Scanlon Blogs

     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 insecurit...

     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 w...

     Despite what people might think in the moment, getting angry at someone you dislike, being violent, or showing hostility does more harm than good.  We've all been there, a situation where we become so angry or annoyed that we just want to lash out.  Subconsciously we think, "this is the right thing to do," and our anger takes over.  I want you to remember a time this has happened and how it panned out.  I am sure there are instances where it is justifiable to lash out, but more often than not people regret their actions almost immediately.  We are left feeling foolish and our reputation takes a hit, the severity being dependent on the situation and the size of the blowup.  Due to the consequences, people tell themselves they will be more aware and prevent similar occurrences from happening again.  Unfortunately, not everybody learns from their mistakes.  We forget our past actions far too quickly and often repeat mistakes....

     If there is one problem people have it is waking up at a reasonable time.   I am no exception and have constantly tried to correct the problem.   Whether it be hitting the snooze alarm, staying up late, or improper planning, most of the world wakes up only when they have to.   However, there are many benefits to waking up early, such as getting a head start over everyone else, more free time, increased motivation, etc.   To reap the rewards, we must first train ourselves to wake up at a reasonable time.   It can be difficult, but it is not impossible.   Here are three methods of waking up earlier! 1. Move Alarms Across the Room      The most difficult part of waking up is actually pushing yourself to do so.   It is easy to turn your alarm off and go back to bed when it is right next to you.   To negate this, set your alarm and place it on the other side of your room.   This forces you to get out of bed...

     I would like to start off by saying thank you for reading my 100th blog post.  I have now been writing this blog for over a year and I can't believe so much time has passed already.  Before I started this blog, all I wanted to do was find a way to help others through some sort of outlet.  My writing became that outlet and it has been an amazing journey thus far.  So, whether you have been with me for an entire year or just discovered my blog, thank you for being here and being apart of my journey.  I cannot thank you enough.  Tonight's blog is special because I have taken what I have learned from this year-long journey and compiled it together.  I hope it inspires you to follow your own path and achieve success.  So, without further adieu, here are five reasons why following through with your goals is life-changing! 1. Personal Growth      Taking the plunge and following through with what you set out to ac...

     The first step towards happiness is feeling good about yourself.  We often lack the confidence to do so due to personal reasons.  However, there are many ways to boost our confidence in the long run while also providing many physical and mental health benefits.  Here are five ways to feel good about yourself! 1.   Step out of Your Comfort Zone      The only way we grow as people is through change.   However, many people fear change and actively try to avoid it.   Later on, they often regret avoiding these changes which could have had a positive impact on their lives.   Do not be this type of person, and if you currently are someone like this, it is never too late to change.   We all have the opportunity to do something out of our comfort zone; learning a new skill, traveling, facing fears, etc.   No matter what the case, if we accept and act upon making a change, we will feel good about ourselves in the...

     Everybody makes mistakes, but when mistakes are work-related people get beyond anxious.  Nobody wants to perform poorly in their role nor do they want to be known as the one who makes mistakes.  It is natural to feel this way, but being consumed by this fear is a different story.  Inaccuracies are can and will occur but they neither define our abilities nor our work ethic.  We need to remember this and calm ourselves down when feeling anxious over the errors made.  Here are three methods of handling work-related mistakes. 1. Simplify The Problem      Most of the time, a mistake can be rectified quickly and easily.  I have stressed over mistakes that were neither detrimental nor problematic numerous times.  The next time a mistake is made, try and simplify it.  Explain to yourself what the problem is, how it can be resolved, and whether or not it is worth stressing over.  Chances are, the problem is ...

     Confidence is created through personal development, believing in oneself and being open to change.  Many people suffer from a lack of confidence every day.  If we all were more confident in ourselves, we would be less offended by everything, feel better about ourselves and our abilities, and live a happier, more fulfilling life.  We all should strive to become more confident and find new ways to continuously do so.  To help you get started, here are three methods of creating confidence. 1. New Experiences      Confidence comes from having new experiences.  More experiences equal more confidence.  This is because we become more of the person we want to be rather than who we wish to be.  We learn from each experience and use it to better our lives.  For example, someone who has never been to the gym before, but decided to start a routine where they did, is doing so to become healthier.  They not o...