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  There's a lot of talk about deception in politics and business, but it's not just politicians and CEOs that use this strategy. Most people are quite aware of their deceptive tactics. It's easy to see when it happens with others—you might even be able to recognize it within yourself—but what about when we're talking about your deception techniques? That's where things get tricky... Failure to show hard work becomes a failure to achieve productive results. If you don’t put in the effort, you won’t get results. That is not to say that everything has to be a struggle or that life should be full of work with no reward. The truth is that if you work hard and are diligent, there will always be rewards. Even when we look back on someone's life and marvel at their accomplishments, we often forget their time working toward them. They weren't just given those things—they had to earn them by putting in long hours of hard work and dedication. When people talk about Bill Gates or Steve Jobs being "smart" or "driven," this isn't true either: they weren't born with these traits; they learned them through years of experience and determination! Perspective is shaped by personal experience and has the ability to change. We all have a perspective, and our personal experiences shape it. Perspective can be changed. It is a learned skill developed through experience, reading, listening, and discussion. Meditation is one practice that helps you gain some perspective on your thoughts so you can better change them when needed. The idea that our thoughts are “just” is a powerful concept. It can help you to step back and see your thoughts as just that: thoughts. They aren’t necessarily true or accurate but are also not facts about the world or reality itself. This can help you see that your thoughts are just that. They aren’t necessarily true or accurate but are also not facts about the world or reality itself. Another helpful perspective is knowing how you feel doesn’t always match up with what is happening in the world. People will naturally be drawn to the inanimate object that most relate to their emotions or struggles. It's a very common thought that one will be drawn to someone who most relates to their own emotion or struggle. This is not the case. You see, the object of your attraction will be inanimate and this object will relate to your own emotion or struggle, but it won't be alive. It will simply be an object that resembles yourself or something you’re going through at the moment. Now let's think about this logically: If you're having a bad day at work because you lost your job and are worried about paying rent next month, then wouldn't it make sense for you to instinctively tend towards an inanimate object that represents those worries? In other words, wouldn't we naturally gravitate towards an item symbolizing our fear of being homeless? The answer is yes! But what would constitute such an item? Where do we find such items? And why should we seek them out? Take on a positive attitude and you will be given greater opportunities. You can choose to be optimistic or pessimistic. Your attitude is a matter of choice. Generally, positive people thrive in any environment, whereas negative people tend to create problems. To stay positive when facing adversity: ● Ask yourself what you can learn from this situation and how it will help you grow. Remember that every situation is always good, even if it’s unclear at first glance! Think about all of your successes in life so far—how many times have those things been possible because of the hard work and effort you put into them? They would never happen if we didn’t work hard for our achievements! Remember, you can never know what is in store for you next. All we can do is try our best in every situation and be positive about it. Remember that failure doesn't have to mean defeat, just an opportunity to learn from your mistakes so that the next time will be better than before.  

  As we all know, the new year is a time for new beginnings. For some of us, that means setting resolutions we intend to keep. However, if you find yourself falling off the wagon of your lofty intentions within a week or two, there are still ways to get back on track! In this post, we'll talk about setting intentions for the new year by writing them down and keeping them somewhere you will see them every day — plus a few other tips that can help keep your goals on track throughout the year. The new year is a time of reflection. It's a time to think about the people we want to be and the world we want to live in. If these are important to you, consider setting an intention this year rather than making a resolution. Our purpose in life should frame our intentions. Set intentions in specific areas of your life. When setting intentions for the new year, it's important to identify areas where you want to improve. You can think about what your goals are and how you want to grow as a person. A few examples might be: Focus on your relationship with your partner Improve your health by eating better and exercising more Learn something new, like a language or craft. Find time to reflect on your intentions for the new year from a place of joy and optimism. Create a physical space to set your intentions and think about what you value most. Consider the values important to you and consider how space can reflect those values. Adhere to a list of mantras - they can be statements you intend to live by or words you wish to embody. Write those intentions down and keep them somewhere you will see them daily. You can also write them down. This will help you remember, and it's a great way to ensure that you stay true to your goals. If you write them down, ensure they are visible and accessible, so they’re handy when you need inspiration or motivation. Don't just keep them in your head! Break down your larger goals into smaller, daily, or weekly chunks. When you set goals for the year, it's easy to think about the big picture and forget how you'll get there. So, break your larger goals into smaller chunks that are more manageable. For example, if one of your main goals for 2019 is to run a marathon or get in shape, try focusing on running a certain distance each week (such as 3 miles). If that seems too easy for you, aim for something harder, like running three times per week instead of just once. Another way to take control of your life is by ensuring that your intentions aren’t too broad or unrealistic—you may become frustrated if they're not being met quickly enough! It can be helpful to split large tasks into smaller ones, so they feel more manageable; otherwise, we might become overwhelmed by all that needs to be done at once and give up before even getting started. Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a year. The new year is a time when we make resolutions and set intentions. But it’s also important to be realistic about what you can accomplish in a year, since setting the bar too high can lead to disappointment. Here are some tips to keep your goals from being too lofty: Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a year. For example, if your goal is to lose 20 pounds by January 1st, but you haven't worked out since high school gym class and eatúnhelahty food for dinner six nights per week, that might not be reasonable! Achievable goals are usually easier to stick with than lofty ones because they force us to work within our limitations—we have more motivation when we see progress happening slowly rather than getting discouraged by an unrealistic outcome that never happens anyway! Don't be afraid to check in with yourself and see how things are progressing. You know yourself better than anyone, and if you struggle with a goal or take too long to get to the point where it feels “easy” or “natural,” don't be afraid to change your approach. For example, if there's an area of your life that's not working out quite how you'd hoped—a business idea that isn't taking off as quickly as you'd like or a personal relationship that doesn't seem quite right—don't be afraid to ask for help. You might decide that some legal advice is necessary for the business issue (if so, talk with an attorney), or perhaps some open communication from both people involved would suffice in resolving the other issue (in which case, talk with your significant other). If things aren't going according to plan, don't hesitate: to ask questions, seek assistance, and adapt your plans as necessary. Above all else: stay flexible! Keep an open mind when it comes to these goals. Another essential thing to remember as you create your goals is that they can change. Life happens, and things often change along the way. This year might be different than last year, or even this week or day. Your expectations need to be flexible and open-minded if you want to make progress on your intentions. As much as we love setting goals and planning for the future, we also know there is no way of knowing how things will unfold. That’s OK! If something unexpected happens, causing the current path to change drastically, so be it! You can embrace whatever new adventure comes your way with an open mind and adventurous attitude! We encourage you all to do the same: Keep an open mind regarding these goals; don’t set yourself up for failure by saying “no” too early on in an idea because it doesn't fit your original plan perfectly at first glance." By writing down your intentions for the year, you can create a road map to help you stay on track. By writing down your intentions for the year, you can create a road map to help you stay on track. Write down any big goals that you want to accomplish. Break them down into smaller, more manageable chunks, and then write out step-by-step plans for achieving these goals—and make sure they're realistic! Don't be afraid to check in with yourself occasionally throughout the year and see how things are progressing. You can create the best possible version of yourself by writing down your intentions for the year and using them as a road map to help you stay on track. Remember that this is not just about achieving goals or becoming more successful—it’s also about taking time to reflect on what truly makes you happy. Let go, be present, and be in your power. Avoid giving your intention rigid benchmarks or placing pressure on it. Let go, be present, and then be in your power. If you're concerned about losing your way…you can tell a supportive friend about your intention so they can help you get back on track. Hopefully, these simple steps have empowered you to take control of the year ahead in a way that feels stress-free and true to you. Wishing you an intentional new year, from all of us at Source & Self.