Scanlon Blogs

     Have you ever set a goal for yourself only to lose interest later down the line?   This happens to a lot of people and is usually the result of biting off more than you can chew.   Contrary to popular belief, multitasking is not something people can do.   If we don’t focus on one particular subject at a time, the quality of what we are doing will suffer.   This is why I encourage everybody to take baby steps when it comes to goal setting.   Do not set multiple goals at once and expect to follow through with every single one at once.   Doing this will decrease the motivation to continue because you feel less likely to succeed the more overworked you feel.      Think of the goals you have set for yourself in the past or present.  Now, take one particular goal and focus on it.  Keep the others in mind but focus on your chosen one in particular.  Once you succeed at achieving this goal, choose another one.  It sounds simple enough but people often get distracted or bored of doing

     Do you need a reminder of what is important in life?  How about the proper way to handle a situation when feeling angry or stressed?  If so, you have come to the right place.  If you know these bits of information already, just remember its important to be reminded every now and again.  So, without further adieu, here are three life-long lessons to remember #2. 1. Money Isn’t Everything      Wouldn’t it be nice if tomorrow, you won the lottery?   The sheer joy you’d feel would probably be something you’ve never experienced before.   What would you do with the money: buy a house, go on an exotic vacation, quit your job?   When this type of pleasure flows over you, the possibilities feel endless.   No matter what you do, being financially free would make you happy, at least for a while.   Eventually, you would want something more than just financial freedom.   Having money is great, but what are you going to do with your money and newly acquired spare time?      We need

     Where does the line between a healthy ego and cockiness lie?  Even with a healthy ego, when is the right time to show it?  Ego shows a level of self-confidence, but inflating it too much can have negative consequences.  Have you ever met someone who came off as cocky or all-knowing?  These people are often thought of as narcissistic, intimidating, and/or selfish.  There are many reasons why acting egotistical is often looked at negatively.  Someone who puts themselves on a pedestal usually ends up being less than average in whatever they are doing.  When making a mistake or questioned on their 'less than exceptional' performance, they will often look to place the blame on someone else.   They rarely take responsibility and, in many instances, believe they are superior to their peers, friends, and colleagues.  We all think this way from time to time, but there is a difference between thinking and verbally declaring superiority.      I encourage you to talk about your ac

     Should we expect to be praised for our deeds or to receive nothing in return?  Does ego play a role in generosity or is humbleness a necessary mindset?  A year ago, we talked about the importance of giving and how beneficial it is to both the giver and the receiver (Link here if interested:  https://scanlonblogs.blogspot.com/2018/11/blog-8-giving.html ).  We also talked about how happiness comes from giving and helping others and how material wealth only goes so far.  What we did not discuss is what we should anticipate and the proper way to behave throughout the process.  The art of giving involves understanding the dos and don'ts based on the situation at hand.  Not every instance of generosity will include the same factors as the previous one.      Do you believe kindness should be met with a reward?  I personally believe it depends on the situation, but we should never expect to be rewarded.  If you give money to a homeless man, your act of kindness may not lead to anyt

     Tonight's blog will be shorter than usual due to Thanksgiving, but I still wanted to leave you guys with a few things to remember.  Thanksgiving, or any holiday for that matter, is about family, friends, and making memories, wouldn't you agree?  Personally, I love being able to see my extended family, even if it's for a short while.  The holiday season is, to some, the only time they are able to get together with family and enjoy their company.  Sometimes we need to be reminded of this, so we remember to enjoy the time spent together.  Even if you do not get along with some of your family members, times like these are perfect for making amends if possible.  Do you have any memories like this?  If so, I would love to hear them in the comments.  Overall, remember that Thanksgiving is more than just about eating but sharing a moment with those you love.  Happy Thanksgiving everybody and I hope your day is filled with food, family, and memories. 📖  Be sure to add S

     We are born with a unique personality which is then shaped by the environment we grow up in, but how does this play a role in what we call fate?  Our personalities determine our likes, dislikes, thoughts, opinions, and the choices we make throughout our lives.  We consider fate to be events beyond our control.  We often believe what transpires from these events is supposed to happen without our knowledge and are determined by the universe.  However, I believe our unique personalities intertwine with fate.  Our personalities shape us into who we are and determine how we handle life events.  Fate, in my opinion, is the initial event that we cannot control.  What happens afterward is determined by our personality and the paths we choose to walk.      What if a nuclear apocalypse decimated the world today and you were one of the survivors?  How would you deal with the aftermath, and would you consider these choices fate?  Based on my view, the event itself, the dropping of the bo

     Many people tend to focus more on the negative aspects of life than the positive ones.  Personally, I believe societal norms to be the cause.  Most of us are taught from a young age to be similar to other people and not to stray too far out of our comfort zone.  People often ridicule others for being different or having different opinions.  Most people also only care for themselves and seldom try to help those in need.  Because humans are social creatures and have an overwhelming desire to be liked, we often concede to these societal norms and hide away our own thoughts and opinions.  We then subconsciously task ourselves to do whatever we can to make other people like and respect us, whether it be by agreeing with them, acting a certain way, or enjoying similar things.  The more we do this, the more insecure we feel because we have effectively taught ourselves that our identity is worth less than those around us, and from insecurity grows negativity.  Of course, not everybody sha

     Many people struggle to find the right words when speaking or presenting.  Whether they get in their own head, lack confidence, or are unprepared, not feeling equipped to speak is disappointing.  The only way to become a master speaker is to practice, and there are numerous ways to do so.  For one, many people make sure they do their research before speaking.  People also hype themselves up in order to increase their confidence levels.  Also, to combat anxiety when speaking, breathing exercises and different ways of thinking help in calming the mind and regaining focus.  We will go into more detail in a minute but just remember, no matter how young or old you are, it is never too late to improve your speaking skills.  The more you learn, the more confident you feel in life.      First, doing research is the best way to feel confident when speaking.  If you are not prepared, you will most likely be lost for words.  Of course, you cannot prepare for every conversation completel

     What I worry about never seems to end up as the chaotic mess I expect it to result in.  Every time I panic or stress about something, I end up breathing a sigh of relief after handling the situation.  I then realize how pointless it was to even worry about something which ended up having a simple solution and wasn't even detrimental, to begin with.  We seem to perceive life as incredibly difficult when, in reality, the answers are simple and right in front of us.  Life is about adapting to your environments, figuring out how to handle problems correctly, and how to react accordingly based on the situation.  It all starts by having confidence in ourselves and realizing everything life throws at us has simple solutions if broken down properly.  We just have to be willing to accept this and dissect the problem before rushing into finding a solution.      The key to life is knowing how to find a solution to multiple problems, not just one.  This has to do more with calming your