Motivational: Why do you want more money?

Why do you want more money?

Written by Leon van der Walt

We all want more money, but have you ever stopped and asked yourself why you want it? Is it to buy repparttar

things that give you pleasure or maybe you want to provide better for your family? Whatever it is that you want to buy, whatever it is that you to do with repparttar 122749

money, it can often be traced back to some more basic human need or want.

So stop for a moment and answer repparttar 122750 question: Why do you want money? (What do you want to do with it?) Even if you already have all repparttar 122751 money you desire and are doing what you've always wanted with it, this exercise will help to determine whether repparttar 122752 means serve repparttar 122753 end.

I've always wanted to be very rich and have a lot of money, but taking a moment and examining repparttar 122754 reasons why is an eye-opener. So take out a pad of paper and make three columns. The first column to note what it is that you want, repparttar 122755 second repparttar 122756 reason you want it, and repparttar 122757 third repparttar 122758 basic human need/want that it fulfils.

Below I've set out repparttar 122759 first two of my own as an example: What - Why - Need/Want 1. Yacht - Cruise around repparttar 122760 world - Want to be able to say 'been there, done that'. 2. Support parents - Duty - Want them to appreciate what I do for them.

The Gift of Listening

Written by Lynn Cutts

Give something different this Valentine's Day instead of chocolate or flowers. (Save repparttar

chocolate for me.) Give something precious and unique, something that only you can give. Something suitable for all ages and all relationships. Give repparttar 122748

gift of listening. Really listening.

How often do we sit down and listen to our loved ones? The vast majority of our conversations with others occur while we are doing something else. We're driving, or cooking dinner or tidying up. We're watching TV or listening to both kids and repparttar 122749 dog. We're preoccupied with our own thoughts. Or we just tune repparttar 122750 conversation completely out. Our mental processes go like this:

Hmm, I like that song on repparttar 122751 radio. I wonder who does it? I wish he'd get rid of that shirt. It's a bad color for him. Oh, dang, I just broke a nail. I wonder what I should fix for dinner? Is he still talking about repparttar 122752 car? Yup. Why doesn't he just get it fixed? I don't get what's repparttar 122753 big deal here.

Of course, sometimes we do sit down and pay attention, or so we think. While we are focused on repparttar 122754 conversation, it's usually with repparttar 122755 goal of coming up with repparttar 122756 next clever thing to say, or a killer argument to repparttar 122757 point being made.

What does it mean to really listen? It means paying attention to what repparttar 122758 other person is saying, without being distracted by outside events, our thoughts, or planning what to say next. It brings improved connection, communication and understanding to any relationship. It tells repparttar 122759 other person that they matter; that you care enough about them to make them a priority, a focus. It lets them know that they are more important to you than washing dishes or fixing supper. Now that’s a real gift.

Like everything else in life, listening is a skill. It takes practice. Here are a few guidelines that might help:

1. Find a quiet place where repparttar 122760 two of you can sit down together, with no distractions. It doesn't have to be at home. My husband and I often go down to a pub and grab a quiet table in repparttar 122761 back when we want to just sit and talk.

2. Get really curious about what repparttar 122762 other person is saying. Ask open-ended questions, such as "What else?" "Tell me more about that." "How does this matter to you?" Be careful not to ask questions that sound judgmental, though, such as "Why on earth would you do that?" or "What were you thinking?".

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