Learn about the differing circumstances under which you and Gandhi lived.\nThese will help you alter the principles so you can live by them without feeling restricted.He lived in India from 1869 to 1948, mainly adhering to these principles in the '30s and '40s. We live in a society that is more technologically advanced, is more materialistic, and doesn't fight for the same reasons (we have more opportunities to do what we want to do)", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-Gandhi%27s-Principles-Step-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Applying Gandhi's Principle Without Feeling Restricted", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Apply the principle of Truth.\nFight your own inner demons, fear, and insecurities. Everyone is unique in this world and therefore, one should not compare with others. Be honest with yourself about who you are and what you want. If you think there is something to fix, then fix it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-Gandhi%27s-Principles-Step-3Bullet1.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Practice nonviolence.\nControl your temper and also your thoughts. What we think, we become and therefore if you always are thinking of hurting someone or feeling extremely angry at someone, those are the vibes you'll be giving to others. The best way to be nonviolent is to think positively and believe that whatever happens is for a good reason. Nonviolence and forgiveness are the higher calling of virtue.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-Gandhi%27s-Principles-Step-3Bullet2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Resist eating meat.\nNot everyone can resist meat, but you can control your consumption. For health reasons, avoiding eating a lot of red meat is a good idea.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-Gandhi%27s-Principles-Step-3Bullet3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Avoid premarital sex.\nMany of us want to get married and have children or be intimate with someone. Therefore, practicing brahmacharya might not be possible. However, you ought not think of the opposite sex as an object. You could also wait to be intimate with someone till after marriage. Gandhi's life is known to not be a good example of sexual purity, as he used his position to sexually exploit young women. This fact, along with his views about racial purity, help us to view Gandhi as a flawed man. However, we cannot let the imperfections of men and women deter us from pursuing high ideals and sound principles. Principles stand on their own merit, regardless of any individual's life or level of moral uprightness.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-Gandhi%27s-Principles-Step-3Bullet4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Avoid consuming more than you need.\nLife in western countries tends to be quite fast. Do you need the latest fashion clothing or can you wear the clothes you already have? Do you need 50-100 pairs of shoes? Do you need the latest gadgets? Do you need a brand new BMW? Simplicity doesn't mean foregoing all your desires, but not buying something right away or something you don't really need. Simplicity also means being happy with what you are given and have.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-Gandhi%27s-Principles-Step-3Bullet5.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Have faith.\nYou don't have to believe in God, but it is good to believe that everyone has equal inherent value - you are no less or more than someone else. It is about knowing your values, ethics, and morals. Faith is not following others blindly - especially when someone else is doing something that your heart says is not right.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Follow-Gandhi%27s-Principles-Step-3Bullet6.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "9065494", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Stop Feeling Self\u2010Righteous\nFeeling self-righteous all the time makes it harder to understand other people, make friends, and resolve relationship problems. Luckily, if you\u2019ve realized that you\u2019re too self-righteous, you\u2019ve already taken the first step towards fixing the problem. You can adjust your attitude by forming deeper connections with other people, avoiding biased thoughts, and staying humble about your own viewpoints.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Connecting with Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Look at the world through other people\u2019s eyes.\nWhen you find yourself looking down on someone, think about what their life is like. Ask yourself how they might be feeling or what they might need right now. Try to imagine how their circumstances have shaped their philosophy about life. For instance, someone who\u2019s always lived in a big city may not see the world the same way someone from a small town does.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Conduct-Research-Step-4.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Connecting with Others", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Look at the world through other people\u2019s eyes.\nWhen you find yourself looking down on someone, think about what their life is like. Ask yourself how they might be feeling or what they might need right now. Try to imagine how their circumstances have shaped their philosophy about life. For instance, someone who\u2019s always lived in a big city may not see the world the same way someone from a small town does.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Conduct-Research-Step-4.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Get to know people.\nInstead of judging strangers or assuming you won\u2019t like them, reach out and say hello. Introduce yourself to neighbors, coworkers, or classmates from different backgrounds. Be friendly and curious, and you\u2019ll have an easier time understanding why people act and think the way they do.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Reconnect-With-Old-Friends-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Listen attentively to others.\nWhen you\u2019re having a conversation, focus on understanding the other person. Pay attention to their body language, tone of voice, and emotions, as well as their words. Don't judge while you are listening. Do your best to see where they are coming from, even if you don\u2019t agree. Show the other person you\u2019re paying attention to them by nodding at appropriate times and saying things like \u201cThen what happened?\u201d or \u201cMm-hmm.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-a-Better-Girlfriend-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Focus on common ground.\nIf you dwell on all the ways someone is different from you, you might end up feeling like you\u2019re better than them. Instead, try to find ways you\u2019re alike. When you feel like someone is \u201con your team,\u201d even in a small way, you\u2019re less likely to feel self-righteous towards them. For instance, maybe you and a new acquaintance can connect over your mutual love of mystery novels, or maybe you both came from large families.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-with-Your-Teenage-Friends-%28Girls%29-Step-8-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Forgive someone if they've hurt you.\nIf someone has hurt you, make the choice to forgive them instead of carrying around a self-righteous grudge. Bitterness and resentment only hurt you, not the person who wronged you. Try to see the situation from their point-of-view and think about how you might have handled it. Consider whether the person really meant to hurt you, or whether they were just acting in an inconsiderate or shortsighted way.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Build-Trust-in-a-Relationship-Step-13-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Thinking without Bias", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Ask yourself why you judge other people.\nThink about which circumstances and emotions trigger feelings of self-righteousness in you. This can be a tough question to answer, so be honest with yourself. Often, people are judgmental when they\u2019re feeling insecure or inferior about themselves. For instance, you might judge others for having a negative trait that you possess and dislike in yourself, even if you\u2019re not consciously aware of it. You might also judge others when you\u2019re feeling envious of them for some reason. If you are judging someone because they have hurt or upset you, you may want to find a healthier way to deal with your feelings. Try talking to the person about the situation.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Calm-Self-Harming-Thoughts-Step-11-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Learn to see the middle ground of situations.\nIt\u2019s all too easy to feel self-righteous when you see the world in black-and-white terms, but very few things in the world are all good or all bad. Get comfortable with the idea that your own way of thinking probably has some flaws, and different ways of thinking probably have some good points. Talking to lots of different people is one good way to adopt a more flexible mindset. You can also practice debating with yourself. Think of an idea you support, like \u201cCats make better pets than dogs.\u201d Then come up with some reasons people might disagree with you, like \u201cDogs are better pets for people who spend a lot of time outdoors.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Have-Fun-with-Your-Teenage-Friends-%28Girls%29-Step-20-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Avoid stereotyping people.\nDon\u2019t overgeneralize about other people, or you might end up writing them off for no good reason. Get to know them as individuals instead. You might be surprised at how much variation there is between people, even within the same groups. For instance, if your workplace has just hired a new boss, don\u2019t think, \u201cShe\u2019s a manager \u2013 she must be uptight.\u201d Wait and see what she\u2019s like in person.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Make-Friends-at-a-New-School-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Ask yourself if your judgments are based on fact or emotion.\nWhen you feel strongly about something, take a second to fact-check it. Emotion is important, but if you don\u2019t temper your feelings with facts, you might have some distorted thinking patterns. Knee-jerk judgments and thinking the worst are a couple examples of overly-emotional thinking. For instance, if your friend forgets your birthday and you think, \u201cShe doesn\u2019t care about me. This is the end of our friendship,\u201d you\u2019re thinking the worst. If you are feeling emotional, upset, or angry, try talking to a close friend. They may be able to provide a rational perspective while helping you process your emotions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Convince-Yourself-That-You%27re-Happy-Being-Alone-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Stop thinking in terms of what you \u201cshould\u201d do.\nDo you have clear-cut ideas about how you and other people should behave? \u201cShould\u201d is a subjective word, and having a long list of \u201cshoulds\u201d and \u201cshouldn\u2019ts\u201d can make you feel self-righteous when other people don\u2019t live the way you think they ought to. Replace \u201cshould\u201d in your vocabulary with other words, like \u201ccould\u201d or \u201cwant to.\u201d\nFor instance, instead of telling yourself \u201cI should eat vegetables tonight,\u201d tell yourself, \u201cI could eat vegetables tonight.\u201d\nOr, instead of thinking, \u201cOther people should do it this way,\u201d adjust your thinking to, \u201cOther people don\u2019t do it this way. I wonder if I can find out why.\u201d", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Feel-Good-About-Yourself-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Practicing Humility", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Assert yourself without putting others down.\nWhen you get into a discussion or argument, stand up for yourself, but don\u2019t try to tear other ideas down in the process. You don\u2019t have to \u201cwin\u201d every time you disagree with someone. Hear the other person out, and then politely explain why you disagree with them. Say something like, \u201cI see where you\u2019re coming from, but I still see it this way because\u2026\u201d\nA lot of minor disagreements aren\u2019t worth getting worked up about. Save your energy by agreeing to disagree.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Mature-Step-14-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Accept that people do things differently.\nThere\u2019s no right way to accomplish most things in life, so don\u2019t expect people to do things exactly like you. If your method works for you, and their method works for them, neither of you is wrong or better than the other. For instance, it doesn\u2019t really matter if you and your spouse clean the kitchen differently, as long as the end result is a clean kitchen.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Friends-with-Everyone-Step-12.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Realize you\u2019re probably not as superior as you think you are.\nMost people overestimate their own abilities and talents. This can lead to feeling like you\u2019re better than other people, even though it\u2019s just an illusion much of the time. Be aware of your biases, and be honest with yourself about your bad qualities as well as your good ones.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Make-Yourself-Happy-Step-6.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Stop trying to change other people.\nSelf-righteous people often try to bring others around to their way of thinking, but this won\u2019t work. No one should feel pressured to give up their own ideas and quirks for the sake of fitting somebody else\u2019s preferences. Live out your ideals proudly yourself, and accept other people the way they are. For instance, if you\u2019re passionate about the environment and your family isn\u2019t, don\u2019t nag them to become more like you. Instead, focus on what you can do yourself, such as volunteering for community clean-ups.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Help-the-Homeless-Step-7.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "917407", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Get Away from Reality\nNone", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Escaping to a Better You", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Exercise.\nExercise can be a good way to get your mind off of the world around you, while also making you into a stronger, healthier person. Scientists have established that exercise has some natural neurological effects that make us happier. Long distance running, for example, will eventually cause a \u201crunner\u2019s high,\u201d but even short workouts make us feel better. Thirty minutes of brisk walking per day is enough to significantly decrease anxiety and depression.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Escaping to a Better You", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Exercise.\nExercise can be a good way to get your mind off of the world around you, while also making you into a stronger, healthier person. Scientists have established that exercise has some natural neurological effects that make us happier. Long distance running, for example, will eventually cause a \u201crunner\u2019s high,\u201d but even short workouts make us feel better. Thirty minutes of brisk walking per day is enough to significantly decrease anxiety and depression.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Meditate.\nMeditation involves, by its very nature, taking your mind off of the world around you. However, it has been shown to have positive psychological and neurological effects. Although there are various types of meditation, the one that is best established scientifically (and most likely to distract you) is mindful meditation. Mindful meditation is when you focus exclusively on one thing around you. The standard practice is to think about only your breathing, though you could also focus on a different sensation in your body or on an object in your environment. When your mind begins to stray, try to direct it back to the object of your meditation. This practice has been shown to increase your ability to recruit high order pre-frontal regions of the brain, essentially allowing your conscious mind to suppress unconscious anxieties.If you are having trouble controlling your emotions, mindful meditation might be the solution for you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Travel.\nTraveling, especially spending an extended period of time in someplace culturally foreign, is shown to make people more agreeable and emotionally stable. Travel is a good way to escape the daily humdrum of your life, while learning something about the wider world around you. Like most forms of escapism though, travel can be harmfully addictive if you rely too heavily on it for your happiness. You might be addicted to travel if you feel depressed for an extended period of time upon your return from a trip or if travel is impeding your ability to establish a financial and social foundation at home. If you find this to be the case, consider taking a break from travel.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Read.\nSitting back with a book can be a great way to escape the world around you while expanding your vocabulary, reading comprehension, and other language arts skills. The best books for escapism are typically those that don\u2019t remind us of real world problems. Experts say that the best books for escapism are fantasy and children\u2019s stories. These usually take us to a very different world, without any of the issues that we experience in our own lives.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Listen to music.\nMusic can be a great way to regulate your moods. It is used both to make us happier and to cope with sadness. It can distract us, but it can also foster an awareness of our emotions. It can be used, therefore, both to seek escape and come to grips with what we\u2019re escaping.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Take up a creative hobby.\nKnitting, art, music, woodworking, and other crafts require attention to detail. They compel you to take your mind off of what is bothering you and to focus on what you create. When everything is said and done, you will have distracted yourself and learned a useful skill. Perhaps you will even have produced something that can either earn you money or provide enjoyment to other people.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Indulging in Recreational Escapism", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Watch TV.\nTV is a great way to distract yourself, because it naturally quiets your thoughts. However, TV isn\u2019t great for you; every hour of TV you watch is estimated to reduce your life expectancy by 22 minutes. While the science is still developing, limiting yourself to something like two hours of TV per day is probably ideal.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Play video games.\nVideo games, especially those that involve expansive fantasy worlds, can help us relax and escape the world around us. Because they\u2019re more active than TV, moderate video game use can actually be helpful, making kids more social and happy as well as encouraging certain types of mental development. However, the benefits of video games stop accumulating after an hour of play per day.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Surf the web.\nThe internet can be a great place to learn things and keep in touch with people. Excessive time online, however, will make us lonelier, less productive, and keep us up at night. Experts suggest that we spend no more than two hours per day online. Don\u2019t interpret the time allotted to surfing the web, playing video games, or watching TV as cumulative. In general, you should try to only spend about two hours per day in front of a screen of any sort.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Go out for a drink with friends.\nCoffee and conversation is a good way to perk yourself up. Even a milkshake can help you out. Alcohol and socialization is also an obvious way to change your mood. Less obvious is what role alcohol should play in our lives. Studies have shown that moderate drinking can have small health benefits, but extreme alcohol consumption is very detrimental to us. Experts recommend no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-10-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Recognizing When Your Escapism Has Become Unhealthy", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Understand what is at stake.\nA host of studies have shown that people who regularly try to escape reality experience anxiety and depression. Although the things they use to escape reality make them happier in the short-term, they\u2019re usually using them to escape a situation that will only get worse if it isn\u2019t addressed. Escapism can be divided into four stages, healthy enjoyment, avoidance, neglect, and obsession. Once you begin putting off important issues you have reached \u201cavoidance\u201d and when you allow your life to begin falling apart you have entered \u201cneglect.\u201d By \u201cobsession,\u201d you have difficulty finding enjoyment in the real world. If you find that you are engaged in anything other than healthy enjoyment, you should consider changing your lifestyle.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-11-Version-3.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Look back to see what you\u2019re running from.\nEscapism is, by its definition, an effort to run from something you don\u2019t want to confront. Diagnosing what that is can be difficult, precisely because you are afraid of it. Find strength in the knowledge that the situation will only get worse if you don\u2019t do anything about it. Sometimes it can also be hard for us to see what we\u2019re running from because we\u2019ve never known anything different. Talking to someone else, especially a professional therapist, will give us new perspective and help us diagnose what we dislike about our lives.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-12-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Fix it.\nOnce we know what is bothering with us we can make an effort to fix it. Try to channel the energy that you had been expending on escapism into something that will fix your problems. For example, if you are discontent with your romantic life, go out and meet people instead of staying inside. Many of our issues are really about confidence, and for those, positive self talk can be useful. Your own mental dialogue defines how you perceive yourself. To be more confident, spend more time thinking positive things about yourself. You can also spend more time trying to rectify whatever you have problems with. If, after some self searching, you find that you are upset with your physical condition, invest some time into exercise. If you are concerned about your grades, spend more time studying. If your financial situation bothers you, begin researching new career opportunities.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-13-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Escape to reality.\nTry to have a good time in the real world. Explore the city that you live in, try to pick up new skills or languages. Most importantly, go out and see people. While talking to people online might seem to fill a social need, studies show that people who primarily socialize online are actually lonelier. The exception to this rule is if you are using the internet to stay in touch with real world friends and family. That is different than trying to carve out a social life that is entirely digital. You can also use the internet as a jumping point to find people with similar interests whom you can socialize with in person. Meetup.com is a good resource for taking online interactions into a healthier real world environment.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Get-Away-from-Reality-Step-14-Version-2.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "970661", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Explore Layers in the Mind and Live Beyond Them\nIn many traditional and new-age philosophies, the mind seen as being made up of a series of overlapping layers, each with its own purpose. These layers are ultimately constructions of our own mind and, therefore, with the correct approach, they can also be deconstructed when we need to reexamine and adjust our innermost motivations, dreams, fears, sadness, and worries. Knowing yourself is the key to going beyond your surface-level thoughts and unpacking inner layers. It can take time to gain this sort of self-knowledge, so be patient and practice consistently to attain this heightened state of awareness.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Exploring Your Inner Mind", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Set the scene.\nDelving into the depths of your mind isn't something you can do while you're downing a coffee on the way to work. This careful introspection requires time and focused attention on your part. Before you get started, find a safe, comfortable, and peaceful location where you are unlikely to be disturbed for a while. If necessary, eliminate any distracting noises or lights. This location can be anywhere you feel at peace \u2014 a cozy armchair in your study, a mat on the floor of an unfurnished room, or even outside in the wilderness. Most schools of meditation recommend against attempting this sort of introspection somewhere that you associate with sleep, like a bed, as this can lead to unintended naps.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Exploring Your Inner Mind", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Set the scene.\nDelving into the depths of your mind isn't something you can do while you're downing a coffee on the way to work. This careful introspection requires time and focused attention on your part. Before you get started, find a safe, comfortable, and peaceful location where you are unlikely to be disturbed for a while. If necessary, eliminate any distracting noises or lights. This location can be anywhere you feel at peace \u2014 a cozy armchair in your study, a mat on the floor of an unfurnished room, or even outside in the wilderness. Most schools of meditation recommend against attempting this sort of introspection somewhere that you associate with sleep, like a bed, as this can lead to unintended naps.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-1-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Clear your head of distracting thoughts.\nFree yourself of any worries or stresses that may be weighing on you. Realize that whatever is distracting you from devoting your full focus to your introspection is just a thought \u2014 a thought that, like any other, can be ignored in favor of more important thoughts. Remember: There's no worry that you didn't create for yourself, so there's no worry that you can't set aside. This doesn't necessarily mean pretending whatever problems you have don't exist. Rather, it means acknowledging these problems and resolving your feelings about them so that you can turn your thoughts to other things.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-2-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Practice meditation.\nFind a comfortable position, still your body, and close your eyes. Slow your breathing as you take deep, filling breaths. Keep your back straight and upright to prevent yourself from falling asleep \u2014 other than this, your exact position isn't important. Allow your thoughts to decouple from the normal, unproductive cycle of stress and worry. If stressful thoughts arise, acknowledge them, realize that they are extensions of your innermost self that can be controlled, and set them aside. Meditation is a topic that been captured by much excellent, inspired writing. For more detailed discussion of meditation techniques, see wikiHow's article on the subject or outside resources like this guide for traditional Buddhist meditation.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-3-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Turn your focus inward.\nAllow your thoughts to turn back onto yourself. Detach yourself from your emotions. Realize that your sense of experience, your sensations, and your feelings are all a creation of your inner self. Everything that exists within you and without you is an extension of your mind \u2014 your surroundings, for instance, are just images created and interpreted by your inner self. Thus, by exploring the layers of your mind, you can come to a greater understanding of the world in general. You are not attempting to scrutinize or criticize yourself here \u2014 any feelings of emotional pain or discomfort should be a sign that you have not yet detached yourself from your emotions.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-4-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: If necessary, try putting yourself outside of your comfort zone.\nIf you can't get the hang of meditation, broaden your horizons. Some people find that they are able to achieve transcendent states of consciousness by participating in activities that they would normally have an aversion to. This benefit can be long-lasting \u2014 in the most extreme cases, semi-permanent personality changes can make it easier to achieve introspection in the long term. As long as these activities are safe, you may want to try one in place of meditation. A few examples are below:\nPerforming strenuous exercise\nGoing on a wilderness journey\nSpeaking or performing in public\nTalking about a secret memory or feeling with someone else\nWriting about inner emotions in a diary\nSkydiving or bungee jumping", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-5-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 6: Focus on the self that you project externally.\nThe first, surface layer of the mind is the layer that you use to present yourself to others (especially people you don't know well.) This layer is often used to build a complicated fa\u00e7ade that hides your true thoughts and feelings behind a \"proper,\" \"acceptable\" state of being. Let yourself explore thoughts of who you are to other people. To begin to get a grip on your mental layers, you must recognize these surface-level characteristics before you can search for their source. You may want to use these basic thoughts to get you started:\n\"My name is ...\"\n\"I live at ...\"\n\"I work at ...\"\n\"I like this, I don't like that ...\"\n\"I do this, I don't do that ...\"\n\"I like these people, but not these people ...\"\n... and so on. The memories, experiences, and personal values you find during this step and the others in this section can be valuable. You may want to consider writing down any major insights you have during these exercises, especially, once you venture deep into your consciousness. A digital recorder can be handy if you don't want to break your concentration to write.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-6-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 7: Examine your routines and rituals.\nThinking about the things you do regularly can offer unexpected insights when viewed through an introspective frame of consciousness. Allow your thoughts to turn the regular events that punctuate your daily life. Think to yourself, \"how do these things make me feel? Why do I do them? The goal here is to start to see how much of your sense of self is caught up in these repetitive behaviors. Here are a few example thoughts. Notice that these are surprisingly mundane. If you are like most people, much of your mind may be dedicated to things that don't ultimately have much importance. \"When I get up?\" \"Where I buy my groceries?\" \"What do I usually eat throughout the day?\" \"Which interests do I pursue at precise times during the day?\" \"Which people I prefer spending time with?\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-7-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 8: Search for your thoughts of the past and future.\nHow did you get where you are today? Where are you going? Truthfully answering these questions can be eye-opening. Experiences, people, goals, dreams, and fears aren't usually things that affect us for one single moment \u2014 rather, they extend from the present into the past and future, shaping who we are over time. Thus, understanding the \"was\" and \"will be\" of yourself can help you get a better picture of who you \"are.\" Here are some questions to focus on:\n\"What have I done for work in the past? What do I eventually want to do?\" \"Who have I loved? Who will I love in the future?\" \"What have I done with my time in the past? How do I want to spend the time I have left?\" \"How have I felt about who I was? How do I want to feel about myself in the future?\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-8-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 9: Dig for your true hopes and desires.\nNow that you've broken down the important aspects of the self discussed above, you have a chance to contemplate your true, inner self. Start by finding the parts of yourself that you don't show to others. These may be opinions that you're embarrassed about, things you've done that you don't want others to know, feelings you don't know how to express, and much more \u2014 anything that isn't part of the \"self\" you present in your day-to-day life. For example, you may want to ponder these sorts of questions:\n\"How do I really feel about the things I spend most of my day doing?\" \"How confident am I really in my plan for the future?\" \"What memory or feeling do I spend a lot of time thinking about that no one else knows?\" \"Are there things that I secretly want but don't have?\" \"Do I wish that I could feel a certain way?\" \"Are there things that I secretly feel about the people close to me?\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-9-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 10: Consider your perception of the world.\nThe way you truly view the world \u2014 your worldview \u2014 is one of the most profound layers of your self. In some ways, your worldview is the single most important piece of your personality since it affects the way you interact with almost everything: from people, to animals, to nature, to, of course, yourself. To determine your worldview, use broad questions about humanity and the world at large, like, for instance:\n\"Do I think people are basically good, or basically bad?\" \"Do I believe it is possible for people to surpass their flaws?\" \"Do I believe in a higher power?\" \"Do I believe there is a point to life?\" \"Do I have hope for the future?\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-10-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 11: Consider your perception of yourself.\nFinally, allow your thoughts to turn inward until you discover what you truly think of yourself. This layer of the mind is one of the deepest \u2014 it's not often that we spend time thinking about how we feel about ourselves, but these deep thoughts can affect our cognitive patterns and the quality of our lives more than almost anything else. Don't be afraid to unearth truths that may profoundly affect you \u2014 digging this deep into the layers of your mind is usually a very enlightening experience, though it can be fraught with emotion. You will emerge from your introspection with a greater understanding of yourself. Here are just a few things you may want to consider. As you answer these questions, keep your answers to your earlier questions in mind. \"Do I criticize myself too much? Praise myself too much?\" \"Are there parts of myself that I like or dislike when I see them in other people?\" \"Do I want certain things that I see in other people?\" \"Do I want to be the person who I am?\"", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-11-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Improving Your Sense of Self", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Search for causes of your self-image.\nAcknowledging harsh truths about your self-image should not be the final step of your introspective journey. With careful contemplation, improvement is possible. First, try to determine why you have the self-image that you do. There may or may not be a single primary cause. You may not be able to explain it at all, no matter how hard you try. This is OK. In this case, simply try to acknowledge that you feel the way that you do about yourself for a reason. Once you realize that your self-image has a cause (even one that's hard to define), you can try to improve it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-12-Version-2.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Prioritize the things that are important to you in life.\nIf you are like most people today, a self-image that's less-than perfect may be due to the fact that you place too much importance in things that don't actually have any value or benefit for you. Ideally, removing your attachment to these things will give you a happier life and a better self-image \u2014 if you're not constantly chasing these things, you'll remove many of your daily stresses and you'll be able to concentrate more on the most important things of all: yourself and the people close to you. Things that are often highly prized today but which have little effect on your true happiness include money, material goods, social status, and so on. On the other hand, things that are often sacrificed in favor of relatively unimportant distractions include personal time, contemplation, personal projects, friends, and family. In fact, strong family ties have been scientifically proven to bring more happiness than a high income. With this in mind, list that prioritizes the importance of the major things in one person's life might look like this:\nKids\nSpouse\nRelatives\nJob\nFriends\nHobby\nWealth", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-13.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Determine how far will you go to pursue the most important things.\nUnfortunately, people sometimes betray something high on their list of personal priorities (such as a strong sense of ethics) in order to protect another lower down on the list (such as being able to drive a nice car.) Your goal here is to determine how far you are willing to go to achieve the things at the top of your list, knowing, of course, that this may mean sacrificing the things at the bottom. One good example of this is from literature: In Shakespeare's Othello, the character Othello kills Desdemona, the woman he loved, because he was led to believe by his friend Iago that she was cheating on him. In this case, Othello is unfortunately driven to permanently give up perhaps the most important thing in the world \u2014 the person he loves \u2014 because he places his personal honor and reputation above it. Placing this much importance in something that doesn't truly make him happy doesn't work out well for Othello: at the end of the play, he kills himself.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-14.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Find freedom in what you can and cannot change.\nOnce you've determined exactly what you're willing to do to get the things that are at the top of your list, it should be clear what you can and can't reasonably get. Thus, you should ideally no longer have any reason to maintain a negative self-image: you now have a plan for getting the most important things in the world to you, so all you need is to simply do it! Having a negative self-image won't help you, so you don't need it.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-15.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 5: Plan to release your attachment to the unimportant things in life.\nRealistically, it's often difficult to give up major portions of your life immediately. The important thing in these cases is to acknowledge that you're devoting your energies to the wrong things and make plans to fix this. Make concrete plans to strip away all of the unimportant aspects of your life so you can focus on what's most important with your full attention. For instance, if you have the epiphany that you spend more time worrying about your job than you do spending time with you family (when, in reality, your family is more important to you) you still may not be able to change your job right if your family is dependent on you for income. However, you can start looking for new jobs while maintaining your obligations to your family.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Explore-Layers-in-the-Mind-and-Live-Beyond-Them-Step-16.jpg" } ] } ] }, { "id": "982880", "image": null, "conversations": [ { "from": "human", "content": [ { "text": "How to Be Your Own Life Coach\nA life coach is somebody who helps you manage various aspects of your life, from your career goals to your finances to your personal life. While there are professional life-coaches who are paid for their insights, each and every one of us has the power to write our own destiny. Read this article to learn how.", "image": null }, { "text": "Method 1: Being Introspective", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Observe your own behavior and thought patterns.\nThis will help you recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and identify which aspects of your life need improvement. Remember that before you fix something, you must first identify the problem(s). Practice viewing your own life from an objective standpoint, i.e. from the perspective of somebody else. This might take months of practice, so be patient and keep reminding yourself to take a step back every once in a while to reflect. Notice how you react to stress, excitement, anger, and anxiety. While these are universal human emotions, we all handle them differently. Do you handle these negative emotions rationally, or do you let them blow out of proportion? Pay attention to what triggers these emotions: school, work, family, etc.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-01.jpg" } ] }, { "from": "gpt", "content": [ { "text": "Method 1: Being Introspective", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Observe your own behavior and thought patterns.\nThis will help you recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and identify which aspects of your life need improvement. Remember that before you fix something, you must first identify the problem(s). Practice viewing your own life from an objective standpoint, i.e. from the perspective of somebody else. This might take months of practice, so be patient and keep reminding yourself to take a step back every once in a while to reflect. Notice how you react to stress, excitement, anger, and anxiety. While these are universal human emotions, we all handle them differently. Do you handle these negative emotions rationally, or do you let them blow out of proportion? Pay attention to what triggers these emotions: school, work, family, etc.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-01.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Pay attention to your relationships with others.\nYour relationships with friends, family members, and coworkers reveal a great deal about the kind of person you are. Ask yourself the following questions:\nDo you frequently argue with friends and family members? Who is usually the one who instigates these arguments? How do you reconcile disagreements? Do you compromise, or do you always assert your position? Are there certain people in your life that make you feel irritated or insecure? Why is that? Have you been neglecting or ignoring your loved ones? When was the last time you showed a friend or loved one that you care for them?", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-02.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Identify your fears and insecurities about the future.\nThis will help you put your fears in perspective. The key is to determine whether a fear is rational (i.e. a real danger), or if it stems from personal insecurities. Consider the following exercise:\nThink of a fear. For example, \"I'm afraid of going back to school because I don't think I'm a strong student.\" Now, imagine that one of your good friends or family members told you that he or she felt this way. How would you react? What kind of advice would you give him or her? Would you tell this person to give up, or tell them that it is worth a try? We oftentimes give better advice than we are willing to take ourselves, because of the bias we have toward our own insecurities. Remember that even the most successful inventors, entrepreneurs, and scientists were at one point in their lives doubtful of their own capacity. They were probably told by people around them that what they wanted to do was impossible, and yet they pushed through and followed their dreams.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-03.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Start a journal.\nJournals are a great way to keep track of what has happened in your life (both good and bad) and how you reacted to these situations. Reviewing your journal entries will help you put your life in perspective, notice patterns, and identify recurring problems. Go back and re-read old entries once some time has passed. Now that you are no longer in the heat of the moment, do you think that you reacted appropriately to the situation? How could you have handled it better? Keep these things in mind for the future.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-04.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 2: Choosing The Right Path", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Identify your interests.\nThe best way to have a fulfilling life is to spend your time doing things that you genuinely care about. Consider whether you are interested in art, science, politics, or the environment. Think about what you want your life's legacy to be. How do you want to impact the world around you? These questions will help you find the right career path for you. Learn to distinguish between your hobbies and your bigger interests. Just because you like to play guitar, doesn't necessarily mean you should pursue music as a career. But if you eat, sleep and breathe guitar, then continue to practice and perfect your craft and pursue your dream. Don't give up on your hobbies. Just because your passion isn't lucrative, doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't partake in it. In fact, the opposite is true. Life is about learning to balance work and fun, and giving up either will be detrimental to your emotional health. Remember that if you have never worked at anything, you won't be able to appreciate the free time you have to partake in hobbies or spend time with friends.", "image": "./images/v4-459px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-05.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Explore and develop your talents.\nIf you want to reach your full potential, you will have to devote time to strengthening the talents you already have, and uncovering any hidden talents that you haven't discovered yet. Take classes or private lessons in subjects that you are interested in, even if you have no previous experience. You never know when that one elective will open the door to an entirely new career that you had never considered. Don't be discouraged if you realize that you are not skilled at something. Remember that even recognizing what you are not good at is still a step in the right direction, pointing you toward what you are good at.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-06.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Pursue your goals passionately and responsibly.\nOnce you have set your mind to doing something, follow through with it. Be prepared for obstacles, and don't expect immediate results. All good things take time and hard work, but it will be well worth it in the end when you achieve your goals. Remember that at the end of your life, you are much more likely to regret the things you didn't do than the things you did do.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-07.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 4: Stand up for yourself.\nIn life, you will undoubtedly come across people who will try to take advantage of you, whether it is financially or emotionally. While you should strive to be a sensitive, caring person on the one hand, you must also be tough-skinned and not let people walk all over you. Be skeptical when people ask you to borrow money, constantly expect you to pay for things, or ask for favors without reciprocating. This person is probably taking advantage of you. Be vocal when something is bothering you. Whether it is your employer, your spouse, or your family member, you should get in the habit of calmly letting people know when they have crossed the line. You might be surprised to learn that this person had no idea that he or she was upsetting you.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-08.jpg" }, { "text": "Method 3: Gaining a Positive Outlook", "image": null }, { "text": "Step 1: Learn to silence negative thoughts.\nSome people say \"you are what you eat.\" Even more so, you are what you think. Positive thinking has the power to transform a mundane or even unpleasant experience into a wonderful one. Thinking positively will give you the foundation for a happier life, regardless of what happens to you. If you catch yourself having a negative thought, take a step back, identify the thought, and label it as a \"negative\" thought. Learning to isolate negative thoughts will help you put your worries and insecurities to rest. Begin a regular meditation practice. Meditation is the practice of developing mindful awareness. Meditation not only trains you to silence negative thoughts, it helps you calm all thoughts, good or bad, so that you can learn to enjoy the present moment.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-09.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 2: Surround yourself with positive people.\nRemember that other peoples' energy will rub off on you, especially if you spend a great deal of time with them. Make a point to spend time with friends and loved ones who make you feel better, not worse. Before distancing yourself from friends or family members who you consider to be \"toxic,\" try to be a positive influence in their attitudes rather than succumbing to their negativity. Terminate any physically or emotionally abusive relationships immediately. No matter how forgiving a person you may be, there is no excuse for violence and abuse.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-10.jpg" }, { "text": "Step 3: Be thankful.\nMany of us define ourselves in terms of what we want to do or what we want to own. In other words, we define ourselves in terms of what we don't have. This in essence suggests that we are somehow incomplete. Take some time to be thankful for the things you do have, whether they are physical objects or not, on a daily basis. Remember positive memories. While it seems impossible to forget embarrassing or sad memories, many of us overlook all of the great memories that have taken place in our lives. Think of the best day(s) you have had in the past month or year. Remember special parties, vacations, and holidays. Appreciate the wonderful people you have in your life. If you are depressed because you don't have a boyfriend or girlfriend, dwelling on this missing element will only make you more unhappy. Take some time to appreciate all the great friends and family members you have in your life.", "image": "./images/v4-460px-Be-Your-Own-Life-Coach-Step-11.jpg" } ] } ] } ]