This is the first post in a new series - "Using Your Senses To Transform Your Life.” Most of us probably assume that we make use of all 5 our senses each and every day, but take another look. Do you think that you use them to their fullest potential?

Leonardo da Vinci, the great Renaissance painter and sculptor, said that the average person looks without seeing, listens without hearing, and talks without thinking. Doesn’t this describes most of us?
 
Follow these series if you would like to discover the full potential of your senses and how you can use them for powerful self improvement which will lead to happiness, healing, and greater life fulfilment. 
 
See how one may fine tune your senses  to make much more sense of the world. After all, you are the writer of your own story, and your perception creates your own world.

Do you know what your predominant sense is? 
​Download this free quiz below  determine your main sensory tendency.

For 5 weeks, we will focus on one sense each week. For instance, week one you could pay particular attention to everything you see that week. Do not then pay to much attention to your other four senses in your “sight” week. In a "touch week" focus on feeling various textures, and so on. 
 
Perform this exercise over the next 5 weeks, concentrating on a different sense each week.
 
Repeat this exercise from time to time to stay in touch with all of your senses so you can reap the very most benefits from all five of them. 

Week 1:  Your Sense Of Hearing

The Art of Listening
 
True listening has the power of transforming relationships on a majestic scale. It can make the difference between a failed and a successful career. How well you listen in the same way affects your relationships with your family members and friends. 
 
Try these tips to fine tune your listening skills:

• Look at the person speaking. Show your interest by attentively leaning forward. Make sure that you maintain eye contact and stop with whatever it is that your re doing listen to this person.
• Do not become distracted by your phone, the tv or anything else while you are listening.
• You have to show your interest from time to time by nodding or saying “really?” or “I see what you mean."  
• Do not plan what you are going to say next while the speaker is talking. Let him or her finish first before you consider your reply.
• Exhibit self-control and avoid being judgemental while the person is speaking. If what the person said makes you angry first count to ten and think about an objective response before saying a a thing.
• Make sure you understood what they said by summarising “so you are saying...”  and wait with your questions while the other person is speaking.

​Research has long shown that music enhance brain power, health, and a general sense of well-being. This phenomenon is known as “The Mozart Effect.”

Improve Creativity and Focus With the Music of Mozart

Mozart’s music, in particular the "Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major", has been shown to boost brain power.
 
Dr. Alfred Tomatis discovered the Mozart Effect in the late 1950's while he was experimenting with the effects of Mozart’s music on autistic children. By 1990, the method had been adopted worldwide. It was also found that Mozart’s music is also beneficial in reducing the negative effects of epilepsy.  
 
Classical music relieves stress and is shown to improve your body’s immune system. Mozart’s compositions and Baroque music like Bach that is 50 to 80 beats per minute also enhances a person’s focus by inducing the Alpha state brain waves which is ideal for learning and reading. ​

Also Read: Using your Senses To Transform Your Life
Also Read: ​Your Sense Of Touch - MUCH more Powerful Than you Realise
Also Read: Get in touch With Your Soul By Using your Sense Of Sight
Also Read: Free Workbook: Transform Your Life With The Power Of Your Senses
Also Read: 10 Incredible Facts About Your Sense Of Smell

What About ​Cultivating positive habits?

You must have seen how some people just seem to have the knack of getting things done. They will say a thing like, 'I am going to begin exercising next year', and they do! However when you try, it's a different story. You stay with it awhile and then in some way it all falls flat. It can really easily make you discouraged and disheartened. You need to create good habits that stick, to inspire you. 

1. Begin small
Many people wish to plunge in at the deep end and change things over night, but if you wish to succeed, it is best to start small and increase because sustaining positive habit does take a great deal of willpower. Research shows that willpower resembles a muscle, once you use it, it burns out, and when it's tired it needs to stop. The solution is to start small without using a lot of willpower. So if its exercises we're discussing, rather than embarking on 50 pushups a day, start with five. Always establish your habit behavior first, not increasing the amounts until what you have started becomes a natural part of you.

2. Get linked to your good habit
Maybe you've started a project at the office and worked doggedly on it. You type of don't wish to let it go as you think about it as 'yours'. But we can use this mindset to our advantage, as a visual reminder of the investment you have made in your good habit. It's a great idea to get a calendar, with a marker alongside it, marking the date you started and watching its progress-- with the intention of never breaking the chain.

3. Are your objectives clear?
Being serious regarding your new positive habits means eliminating non-serious intentions. Research, once more, shows that you are a lot more likely to complete if you have analyzed your plans beforehand and you know exactly what you will do and when. It's no good saying, 'I think I will exercise 3 times a week'. You need to actually start making it happen, otherwise, you won't hack it. It is a good help if you plan your goals beforehand using a detailed goal planner.

​4. Rejoice in victories
When you are managing yourself well with your positive habits, reward yourself. Rewarding yourself releases good-feeling chemicals in the brain, feelings of pride and pleasure. It equips you to continue with your good habits and create bigger wins later on.

​Also Read: How To Keep Focus On Long Term Goals 

5. Create your own surrounding
Lot of times, our environment is what drives our behavior. Create your environment and shape it to support your positive habits. Each of your new habits will require energy to do it done and the more energy and action need to follow it through causes a person to become less likely to complete with it. Maybe, rather than finishing a book, you rather watch TV. Now place your book where the TV is and move the TV to another room. Get the drift? It's creating the right environment so you can promote the change.

6. Supporters will support you
People whom you stay with or whom you come into contact everyday with can influence on your behavior a lot. As an example, if your best friend ends up being overweight, you increase the risk of turning into obese yourself by as much as 57%! Research and experience show us that we type of feel similarly and even act sometimes the same as individuals we spend a great deal of time with. That means you need to be with the same type of people who think like you. If you want positive things to happen in your life, you can't surround yourself with pessimists. You need positive people around you who make you feel positive and act positively.
​
7. Be responsible
Regretfully, 99% of people who set adventurous goals don't execute them because they don't plan them out. You can't be responsible for positive changes and habits if you have not thought, prepared for and put them into motion. A goal without consequences is just wishful thinking. You need to make favorable goals and put stakes on your new habits to hold your own self responsible. Setting positive goals, and achieving them requires energy, dedication, and self-control, plus some truly hard work. Do you have what it takes?

​Also Read: Be Passionate about Your Goals and Do Not Quit 

While dealing with the stress and demands of our every day lives, it could be demanding to stop and consider what we are thankful for in our lives. When you can stop and show thankfulness for what you have, you will certainly experience incredible advantages. Here are 5 ideas for growing gratitude and increasing your overall joy and happiness.

Here are 5 ideas for growing gratitude and increasing your overall joy and happiness.

Pause and look around
An easy way to develop a habit of thankfulness is to take a second during your day and ask yourself what you could be grateful for in your life, and also who are the individuals that you could be grateful for to have in your life and why. Nevertheless, do not get hung up on the numbers, if you can just think about a single person, that's okay. The crucial thing to keep in mind is to take a couple of seconds and think of what you're grateful for in your life.

Have a look at yourself
Have a look at yourself and keep in mind your self-gratitude does not need to only have to do with your accomplishments, but can also have to do with the qualities you have.

Downloadable gratitude poster

​Take into account What You Take for Granted
You do not need to only concentrate on the huge and noticeable factors that you need to be thankful for in your life. Also, think of the much smaller things that you need to be thankful for. Opening up your eyes to the little, everyday things that you need to value allows you to enjoy more of the uncomplicated charm in life.

Do this Early or Late
The only way you will create a habit of thankfulness is to stay with it and not permit it to turn into one of those things that you forget. To make gratitude a routine, it is most ideal to take a minute in the early morning and find 3 things, big or little, that you are thankful for in your life. Then, every evening, devote a couple of mins jotting down 3 to 5 things that you are grateful for about your day.

Reveal Your Gratitude
In order to really increase your joy and happiness, you need to share your gratitude. Make other individuals in your life happier by demonstrating how you are thankful for having them in your life. Not only may this put a smile on their face, but it may also make you happier.

It does not need to take a lot of time or energy to make gratitude a routine. Taking even tiny steps to show your gratitude can increase your happiness.

Can you imagine slipping on your headphones for just a few minutes a day, watching your life absolutely turn around in just a few weeks?

I'm talking about real, positive, life-change — just by listening to some of the most relaxing, beautifully-crafted, brainwave meditation recordings you've ever heard.

Doesn't that sound like a self-development dream come true?

​5 Unexpected Health Benefits of Gratitude

Many research studies have discovered that there are many advantages in being thankful. To enjoy the numerous mental and bodily benefits of gratitude all it takes is a little of self-questioning.

Here are five unexpected benefits you can get from establishing an attitude of gratitude.

1) A lot more Patience
Scientists at Northeastern University have discovered that people who felt thankful for the small everyday things in their lives were much more tolerant and a lot better able to make reasonable choices, contrasted to those who didn't feel grateful on an everyday basis.

2) Bettered Relationships
Feeling grateful toward your loved one, and the other way around can boost numerous aspects of your partnership, basing on to a recent study released in the Journal of Theoretical Social Psychology. This involves stronger emotions of connectedness and overall fulfillment as a couple. Being thankful for each other may substantially help your love life.

Check out this cute spiral bound gratitude journals below with undated pages and start your own today!

3) Greatly improves Sleep
Feeling thankful can assist you sleep much better and for a lot longer. This is probably since you have much more good thought and feelings before you go to sleep, that can help to calm the nerve system. If you are going to create a daily gratitude list, or maintain a gratitude journal, studies have revealed that it is best to perform this right before bed.

4) Relieves Depression
Gratitude is highly effective. Recent studies have revealed that by practicing the "three good things" activity daily, you can observe substantial enhancements in depression and general joy and happiness, in some cases in as little as a few weeks. The activity prompts you to think about 3 good things or memories that occurred throughout the day.

5)  Provides You Joy And Happiness that Lasts
Various things can provide you a boost of happiness, from a praise to a sweet treat. Regrettably, these type of quick satisfaction can rapidly vanish and leave you yearning more. Gratitude, however, is one thing that can result in a lot more lasting form of joy and happiness since it isn't based in that instant satisfaction, but instead a frame of mind. If you make the effort to regularly share gratitude and thankfulness for things in your life, you are much more than likely to experience lasting happiness.

Gratitude does not take a great deal of expensive tools to engage in, but can considerably transform your life. By taking simply a few mins a day to show your thanks can have considerable advantages on both of these your mental and physical health.

Beginning and keeping a gratitude journal could be an uphill struggle to undertake in the beginning since it is just another thing that you need to remember to accomplish daily. However, eventually, the work you invest in showing your gratitude each day will be well worth it over time. Keep on push yourself to perform it every evening until it ends up being a habit. The very best time to begin a gratitude journal is right now. Here are 3 amazing advantages that you can get when you begin to keep a gratitude journal.

​5 Advantages of Maintaining a Gratitude Journal

It Boosts Positivity
The moment you write things down that you are thankful for in your life, you will naturally end up being more positive and self-assured. Paying attention to the good in your life offers less energy to the damaging emotions and better power to the good ones. Although you may have good thoughts enter your mind through the day, putting in the time to write them down makes them much more concrete.

Spiral bound gratitude journal with undated pages

It Enhances Sleep
Devoting just a few mins right before you go to sleep to make a note of things that you are thankful for will help to silent your mind and relieve any stress and anxieties that you might have regarding the day. A calm and thankful mind will enable you to drop off to sleep quicker. Gratitude has been proven to generate the relaxation action and has been proven to be actually a potent sleep aid.

Scientists have found that whenever you concentrate on feelings of fulfillment and satisfaction, it will typically combat stress.

Greatly improves Self-Esteem
When you concentrate on the unfavorable things in your life, it can become incredibly easy to really feel down. We tend to become more demanding on our own selves than others, but maintaining a gratitude journal can assist you stay concentrated on your successeses. Showing thankfulness can help to decrease the natural habits we have to match up ourselves to people around us, which could be harmful to our self-worth. When you show thankfulness for what you have, you will hold less bitterness and envy toward others and get a greater sensation of self-worth.

Download your FREE Gratitude-Journal-Worksheet

Decreases Stress
Scientists have found that whenever you concentrate on feelings of fulfillment and satisfaction, it will typically combat stress. While you will still need to take care of difficulties in your life, having a mindset of appreciation will help you much better take care of those difficulties.

Far better Health
Thankful people often tend to live much healthier lives and live much longer than their ungrateful equivalents. This is due to the fact that they have the inspiration to take much better care of themselves. Thankful people experience far fewer pains and aches and are more likely to eat a healthy diet and exercise.

These are just a few of the numerous advantages of maintaining a gratitude journal. If you may not be currently keeping one, beginning today will assist you live a healthier and much better life.

Sometimes when we wake up in the morning, whether it is weekend or a workday, most of us can’t seem to get started unless we’ve had our energy-shot for the day, and that comes from our coffee, right? That’s what we’ve been counting on for years, not believing for a moment that there are quite a few other things that can really kick- start our day.

​The thing is with coffee, yes, it sure does make us feel great as the caffeine gets to work, but once it starts wearing off not too long afterward, then we are still left feeling sluggish and foggy again – that’s when we reach for another cup, maybe even with a bit more sugar added this time to keep up with the day’s hectic schedule.

​
Wake up and smell real energy-boosting foods that work better than coffee
 
If you truly do want to last all day and stay alert and ‘with it’, there are some other better ways than coffee to supercharge your day – there literally are high energy boosting healthy foods to stop you yawning before night time comes along.

Beneficial bananas
Bananas have plenty of vitamin C in them, plenty of fiber, as well as antioxidants and they’ve got a lot of natural sugar in too, fructose, sucrose, and glucose – these are converted into energy in your blood and the high fiber helps the sugar to be absorbed slower, to give you the energy to last right through the day.

Super salmon
How does a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel sound for breakfast? Well, it’s got the all-important omega-3 fatty acids which are perfect for brain health and energy production; let alone looking after your heart. Fish serves you protein to stave off those hunger pangs, giving you energy and crushing any of those post-carb yearnings that we all know about.

Lusty lemon water
There are plenty of us who don’t drink enough water, but some warm water with natural lemon juice is hydrating to the body and skin and has plenty of vitamin C added as well. Studies show that those who don’t have drink plenty of water in the day feel the tiredness and fatigue setting in more than those who do.

Great green tea
If you want to switch off the coffee and add a bit more zest to your life and diet, then green tea is for you. It has also got caffeine in, but far less than your cup of Joe. Green tea helps you concentrate too, filled with antioxidants and nutrients that can give you quick boost during your day.

5 Habits that will change your life - free download

Extraordinary eggs
Eggs are abundant in protein and iron and that means you get real sustainable energy for a busy day. Eggs have a nutrient called choline in them too, excellent for the brain, the muscles, and metabolism. 
 
Sensational smoothie
A smoothie with nuts is the ideal breakfast drink to start your day because it is full of minerals, vitamins, and fats. Furthermore, they are downright delicious! Filled with fiber too, to keep your blood sugar levels balanced and protein to keep you full for longer. Just the nuts stashed away in your desk at work can give you an energy boost if you haven’t got time for the smoothie.

Gorgeous Greek yogurt with some berries
To get the most out of your snack, just choose some low-fat Greek yogurt; staying away from the flavored one because they come with plenty of sugar added. For that extra sweetness, just add in some delicious fresh berries with a bit of honey to control the sweet tooth in you. And if you want to go the extra mile, you can toss over your yogurt some delectable crunch toppings such as granola, which contain the necessary fiber.

​It is incredible how one, basic affirmative act can transform so much in a person's life. Some of things that can have an enormous effect on your life is the awareness of the power of gratitude. Applying gratitude can influence every facet of your life. Here are 4 incredible ways integrating gratitude into your life are able to change it for the better.

Here are 4 incredible ways to integrate gratitude into your life to change it for the better. Make sure you download the free printable Gratitude-Journal-Worksheet at the end of the post.

1) Gratitude Can Get You Away From a Foul State of mind
Instead of angering at someone, show gratitude for them instead. This isn't always going to be simple since it is a substantial change of mindsets. If someone makes you very upset, instead of snapping at them, concentrate as an alternative on those points that make you grateful. Accomplishing this can gradually change your frame of mind. Showing your gratefulness toward someone instead of anger will not only enhance your mood, but it can transform your relationship and make things much better.

2) Gratitude Is Able To Improve Your Relationship
Whilst it is always vital to talk out your issues with your partner or loved one, criticizing them constantly will rapidly weaken your relationship. Rather, when you end up feeling need to criticize them, stop and take a deep breath, and relax. Start to consider all the reasons you are thankful for your partner, then share your thankfulness with them asap. Revealing your appreciation will help to make your partnership stronger.

Download your free printable Gratitude Journal Worksheet below:

3) Gratitude Will Enhance Your Parenting Abilities
Many moms and dads get frustrated with their kids. Sadly, many parents also convey their frustrations to their kids, leaving behind their kids to think negative about themselves. Instead of continually criticising, take a second to relax and think about all the ways you are thankful for your children. Share these reasons with your children and seize the day to show them, instead of criticizing them. You'll each be better for it.

​Spiral bound gratitude journal with undated pages - start your own gratitude journal!

4) Gratitude Is Able To Assist You Much Better To Handle Tragedy
Whenever you experience a tragedy, try to become thankful for the life that you still have. Dealing with misfortunes in your life could be devastating if you allow them to conquer you. While you wish to grieve, you may also think about the thankfulness for the life you still have:. Love for people you have in your life and gratitude for the charm of life. Seize the day to give thanks for those individuals in your life and take pleasure in your life whilst you can.

Identifying ways to integrate thankfulness into your life will definitely transform it for the greater.

5 Steps that will help you to streamline your life towards minimalism to live a meaningful life.
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​Simpleness provides harmony, freedom, and happiness. The minute we start to live simply and experience these perks, we start to ask the next question, "Just where else in my lifestyle can i get rid of distraction and merely pay attention to the important?

1) Your Time Commitments-- The majority of us have filled our whole days full from beginning to end with time commitments: your job, home, kid's activities, society events, spiritual endeavors, leisure activities ... the list goes on. Whenever possible, discharge yourself from the time obligations that are not in accordance with your leading values.

2) Your Goals-- Lessen the amount of goals you are deliberately pursuing in your life to 1 or 2. By decreasing the amount of goals which you are trying to achieve, you will greatly improve your concentration and your success rate.

3) Take accountability for your thoughts. Negative Notions-- Most negative feelings are entirely pointless. Bitterness, anger, despise, and resentment have never ever enhanced the lifestyle for a single person. Let off past hurts and change unfavourable thoughts with beneficial ones.

4) Your Screen Time-- Fixating your focus on the television, flicks, computer game, and technological innovation influences your life greater than you believe. Media changes your values. It kicks off to control your way of life. And also it gets a great effect on your mindset and viewpoint.

5) Deal with one task each time.-- Research study shows that multi-tasking raises stress and reduces efficiency. Even though single-tasking is coming to be a past art, learn it. Take care of one task at a time. Accomplish it properly. And the moment it is finished, transfer to the subsequent.