Scanlon Blogs

     Hope is the reason people strive to achieve their goals and make a difference, not only in their own life, but in the lives of others as well.  There is no denying that life can be full of hardship and negativity, but it can also be filled with happiness, adventure, and wonder.  Unfortunately, much of the world focuses on the negative aspects of life, often succumbing to their effects.  These people often live an unsatisfactory life or end their lives prematurely in hopes of stopping the pain.  What these people lack is hope, the mindset that everything is going to be ok.  Hope is grabbing onto the positive aspects during dark times, ensuring oneself that these positives will be reachable once again. It is also the reassurance people use to push themselves to work hard and achieve their goals.  People of the past have used hope as a tool to advance humanity, dedicating their lives to making a difference in the world.  Through hope, reassurance, intelligence, and passion, they main

     Everybody worries at some point in their life, but the way it is handled varies from person to person. Worrying often prevents people from reaching their full potential.  Worry stems from fear, and fear can hinder performance and prevent action from being taken.  This is why we often link worry to negative connotations, because worrying comes from the fear of something going wrong.  Sometimes we cannot help ourselves and we worry about whatever is going on.  However, it is important to realize when worrying becomes excessive to the point where it is effecting growth.  In this case, the person needs to make a change.  The first step is to understand what worry can lead to.  By doing so, the person can find solutions and prevent themselves from succumbing to their own worrisome thoughts.      Worrying can often lead to overthinking, which is when a person thinks about something too much and for too long.  Overthinking often results in the thinker making up different scenarios t

     Everybody works, but how people work varies significantly.  Work is required for our survival, to better our lives, and to accomplish goals.  However, people do not seem to understand that the way they work has a drastic effect on what they achieve.  Some people do not have experience working efficiently while others are lazy and do not want to learn.  Whatever the case, everybody should learn how to work effectively.  Nobody achieves goals by doing the bare minimum and expecting handouts, yet people believe this to be the case.  People need to lose that mindset in order to prosper. Applying certain methodologies into your work, such as working hard, working smarter, not harder, and being consistent are the best ways to do so.  These methods increase productivity and build the foundation for a successful future.      Working hard is putting extra effort into a goal, project, or task you want to accomplish.  It is the difference between those who are successful and those scrap

     Money has always been a doubled edged sword.  It can relieve stress while causing it, can make people’s dreams come true while crushing others, and can strengthen relationships while also weakening them.  Many people believe that money is the answer to their problems, and because of this mindset, they often have a difficult time in their personal lives.  Relationships have come and gone due to arguments, and people who do not have enough money often become stressed and angry.  This type of negativity can lead to an unhappy life in which the person is continuously thinking about money.  The truth is, almost everybody has money problems, but not everybody has a negative outlook.  The reason is because there are people who put themselves first rather than money. They would rather remain positive and experience life in their own way and worry about their bills later.  They are not careless, they are hopeful.  Some of you may think this is impossible for you to do, but that is not the

    Personal growth is more than taking on new experiences and learning new things, it is also about personal comfort.  If a person is not comfortable with themselves, then they will have a difficult time becoming the person they want to be or achieving their goals.  Being comfortable is so freeing and life changing that it is surprising that many people do not practice it.  They are afraid of others to the point where they believe they need to appease them rather than be themselves.  However, those who are successful do not do this and enjoy sharing their own thoughts and opinions.  Personally, I have three methods to being more comfortable in life; speaking freely, positivity, and being yourself.      Feeling comfortable means allowing yourself to speak freely.  It is important to speak your mind when the time is right.  Many people do not like speaking their mind, because they are afraid of what others will think.  However, this should not prevent you from sharing your own tho

     If there is one statement that most everyone agrees with, it is that everybody wants to be happy. Happiness is the reason why we get out of bed in the morning.  Everything we do and every choice we make stems from the idea of achieving happiness. However, many people find it difficult to be happy without fully understanding why.  Most of the time, they themselves are the reason.  In order to achieve lifelong happiness, a person needs to understand themselves.  When they know who they are, they are able to think clearer about what they want to do in life, opening the doors to happiness.  Without knowing yourself personally, you open yourself up to struggle and false happiness.  You do not know what you want, and therefore the choices you make come from the desire to find meaning.  The two best ways to find yourself and achieve lifelong happiness is through soul searching and love.  If done correctly, a person will find happiness wherever they go, because they know where to look.

     Motivation is what separates those who do from those who do not.  We are able to accomplish goals much faster when we are motivated to do so. However, it can be difficult, and sometimes strenuous, to obtain the motivation necessary to accomplish our goals.  The fact of the matter is that motivation does not come from one source.  We are individually unique and acquire motivation through various means.  This can be both a positive and a negative, as some people may yet to have found their own methods of acquiring motivation. I am here to share my own methods and to hopefully help you find your own motivation in becoming your best self.  The three methods I have used to acquire motivation are; being positive, thinking of my loved ones, and the want of accomplishing my goals.      Being positive is the gateway to acquiring motivation, as often we need to be positive in order to believe in ourselves.  Most people do not have trouble acquiring a positive mindset, but keeping it

      Have you ever procrastinated and wished you were better at managing your time?  Did you ever think that being a procrastinator meant being disorganized, stressed, and lazy?  I am here to tell you that this is not the case.  Being a professional procrastinator myself, I have learned over the years that there are many benefits to procrastination.  Through this understanding, I would rather be a procrastinator than someone who plans their life three weeks in advance.  Of course, life management strategies vary from person to person, but if you are a procrastinator, be proud, realize you are not alone, and understand you have the skills to excel farther than most.      When people procrastinate, they will often have a sudden rush of energy.  This occurs due to the realization of needing to complete the project.  The excuses used previously will no longer prolong the inevitable.  Because of this, the procrastinator has to kick it into overdrive in order to successfully meet th

     Travel is an important aspect of life that should not be overlooked. There are so many benefits to travel that it is imperative to do so at some point in ones lifetime. The most prominent benefit of travel is its contribution to one’s own personal growth. In Blog #10 - Experience, we discussed the importance of obtaining experience. It is what aids us in growing and maturing as an individual. Travel is one such activity that provides a person with limitless amounts of experience. The difference in scenery will not only open the eyes to new things, but it will also allow the traveler to better understand the world and its different variables.      A couple of years ago, my friends and I planned a vacation to the western United States. I had never traveled outside of the East Coast before, so to travel out west for ten days was an eye opening experience. Our plan was to see the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. This meant a lot of driving but also a lot of sight s

     Nothing in life is earned by simply existing.  Achieving goals requires hard work and dedication, but most importantly, it requires experience.  Experience comes from change, opening yourself up to the world and leaving your comfort zone.  There is no problem in having a routine, but to grow as a person, you must gain experience by making changes and taking action.  If you look at it in terms of a video game, players will not progress through a game by staring at the menu screen.  The player must gain experience by overcoming obstacles, such as defeating enemies or performing various tasks.  Once the player has gained enough experience, they will be open to new opportunities within the game.  In a realistic scenario, a person may go through years of medical school in order to gain the experience necessary to become a doctor.  Medical school will require the student to learn and apply new material in the field of medicine.  Once they learn enough to pass their exams, they will earn

     Many people underestimate the power of communication. Communication is key, as it creates a strong foundation for healthy relationships. The problem in today’s world is people would rather look at their phones than communicate face to face. Millennials share this habit and act on it when they are uncomfortable. This can be problematic, especially for those who have difficulty in social settings. Going to one’s phone as a safety net to avoid uncomfortable situations is not beneficial for personal growth. Understanding the benefits of communication, while working in strengthening it as a whole, will help in increasing anyone’s confidence in social situations.      The primary benefit of communication is its aid in the creation and maintenance of relationships. Every relationship stems from conversations had with another person. Communicating with someone, no matter what the topic, allows you to learn more about the other person, find common interests, and have an enjoyable so

     Humans are social creatures, and as such we enjoy being with our own kind.  Some of you may be loners at heart, myself included, but everyone has a moment in their lives where they have had someone they cared about.  It is natural to care, and as such it is the reason why giving is such an important part of human nature.  Giving is a generous act that everyone strives to do, but they do not realize it.  When people give to others, whether it be a family member, friend, stranger, or a community, they feel a sense of fulfillment.  This is because it is in our nature to help others.  The problem is that we are blinded of that reality due to our constant internal struggles.  We are so focused on finding security and comfort, whether that be from securing a stable job or dealing with personal dilemmas that we become blind to what truly matters.  This is unfortunate, as giving to others leads to personal development and satisfaction.  However, anybody can change their mindset through ha

     Leadership is foundation for humanity’s progression.  I have learned through life experience that most people in the world are sheep who would rather follow than lead a pack.  If the world was home to only followers, fewer goals would be achieved. George Washington, for example, led the patriots against the British forces during the Revolutionary War.  Many people thought of him as compassionate, skilled, and strategic, all qualities of a great leader.  If the revolutionaries lacked men such as George Washington to lead, the United States may not have come into fruition.  Keep in mind, I am not saying followers are unimportant. Leaders need followers as much as followers need leaders.  If George Washington did not have the support of the revolutionaries, the British would have won on every front.  However, I do believe that everyone should strive to become a leader.  The world will always have a large supply of followers, but will always need leaders to step up to the plate in or