Category: EQ4 – ARTICLES – JR

Nobody likes to be embarrassed. It can crush our character and even make social interactions painfully uncomfortable. Although we so wish to avoid shameful scenarios, we can’t hide from possible feelings of fluster. Life happens.

While experiencing embarrassment can be disheartening, the fear surrounding this emotion does not have to impact your daily life. In fact, you can gain control over feelings of embarrassment by focusing on your self-growth. Let’s consider.

Why Do We Feel Embarrassed?

Embarrassing situations typically make us feel vulnerable. It’s as if our biggest insecurities are revealed to an audience of critical viewers. Take tripping in public for example. Many people find this situation to be dreadfully embarrassing due to a number of factors. To begin, you may feel like others think you are a clutz. You may feel as if all eyes are suddenly on you.

This unwanted exposure taps into your overall character. It displays a person that you don’t want to reveal to the world. Even in situations of social embarrassment, it can be attributed to personal flaws, insecurities, or even intimate experiences you wished to keep private.

The commonality between these scenarios all boils down to exposure. We wish to give off a certain reputation and when something throws that off, we are naked in a sense.

Feelings of embarrassment are natural. In fact, they begin at quite a young age. Kids may feel embarrassed by their parents intervening in social matters. A young girl may blush in front of her crush. Even a toddler feels some level of shame when he or she has an “accident.”

No matter the degree, embarrassment can be a double-edged sword of emotions. Beginning with vulnerability and possibly ending with humor; depending on your overall outlook. Although debilitating at times, moments of embarrassment can make for great stories in the future.

How to Overcome Embarrassment

One of the primary reasons for feeling embarrassed is vulnerability. Therefore, coming to terms with our imperfections will make the sting of humiliation less painful. For example, if you drop all of your books on the way to an important meeting, likely you may feel as if your nerves are showing. If this is the case, acknowledge that.

Express that you are nervous about this big meeting and go easy on yourself. In addition, embarrassment can also occur when perceptions are involved. We as individuals care about our reputation. If we want to portray to the world a cool, calm, and connected demeanor, the thought of dropping important documents in public could be a nightmare. However, understand that the opinions of others only hold your happiness hostage. You will begin to take yourself too seriously. This uptight; perfection reaching attitude can make mistake seem almost taboo.

Understand your personal imperfections and don’t weigh the opinions of others so heavy. This will make everyday life seem fun, exciting, and light.

We Are All Human

Another way to manage embarrassment is to develop your self-confidence. Sure, tooting during a quiet class isn’t the best reflection. However, by understanding that everybody is human, you will find situations like that to be more humorous than mortifying.

Everyone has experienced some unflattering occurrence or another. Therefore, seeking understanding and self-assurance will make the situation easier.

Embarrassing situations are bound to occur. However, they don’t have to ruin the course of your day. As opposed to letting minor hiccups define your reputation, let go of those social expectations.

Learn to not take things so seriously and embrace imperfections. Stay confident and realize that you are only human. This will help you to navigate your daily routine without excessive worry.

– Scott Blessing

Without ambition, it is difficult to achieve much of anything life, be it personal or professional. Ambition is required to lose weight, build muscle, build a brand or even go to school to get a degree.

Ambition is what pushes us forward toward success and accomplishing the goals you set.

Ambition does not have to be about beating someone else but instead is really about attaining your dreams. When you can channel your ambition properly, you can realize results.

Those who are ambitious in life most often attain more, including achieving higher levels of education, more income, and prestige in their careers. Ambitious people also report more satisfaction in life. So, ambition isn’t all bad, then. Without ambition, success comes as a result of the accident, which isn’t really a way to hope to achieve any of your dreams.

Creating the right mindset can help you develop a healthy ambition. If you want to harness the fire within you to stay the course and realize your goals, the following are habits of mind that can help you create an ambition mindset in life.

#1. Take Risks.

If you want to develop and ambition mindset, you must be willing to step directly into fear, ignore your anxiety, and decide to move forward in spite of these feelings. Fear means you are attempting something you’ve never achieved before, but these moments are also where you grow and learn. Ambition requires that you push past those fears and dive into the unknown anyway.

When you allow yourself to experiment, discover, and explore in the unknown, you develop problem-solving skills, resiliency to overcome obstacles and a better tolerance for the unknown and unfamiliar.

#2. Seek Out Different Perspectives.

Those with an ambition mindset are also willing to consider new ways of thinking. You can develop this skill by making a conscious effort to break away from the mainstream approach, to seek out others’ perspectives, and to be open to new ideas and perspectives.

Learn from others, talk with those who disagree with you to understand their views, and open dialogues with those whose interests and backgrounds differ from yours. This will help you grow, appreciate the diversity of thought that exists in the world, and offer you additional ideas for reaching your goals.

#3. Set Goals But Keep Them Private.

Your brain is a funny thing, and sometimes, you have to work hard to overcome the natural coping mechanisms your mind has developed in life. For example, did you know that, once you tell people about a specific goal you have set, your brain experiences a kind of satisfaction that tricks you into thinking you’ve already done something difficult, even though you haven’t put any hard work into this plan yet?

Keeping your goals private keeps you goal-oriented and allows you to engage in the work necessary to achieve them. You learn to be reliant upon your own achievements and sense of accomplishment in your determination, not upon the accolades or acknowledgment of others.

#4. Focus on The Work.

While ambition requires goals, those with a true ambition mindset understand the importance of getting the work done. Even when your plan isn’t totally clear or thought out, get started by doing something. Without execution, your ambition means nothing. So, don’t be afraid to pull that trigger and start working toward your ambition.

#5. Surround Yourself with Ambitious People

When you place yourself in proximity to others with strong ambition, others who achieve their goals in life, you create a support system and network to help you be ambitious, as well. Seek out role models, mentors, and others who can bolster your knowledge and skills as well as provide you with the support you need to achieve your dreams.

The key to an ambition mindset is to focus not necessarily on the goals themselves but on the inner strength and insight that are necessary for achieving your dreams. Developing ambition means cultivating those habits of mind that allow you to persevere, get the work done, and know when you need help to attain your goals. If you want to learn to be more ambitious, start with these five habits, then set to work today.

– Scott Blessing

Navigating our daily life can be a challenge within itself. Many people across the globe deal with debilitating experiences that shape their worldview. This impact can create deeply rooted issues that follow them throughout the course of their life.

Unfortunately, the challenges that life presents to us aren’t predictable. In fact, many are even unavoidable.

One popular quote says, “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf.”

Learning how to navigate the everyday challenges we face will help you to develop positive coping strategies and improve your quality of life.

Let’s identify the main challenges that individuals go through and how you can overcome them.

1. A Broken Relationship
Whether it’s a broken marriage or a relationship that simply ran its course, the emotions associated with this experience are deep. So deep, that many find it hard to find love after a breakup. One of the main reasons why a broken relationship sting like a knife is because we tend to romanticize the good and minimize the bad.

Often times, the ability to clearly see the flaws in a previous relationship aren’t apparent until years later. One way to overcome a broken relationship is to learn how to effectively love yourself. This goes far beyond developing a self-care routine. This means accepting your flaws, strengths, and other attributes.

2. Overcoming Failure
When we embark on new ventures, we tend to set our personal expectations high. We expect perfection which often leaves us disappointed. One way to combat this fear of failure is to embrace it. Instead of basking in the negative, try to find the silver lining in the situation. Ask yourself, what did this teach me? How can I improve next time? What do I need to work on? This will help you to further build your character.

3. Fear of Other’s Opinions
It’s no secret that popularity goes far beyond high school. In fact, many adults find it increasingly difficult to find comfort in their own decisions. When we fear what others think of us, we are a slave to their expectations. We no longer serve our own happiness, but that of others. It stifles our growth and emphasizes dependency.

One way to stop caring about what others think is to learn how to trust your own choices. You ultimately know what is best for you. Continue to engage in activities that make you happy without wondering if it pleases someone else. This will build self-confidence and reliance on your own decisions.

4. Being Complacent
It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone when that’s all you’ve known. Besides, leaving your safe space is scary and uncomfortable. This can prove to be challenging because you’ll eventually get stuck in your own complacency. You will never feel the real need to improve.

Test yourself every day and engage in fear-inducing activities that stimulate your mind. This will ultimately help you to grow and develop.

5. Playing the Victim
When dreadful situations impact one person more than others, it’s easy for them to constantly play the victim. Do you find yourself blaming others for your lot in life? Do you rarely take responsibility for your actions?

If so, you are victimizing yourself as opposed to embracing responsibility. Look inward to see how you can personally change the outcome of a situation. If you can’t, change your disposition towards it and move on. This will help you to develop a positive attitude and develop healthy relationships.

Life is full of challenges, but it is also full of beauty. You have the power to overcome the various difficulties that are presented to you. Strive to make it your personal goal every day to overcome something that you never thought you could.