by Karla Dennis | Jan 23, 2018 | Blog
by Karla Dennis | Jan 22, 2018 | Blog
Anyone that has to deal with negative people on a regular basis knows just how challenging it can be. All the complaining and ‘doom and gloom’ talk can really sap your energy and patience. At the conclusion of a mere 15-minute conversation, it can feel like the life has been sucked right out of you. The good news is you can lessen the effects of their negativity by coming up with a plan to deal with this challenge. Try these strategies: Be objective. It’s important not to take the negative person’s comments personally. Recognize that they’re pessimistic most of the time and take an unhelpful perspective of most things. They can be so absorbed by their negative thoughts that they have a difficult time being tactful. In reality, you might feel a little sorry for them. Aren’t you glad that you don’t carry the same negative attitude about life? It’s difficult to be upset with someone when you feel sorry for them. Keep the conversation light. It can be very helpful to steer the conversation to lighter topics, like the weather, movies, or sports to keep things from getting too intense. Some people simply enjoy feeling the emotional intensity that comes from being negative. Avoid rewarding negative talk. Sometimes we inadvertently encourage the negative person by being too supportive. Instead, don’t engage fully in the conversation when someone is being overly negative. Instead, be enthusiastic and supportive when they’re being positive. Keep your responses and attention to a minimum when the negative talk is flying. Try not to be alone with them. You won’t feel the brunt of the...
by Karla Dennis | Jan 19, 2018 | Blog
Although life can have challenging and heartbreaking moments, it can still be pretty great. While you’re working your way through the struggles, what can you do to ensure you live a high quality existence? Try these strategies to enhance the quality of your life: Take your time. Have you ever felt so rushed that you couldn’t stop to enjoy the moment? Allow yourself a proper period of time to complete a task. You’ll discover you’re breathing more deeply when you allow yourself the time required to enjoy the moment. Concentrate on living consciously. Living in the moment helps you stay connected to what you’re doing. If you’re washing the windows, do the best job you can. If you’re repairing your lawn mower, stay on task. Truly experiencing each moment helps make your life more fulfilling. Spend time doing what you love. Take that morning walk you treasure, even if it’s only for 15 minutes. Figure out ways to find an hour a day to work on your favorite hobby. When you do what you love, you feel content. Put aside time to spend with loved ones. How and with whom we spend our time expresses to the world the things that are most important to us. If you cherish someone, spend time with them to show you care. Plan to do something you both love. Approach your social life with honesty. If you are spending time with people who you don’t enjoy being around, then it’s time to make a change. Consider your routine social activities. Are they enjoyable? Do you care about those you’re socializing with? Alter...
by Karla Dennis | Jan 18, 2018 | Blog
No matter what kind of work you do, don’t be surprised if there comes a time when you think of switching careers. After all, many of us have romanticized ideas about one career or another. Maybe you always thought you’d be a teacher, a crime scene investigator, a sales clerk at that little boutique down the street, or a hospital nurse. But things didn’t go that way and you ended up doing something else instead. However, now you’ve reached a point where you’re seriously considering a career change. Maybe you got laid off or worked for a company that closed during the economic downturn. Or you might just be looking to change what you do to earn money. Before you take the plunge, do your homework. read...
by Karla Dennis | Jan 17, 2018 | Blog
Giving to charity feels good and there’s even a financial benefit. You can deduct any charitable donations from your taxable income. However, there are many rules that govern these donations. Cash gifts are handled differently than non-cash gifts, and different rules apply depending upon the amount of the donation. Tax laws can be complicated, but you can easily find out the details for everything you need to know with some online research or from your local tax professional. Check out these 8 tips to ensure you’re getting the most out of your charitable donations: read...
