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The Best Father’s Day Gifts for Your Dad

These unique ideas will guarantee you “favorite child” status.


Massage Pillow

Save $30 today!

You know what’s better than a back massage? A whole personal back, neck, shoulder, leg and foot massager.

Wireless Charging Station

Save $40 today!

You know what’s better than a back massage? A whole personal back, neck, shoulder, leg and foot massager.

Smart Tag

Somehow, he always seems to misplace the things he needs most (think: his phone or wallet). But if he sticks this tracker on them, he’ll be able to use the Tile app to hunt them down in minutes.

Smart Watch

This smart watch will motivate him to accomplish his fitness goals, big and small. It even reminds him to get up from his desk every few hours and go to bed on time, which he needs now more than ever.

Massage Gun

Save $9 today!

Switch out the massage heads and adjust the speed levels to work out any tight muscles, kinks or soreness. Each massage head targets a different trouble spot: calves, arm muscles, shoulders and other common pain points.

I BELONG TO ME

This took me a long time to understand. I belong to me. We all seek belonging. We want to feel seen, understood, worthy of your friendship, accepted as we are. And most of us do not feel these things. We fear rejection. We fear not being enough. But here’s the thing- there is only ONE person you MUST be true to; one person you must stand up for and fight for; one person to be true to; and that is YOURSELF! Never betray yourself and you will belong everywhere you go! 

Are you proud of yourself? Have the courage to stand alone. Stand up for yourself. We must be willing to grow. When you always do what’s right, you risk being liked by everyone. It’s my job to like me. If you like me, that’s extra!

Every time I say, hear, or read “shame”, I feel it. You can’t get rid of shame. But you can become more resilient with shame. Let it wash over you. It’s important to share your shame story to the right people. Be aware of the people who haven’t earned the right to hear your story. It is an honor to hold space for me while I’m in my shame.  I have been violated in this area. I’m sure most of us have. Hurt people hurt. And sad people make other people sad. Don’t take it personally. Learn your way to success. Be willing to be radical! Play outside of the box. I don’t even own a box! Your story is meant to be your fuel.

Generosity for Everyone

Generosity the quality of being kind, understanding, and not selfish.

Acts of generosity, such as giving your time, talent or resources, and expecting nothing in return, have been proven to be good for our health. Generous individuals are personally more fulfilled, happier and more peaceful within themselves, not to mention more productive at home and in the workplace.

Year after year, more and more studies are highlighting the benefits of generosity on both our physical and mental health. Not only does generosity reduce stress, support one’s physical health, enhance one’s sense of purpose, and naturally fight depression, it is also shown to increase one’s lifespan.

You can significantly improve someone’s quality of life if you just provide support in some way.

There are so many ways you can benefit life on earth.

Ironically, being selfless can actually enhance your self worth.

Generosity can benefit everyone in many ways

1. Greater satisfaction with life

Everyone wants to be happy in life, and generosity appears to be a key ingredient: 74% of high-generosity respondents reported satisfaction with their lives, compared to 60% of low-generosity respondents. High-generosity respondents were also more than twice as likely to report that they were “very satisfied” with life.

This wasn’t limited to one aspect of life, either; it was across the board. The high-generosity group was happier overall in every aspect we asked about, including friendships, family, romance, and finances.

2. More friends

Generosity certainly seems to help with your social life. Those who are highly generous reported having more friends who would be willing to do favors for them, such as:

  • Visiting them at the hospital
  • Helping them move
  • Driving them to or from the airport

This group also had more close friends. High-generosity respondents had an average of 3.2 close friends, whereas those in the low-generosity group had an average of 2.6.

3. Stronger relationships with the people they know

Having a larger social circle wasn’t the only benefit of being generous. People high in generosity also tend to have deeper relationships with others, seeing as 66% of them felt close to the people they know. Only 50% of people low in generosity felt the same.

4. Happier with their careers

Considering the amount of time you spend at work, you want to feel happy with your job. If not, you’re looking at eight hours per day of wishing you were somewhere else.

This is one of the areas where there was a large chasm between high-generosity and low-generosity people. Of those high in generosity, 70% expressed satisfaction with their jobs. With those low in generosity, only 49% had that same satisfaction.

5. A more positive outlook

Your outlook on life makes a huge difference in how happy you are. If you believe that what you’re doing matters, you’re probably going to enjoy your life much more.

A full 81% of highly generous people believe life is meaningful — that’s 21% more than those who are not so generous. And a meaningful life may be why 77% of the more-generous group said they feel happy every day, compared to 62% of the less altruistic folk.

6. Better physical and mental health

Given that more generous people are happier and more positive, you may have already guessed that their mental health is in better shape. High-generosity people were less likely to feel a range of negative emotions, including hopelessness, depression, apathy, and anxiety.

Here’s one you may not have guessed — there’s also a correlation between generosity and physical health. Those in the high-generosity group were more likely to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

7. Satisfaction with what you have

It’s normal to feel some envy every now and then. I doubt anyone has gone through life without ever wanting something that was out of reach, such as a more luxurious car or home.

While it’s normal to feel like this on occasion, it’s also important to be happy with what you have. That’s more likely if you’re the generous type — these respondents were more satisfied with their homes, cars, and other possessions.

They were also less likely to believe that having more money would make them happier. That said, it doesn’t appear that generous people have trouble saving money, even though some forms of generosity can involve financial donations.

You can make a wonderful difference one act of kindness at a time.

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What is the Meaning of Life?

The meaning of life is whatever you want it to be.

Big Bang

The Big Bang Theory is the leading explanation about how the universe began. At its simplest, it says the universe as we know it started with an infinitely hot, infinitely dense singularity, then inflated — first at unimaginable speed, and then at a more measurable rate — over the next 13.8 billion years to the cosmos that we know today. Why? Your guess is as good as anyone’s.

Ego

Metaphysical Derived from the Greek meta ta physika (“after the things of nature”); referring to an idea, doctrine, or posited reality outside of human sense perception. In modern philosophical terminology, metaphysics refers to the studies of what cannot be reached through objective studies of material reality.

Purpose is the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

7 Tips for Finding Your Purpose in Life

Finding Purpose Is the Key to Living Your Best Life

“Finding your purpose” is more than just a cliché or a dream that will never be fulfilled. It’s actually a tool for better, happier, healthier life that too few people attempt to use.

Only around 25% of Americans adults cite having a clear sense of purpose about what makes their lives meaningful, according to one analysis of the subject in The New York Times,1 while 40% either claim neutrality on the subject, or say they don’t.

 

Why Do You Need a Sense of Purpose?

A 2010 study published in Applied Psychology2 found that individuals with high levels of eudemonic well-being—which involves having a sense of purpose along with a sense of control and a feeling like what you do is worthwhile—tend to live longer. Other researchers3 found that well-being might be protective for health maintenance. In that research, people with the strongest well-being were 30 percent less likely to die during the eight-and-a-half-year follow-up period.

There’s also research that links feeling as if you have a sense of purpose to positive health outcomes,4 such as fewer strokes and heart attacks, better sleep, and a lower risk of dementia and disabilities.

A 2016 study published in the Journal of Research and Personality found that individuals who feel a sense of purpose make more money than individuals who feel as though their work lacks meaning.

So the good news is, you don’t have to choose between having wealth and living a meaningful life. You might find the more purpose you have, the more money you’ll earn.

With all of those benefits, it’s clear that it’s important to find purpose and meaning in your life. But purpose and meaning is not something that can be determined quickly.

Press Play for Advice On Self-Advocacy

Hosted by Editor-in-Chief and therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring activist Erin Brockovich, shares tips on standing up for what’s right, taking care of yourself, and tackling things that seem impossible. Click below to listen now.

Follow NowApple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS

The process requires plenty of self-reflection, listening to others, and finding where your passions lie.5 These seven strategies can help you reveal or find your purpose so you can begin living a more meaningful life.

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Donate Time, Money, or Talent

Finding your purpose in life has many benefits.
Hero Images / Getty Images

 

If there’s just one habit you can create to help you find your purpose, it would be helping others.

Researchers at Florida State University and Stanford found that happiness and meaningfulness had overlap but were different: Happiness was linked to being a taker before a giver, whereas meaningfulness went more with being a giver than a taker. Being the “giver” in a relationship connected people with having a more purposeful life.

Altruistic behaviors could include volunteering6 for a nonprofit organization, donating money to causes you care about, or simply helping out the people around you on a day-to-day basis.

Whether you decide to spend two Saturdays a month serving meals in a soup kitchen, or you volunteer to drive your elderly neighbor to the grocery store once a week, doing something kind for others can make you feel as though your life has meaning.

 
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Listen to Feedback

It can be hard to recognize the things you feel passionate about sometimes. After all, you probably like to do many different things and the things you love to do may have become so ingrained in your life that you don’t realize how important those things are.

Fortunately, other people might be able to give you some insight. There’s a good chance you’re already displaying your passion and purpose to those around you without even realizing it.

You might choose to reach out to people and ask what reminds them of you or what they think of when you enter their mind. Or you might take note when someone pays you a compliment or makes an observation about you. Write those observations down and look for patterns.

Whether people think of you as “a great entertainer” or they say “you have a passion for helping the elderly,” hearing others say what they notice about you might reinforce some of the passions you’ve already been engaging in.

 
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Surround Yourself With Positive People

As the saying goes, you are the company you keep. What do you have in common with the people who you choose to be around?

Don’t think about co-workers or family members you feel obligated to see. Think about the people you choose to spend time with outside of work and outside of family functions.

The people you surround yourself with say something about you. If you’re surrounded by people who are making positive change, you might draw from their inspiration.

On the other hand, if the people around you are negative individuals who drag you down, you might want to make some changes. It’s hard to feel passionate and purposeful when you’re surrounded by people who aren’t interested in making positive contributions.

 
4

 

Start Conversations With New People

It’s easy to browse social media while you’re alone on the subway or sitting at a bar waiting for a friend. Resist that urge. Instead, take the time to talk to the people around you.

Ask them if they are working on any projects or what they like to do for fun. Talk to them about organizations with which they are involved or if they like to donate to any particular cause.

Even though striking up conversations with strangers may feel awkward at first, talking to people outside of your immediate social circle can open your eyes to activities, causes or career opportunities that you never even knew existed.

You might discover new activities to explore or different places to visit. And those activities might be key to helping you find your purpose.

5

 

Explore Your Interests

Is there a topic that you are regularly talking about in a Facebook status update or in a Tweet? Are you regularly sharing articles about climate change or refugees?

Are there pictures on Instagram of you engaging in a particular activity over and over, such as gardening or performing?

Consider the conversations you enjoy holding with people the most when you’re meeting face-to-face. Do you like talking about history? Or do you prefer sharing the latest money-saving tips you discovered?

The things you like to talk about and the things you enjoy sharing on social media may reveal the things that give you purpose in life.

6

 

Consider Injustices That Bother You

Many people have their pet causes or passion projects that surround an injustice in the world. Is there anything that makes you so deeply unhappy to think about that it bothers you to the core?

It might be animal welfare, a particular civil rights issue or childhood obesity organizations. Perhaps the idea of senior citizens spending the holidays alone makes you weepy or you think that substance abusers need more rehabilitation opportunities—the organizations are out there, and they need your help.

You don’t necessarily have to engage in your purpose full-time. You might find your career gives you the ability to afford to help a cause you feel passionate about. Or, you might find that you are able to donate time—as opposed to money—to give to a cause that you believe in.

7

 

Discover What You Love to Do

On the other end of the spectrum, simply thinking about what you truly love to do can help you find your purpose as well.

Do you absolutely love musical theater? Your skills might be best put to use in a way that brings live performances to children who can benefit from exposure to the arts.

Is analyzing data something that you actually find fun? Any number of groups could find that skill to be an invaluable asset.

Consider what type of skills, talents, and passions you bring to the table. Then, brainstorm how you might turn your passion into something meaningful to you.

A Word From Verywell

Finding your purpose isn’t something that can be done in a few days, weeks or months. It can be a lifelong journey, and it can only be done one step at a time.

You also might find that your purpose changes over time. Perhaps you liked working with animals in your youth but now you want to join forces with a cause that fights human trafficking. You can definitely have more than one purpose, too.

Keep in mind your purpose doesn’t necessarily mean you have to change what you’re doing already. If you give haircuts to people, you might decide your purpose in life is to help others feel beautiful.

 If you work as a school custodian, you might find your purpose is creating an environment that helps children learn.

Occasionally, you might want to pause what you’re doing and reflect on whether you feel like the path you are on is taking you in the direction you want to go. If it’s not, then you can change course. Sometimes that road to finding your purpose has a few curves, forks, and stop lights.

Everyone has potential to make the world a better place

There is no limit to human potential; however, it’s the individual, culture, circumstances, and society that sets a limit on that unlimited potential

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Qualities of Good Leadership

I once read a quote by Simon Sinek that rang so true for me- “Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge”.  I have met some exceptional leaders who do this extremely well (Teena Ellison; Julie Rodda; Kalen Brown; Mark Dawson; Patti Webster; Scott Sanders; Jama Shelton; Bill Simmons; Judy Stewart; and Vern Streeter- to name a few).  I also found that loving and caring for your team comes with some intense pain.  When I invest so much into people- I truly have their best interest at heart.  And sometimes that means getting out of the way for another blessing…. Guidance isn’t always accepted, layoffs aren’t understood, write-ups getting internalized as betrayal.  It’s a really tough balancing act.  Many leaders have advised “you can’t love them- you are their boss”.  I wonder though, have we forgotten that we all only get this one shot at life? We all experience pain, feel alone at times, want to be seen and heard? The best leaders I have seen mentor, invest, and bring out the best in the people they supervise.  That include assisting them with becoming the very best people they can be.  Life’s greatest happiness is to be convinced we are loved.  I want to be part of that.

I am fascinated how an organization’s culture is the outgrowth of the personality of the leader.  If the organization’s mission is humanitarian in nature, then should the leader have a servant heart? I believe YES! I love creating an “ethical will” when I enter a new organization.  This is a statement of what is important and valuable about the work of the agency. Helps us clarify the vision and not get sidetracked by all the influx of options, problems, and competing philosophies on how to operate.  The very best leaders are optimistic, compassionate, emotionally intelligent, and take care of their people.  I am eternally grateful for the leaders who mentored me along the way and taught me how to love so big.

About Sheri >

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I have never been so enthusiastic for a year to begin! 2015 has been such a dark, painful year for so many people who are close to my heart.  This past year caused me to question my purpose on this earth.  And so many questions!- Why so much suffering? Why so much selfishness? What lies beneath all the heartache? For many, it’s easy to look at people and judge.  We need to look deeper- and find what’s beneath.

In the quest to regain balance in my own life, I took a look in the mirror.  I don’t wish to wait for others to save me from the worst part of me.  One thing I know about is fear.  Fear of judgment, failure, pain…. Fear is so paralyzing.  It has caused me to listen to the evil chatter in my ear and begin to question the goodness in the world.  Other people’s words and opinions do NOT define me.  I am who I say I am! I refuse thoughts that are not contributing to goodness.  So, here are my goals for a fabulous 2016:

  • Lighten up. I take life so seriously! I worry about everything.  ENOUGH! I am enough. What is will be what it’s suppose to be. So I’m going to have fun. I am accountable for only me.
  • Do good, feel good. I make my mark in this world because it makes me feel good.  I will do good, especially when no one is looking.  It doesn’t matter if they don’t notice. I know- and that’s good enough!
  • Remove chaos! Everyone in my household feels so much better when things are organized.  I hold on to things that have no purpose or meaning.  Time to unclutter my environment!
  • Be ME. I know who I am.  I am happy, spontaneous, passionate, kind, shy, giving, trusting, and good.  I will allow feedback to enter my thoughts, but I will not allow other people’s definition of their world define me.  I DO love too much! I DO see the good in all people! I AM forgiving! And that’s OK.
  • Care for my body. No, I’m not going on a “diet”.  I will be mindful of how I care for ME. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol intake, and regularly excercising- even if just a brisk 20 minute walk with my family or friends- I need to move my body, breathe in all the beauty around me, and be filled with gratitude that I can MOVE.

Your turn! I want to hear what goals you have for 2016.

Let’s love LOUDER my friends….. And start with YOU!

Cheers to a very joy filled 2016!

My Two Cents

Ed Kemmick from Last Best News in Billings Montana, Sabrina Currie, Carmen Price. Isn’t it interesting all of the things they are saying have been proven false yet they keep writing about me. Here’s the true scoop my friends… I left Tumbleweed due to medical reasons. I love that organization like it’s my child. The staff love so big, and the kids are so inspiring. It’s time for me to experience new challenges and pass the torch to a new leader. I wish I was fabricating the numbers of homeless youth that exist in our community. So why would I be accused of it, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because Ed is good friends with Carmen and plays in a band with Carmen’s husband. Maybe Sabrina wanted my job. What I do know is I’m an imperfect person and they could’ve written about something truthful. I’m too emotional, I get defensive and I have many sleepless nights worried about the hurts in the world. I do wish them well. I hope Ed finds something interesting to write about. I hope Carmen gets back together with Paul and I hope Sabrina becomes an attorney and fights for the RIGHT reasons. Spread love not hate. Peace out.

About Sheri >

Leadership >