Let's Talk About Mindfulness and Personal Development

Even though we have evolved as a species, there are still those whose minds instantly picture a guru in an ashram when they think of mindfulness. They may even believe that the practice of meditating and being mindful are silly things done by people with their heads in the clouds.

Today we are going to debunk that myth with words and advice on mindfulness and personal development from a couple of well-known people who have found success by concentrating not on the endgame but on the journey, on mindfulness and living in the moment, and are enjoying their lives and their successes-even their failures-in a way they have never before experienced.

Let's start with an article that discusses exactly what was expressed above; Even though we have evolved as a species, there are still those whose minds instantly picture a guru in an ashram when they think of personal development. They may even believe that meditating and being mindful is a silly thing done by people with their heads in the clouds. 

Mindfulness, Myths and More has this to say, "Mindfulness has become perceived as this “practice” this “thing” that we “do,” and schedule time to “do,” where we sit cross-legged on some fluffy cushion in silence for hours, even a full day, and then go brag about it to the rest of the world.  The sitting on the cushion practice especially irritates me."

The website counters this myth by adding the evidence of what research shows mindfulness does for our lives.

• Increases awareness and attention
• Reduces stress and coping habits
• Increases happiness and well-being
• Increases morale and collaboration

Side note: On a personal level, I have been following what they today call "Gurus" for over 30 years, who back years ago were simply considered teachers helping people to live a better life. Life coaches like Wayne Dyer, for instance, and Tony Robbins, even Dr. Phil. These professional lifestyle coaches helped me through many trying times and also motivated me to strive for personal development and thus, success. That is one of the reasons I feel so strongly about this subject. I know that mindfulness works. 

Now, onward with our journey to discover advice from a few other successful people and the tactics they have used to improve their personal lives and business success through mindfulness:

Since I brought up Tony Robbins, if you are curious and/or new to the practice of mindfulness as it relates to success and personal development, here is an article from the Master himself, THE NEW BRAND OF MINDFULNESS: 6 WAYS TO BE MINDFUL IN THE MODERN WORLD.

One of my favorite passages from the article is this one,  "Throughout the day, be mindful of where your thoughts, feelings, words and actions are coming from. Ask yourself, is this coming from my ego? That is, my need to be special, better and unique? Or is it coming from a place of love? If it is coming from a place of love, then this is your authentic self.

Is it love, or is it ego? This question can be applied for everything from why you want to pursue a certain goal, to how you react when your partner does something you don’t agree with. Either way, it will help you shed the layers that mask your authentic self, and help you understand who you truly are on a more intimate level."

As I write this, I realize that this article from Huffington Post covers many experiences and opinions from those who have used mindfulness to improve their lives. The article is titled The Daily Habit Of These Outrageously Successful People, and the very first sentence proves the point of this blog post I am writing, “Meditation more than anything in my life was the biggest ingredient of whatever success I’ve had.” That’s what Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of Bridgewater Associates — the world’s largest hedge fund firm, had to say about personal development and success.

If you have any questions or comments concerning this blog post, please don't hesitate to let us know below. Also, would you share this on your social media channels? Your peers who are on the journey to a better way of living would appreciate and so would we!

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When it comes to getting solid personal finance advice, the best place to turn is to the most respected experts in the field of personal finance. Today we'd like to direct you to where you can find those very experts, people who have made it their livelihood to help us all with personal finance issues, the most respected personal finance experts. Here they are:

The 5 Most Respected Personal Finance Experts

Dave Ramsey--One of the most respected personal finance experts, reading the fascinating story of how Dave Ramsey got started and his journey to where he is now is just the beginning of learning what Dave has to offer you in the way of personal finance advice.

Suze Orman--Her name is synonymous with personal finance. Suze Orman changed the face of how America looks at their personal finance issues. Being one of the very most respected personal finance experts, Ms. Orman is a take-charge, bull-by-the-horns, dynamic speaker. If you have never watched her, you should. She gets your blood boiling in a good way and makes you feel as if you can accomplish anything when it comes to personal finance.

Warren Buffett--One of the wealthiest people in the world, Warren Buffet gives 10 pieces of sound personal finance advice in this article from Go Banking Rates. Here is one of our favorite tips from that article:

Form Healthy Money Habits

“Most behavior is habitual,” Buffett said in a 2007 address at the University of Florida, “and they say that the chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” Habits are changeable, but the earlier you start the better.

“I think the biggest mistake is not learning the habits of saving properly early because saving is a habit,” Buffett said. Pay attention to money habits and work to strengthen those that help your finances, and break those that hurt your finances.

Chris Hogan--Chris helps people plan for their future and reach their retirement goals through his Retire Inspired live events and R:IQ assessment tool. His book, Retire Inspired: It’s Not an Age. It’s a Financial Number, released in January 2016 and is a number one national best-seller. An expert on mortgages and investing, he’s an engaging and electrifying speaker who is equally at home leading corporate training sessions as he is speaking to college students and professors. Chris works with high profile clients, including business leaders, professional athletes and entertainers, to help them develop financial strategies to generate revenue, protect their wealth, and secure their futures.

Tony Robbins--Although Tony Robbins is most famous for his advice on living the best life you can and leadership, he is also considered one of the most respected personal finance experts. Read all about Tony Robbins here, a wonderful, inspiring story in itself, but be sure to visit the section of his website called Wealth and Lifestyle.

That's our suggested list of the 5 most respected personal finance experts. Do you have someone else you'd like to add? Then by all means leave a comment and also please take a minute to share this post with your friends on social media. And by all means, for more help with personal finance read our post, 5 MoneyThumb Tools that Can Help With Personal Finance.

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