A Mini Workout For Your Brain

Did you ever think that the conversations you have on a daiy basis can be good for your brain?

From a brain health standpoint, daily ten minute conversations can have the same positive effect on your brain as doing a crossword puzzle. Researchers have found that during these conversations, the interaction of listening, understanding, inferring,staying on topic and adapting to a new viewpoint are like mini workouts for your brain.

Researchers have also found that people who are more social, have a lower incidence of Alzheimer's and people who feel lonely have a higher incidence.

Some people actually think that socializing is a waste of time or think they have more important things to do, but being social does have its benefits. It is enjoyable, keeps your brain sharper and gives you an overall feeling of feeling better.

Have You Realized?

There comes a point in your life when you realize

who matters,

who never did,

who won't anymore...

and who always will.

So, don't worry about people from your past,

there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

Dealing With Difficult People

Do you find yourself dealing with a difficult person at work? I believe every workplace has drama...a difficult person or two that just makes being in the office exhausting.

You may find a difficult person acts in many different ways. They may just be generally obnoxious, affect more than one person, might attack you or undermine your reputation at work. Some talk constantly, the never ending gossiper that brings other people into the situation. Maybe they don't keep their work commitments and in turn, affect you. Do they make false allegations against you to a manager, just to gain a boss's positive opinion or are they fighting for more power or privilege?

Some difficult people always undermine you, which makes you feel as though you constantly have to watch your back. Some form cliques and leave you out, wanting you to feel as though you are powerless and alone.

Whatever situation a difficult person is creating, I think it needs to be addressed and not be ignored. If you chose to let it be, the constant conflict at work will not get better...it will only get worse.

If you find yourself in continual conflict and unable to handle the situation, you may be the one labeled as the difficult person. If you constantly just complain, your boss may see you as the one that is unprofessional and not able to handle a difficult situation, so he may consider replacing you.

Some ways to deal with a difficult person:

Ask yourself if you are the one who may be overreacting to the situation. Are you taking things too personal?
Make sure you are focusing on the person's actions, not on the person themselves.

Ask a trusted friend or co-worker to look at the situation from an objective view. Sometimes we can't see things clear while in an emotional situation. Ask for help to find ways to address the problem you are facing.

Ask the person to have a private conversation and discuss the experience. Starting each sentence with "I"...I feel this way...or I feel like... if starting the discussion with "YOU", it may come across as an attack. It may turn out the other person didn't realize how he or she was coming across or how you were interpreting the experience. Try to reach a positive agreement and move forward.

If you've made an attempt and did all you felt you could, then you can consider going to your boss. This will escalate the situation, but if you have had no success, this may be the next step. Stick to the issues at hand. Do not bring up personal issues you have with this person. Keep notes

You can also try to limit yourself from this person. Protect yourself, but protect the needs of the business.Do not hurt yourself in the process, but avoidance is an option.

If all else fails, you can consider leaving your position. You may ask WHY? I wasn't the problem, but you have to weigh the good with the bad. If the bad wins, leaving your present employment might be the only solution in terms of success and well being.

Have you come across a difficult person in your office? How did you handle the situation?

How Well Do You Communicate?

Have you ever felt communicating with someone can be difficult or challenging? or When speaking to someone, whether it be at work,home or in our personal relationships, messages can easily be misunderstood, misconstrued and mistaken for something they're not? Surely that can lead to confusion and frustration.

We have to remember people have different goals, tempers, backgrounds, perception, ideas and personal rules. I think if we keep that in the back of our minds when communicating, it will make it easier to get our point across.

A person can be successful when communicating if you have the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as your own.

Think of how many times you've said, or heard others say: "But I thought you meant...." or "I assumed you were talking about...." or "No, you've completely misunderstood what I was saying."

These little phrases come out of our mouths daily. We're so used to saying them we don't think about the wider implications: that it sometimes requires really hard work to make ourselves clear and to get ourselves understood by others.

When someone is talking to you, listen with the intent to understand first, not impose your ideas. Once that person feels heard, he or she will be open to then listen to you.

Effective communication occurs only if the receiver understands the exact information or idea that the sender intended to send. Most successful leaders have one thing in common...strong communication skills. They have the ability to effectively communicate and connect with all different types and kinds of people and personalities

How Do you rate?

Take this quiz to find out: COMMUNICATION TEST

Here's my score...

Snapshot Report

Insightfulness
_____________74 (out of 100)

Your results indicate that you are fairly adept at interpreting other people’s words and actions and seeing things from their perspective - although the rare misunderstanding may occur. Overall however, you seem to realize that empathy is an essential part of good interpersonal skills and therefore, will do your best to place yourself in other people’s shoes in order to better understand them. For the most part, you can sense what others are thinking and will likely adjust your behavior accordingly if a person you’re conversing with seems confused or perhaps uncomfortable. There may be the occasional time when you pay more attention to the message you’re sending rather than how it’s received. With some time and experience, you’ll likely be able to improve your insight even more.