Things you should need to do to stay happy

1. You need to take small chances every day. – It’s the best way to face any problem, crush every fear and overcome life’s greatest challenges.  And you get just about as many chances in life as you’re willing to take.  So never let your fear decide your future.  Take small chances every day, one step at a time.  Some will work out and some won’t.  But good choices or bad, if you never take these chances, someone else will build your life for you.  And you don’t want that.
2. You need to worry less about what other people think of you.– A beautiful life is about spending your time passionately, being happy with who you are inside, and not worrying about everyone’s petty judgments.  If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for everyone’s approval.  You don’t need anyone’s approval to be happy or to follow your heart.
3. You need to ignore what everyone else is doing and achieving.– Your life is about breaking your own limits and outgrowing yourself to live YOUR best life.  You are not in competition with anyone else; plan to outdo your past, not other people.
4. You need to invest in yourself even when no one else is. – Truth be told, there are only a few people in this world who will stay 100% true to you, and YOU should be one of them.  Prioritize your own needs into your daily to-do’s.  Invest in your education, health and happiness every single day.  Create a life that feels good on the inside, not one that just looks good on the outside to everyone else.  
5. You need to walk the talk. – Do not ask others or the universe to guide your footsteps if you’re not willing to move your feet.  If you really want it, prove it!  Happiness will come to you when it comes from you.  Success will be yours when you take responsibility for making your goals a top priority.
6. You need to put your heart into your work. – Love is a verb.  Act on it.  Put your heart into goals that move you.  Work hard.  In the end, love is what makes you smile when you’re tired and still struggling.
7. You need to deliver results, even when making excuses is easier. – NO shortcuts.  NO quick fixes.  NO blaming others.  NO “I’ll do it tomorrows.”  NO MORE EXCUSES!  Just get started.  Quit talking and begin doing!  Laziness may appear attractive, but work leads to happiness.
8. You need to make mistakes and look like a fool sometimes. – Quite often, the successful people who act the happiest are the ones who have overcome the most.  Sometimes you have to lose something precious in order to gain something priceless.  Never regret your past mistakes and failures, because they have given you strength.  The one who falls and gets up is much stronger than the one who never fell.
9. You need to let go of yesterday’s struggles. – The story of your life has many chapters.  One bad chapter doesn’t mean it’s the end.  So stop re-reading the bad one already and turn the page.  Accept what is, let go of what was and have faith in what could be.  Remember, life does not have to be anywhere near perfect to be wonderful in the end.
10. You need to refrain from feeling sorry for yourself. – To those who are struggling, I understand how rough things are right now.  I just want to let you know that things will get better, I promise.  Keep pushing forward.  I know you feel like nobody really cares, but you’re wrong.  People care.  I care, otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this.  You’re not alone.  We may be miles apart, but we’re all going through similar challenges.  Realize that self-pity is not helpful.  Life is not about feeling sorry for yourself.  It’s about forgiveness, acceptance and looking forward to what makes you stronger and better off in the long run.
11. You need to toughen up. – The strongest, happiest, most successful people are NOT those who always win, but those who don’t give up when they lose. They fail forward.  So keep calm when everything seems to be going wrong.  You may feel weak, but your spirit is strong.  When things are tough, you must be tougher.  Don’t pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a hard one that leads to long-term success and happiness.
12. You need to fight hard for what you believe in. – Great strength comes from overcoming what others believe is impossible.  And sometimes you have to lose the battle to win the war.  So if you believe strongly in something, fight for it.  In time things will fall into place… maybe not today, but eventually… maybe not exactly how you planned, just how it’s meant to be.  (Angel and I discuss this in more detail in the “Adversity” chapter of 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently.)
13. You need to be patient. – Don’t rush it.  Practice patience.  Keep a good attitude while working hard for what you believe in.  When the time is right, it’ll happen.
14. You need to take control of your thoughts before they take control of you. –It’s often our own thinking that hurts us.  Realize this.  You can’t solve your problems with the same thinking you used to create them.  There’s no reason to imprison yourself.  Don’t think outside the box.  Think like there is no box.
15. You need to be positive. – Happiness is in the heart and mind, not in random circumstances.  Beautiful things happen when you distance yourself from negative thinking.  Be positive and smile right now, not because everything is good, but because you can see the good side of everything.  Smiling doesn’t always mean you’re happy; sometimes it simply means you’re strong.  And smiling will help you feel better.

Top 7 Healthy Brazilian foods to stay fit

brazilian low fat rice

2. 
   
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9. Wash and drain rice.
10. Set aside.
11. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil until soft.
12. Add tomatoes, rice, salt, pepper and water or broth.
13. Bring to a boil.
14. Bring heat to medium.
15. Cook until all bubbles on surface have disappeared.
16. Cover and cook on low heat for 20 minutes.
17. BRAZILIAN PEPPER SCENTED RICE
18. 1. Pour the oil into a large saucepan and heat for a few seconds.
    2. Add the onion, garlic, and rice.
    3. Fry gently, stirring for about 4 minutes.
    4. Add the chili pepper, hot water, and salt. Stir well and bring to a boil.
    5. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until the rice is soft and the water has been absorbed.
    6. Remove the chili pepper and serve.
    7. CAIPIROSCA (BRAZILIAN LIME COCKTAIL)
    1. Wash the lime and cut into fourths.
    2. Put lime in a glass and add the sugar. Crush lime with the sugar well.
    3. Add the shot of Vodka and the ice cubes. Enjoy!
    4. BRAZILIAN BANANA CAKE
    5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    6. Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
    7. In a large bowl, mix together margarine and sugar until smooth.
    8. Mix in yolks.
    10. Stir in flour and baking powder alternately with the milk.
    11. In another bowl, beat egg whites until doubled in volume.
    12. Fold beaten whites into the dough.
    13. Spread into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan.
    14. Slice bananas over the top of the dough.
    15. In a small bowl, mix together the 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon; sprinkle over bananas.
    16. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
    17. Allow to cool.
    18. REFRESHING BRAZILIAN LEMONADE
    19. Divide all ingredients half. Cut off ends of each lime and cut each into 8 wedges.
    20. Place one half of the ingredients in a blender & blend for 20 seconds - NO LONGER! Strain, to remove peel then pour onto a pitcher.
    21. 
    22. Blend & strain the remaining half of the ingredients & add pitcher.
    23. Mix well & serve immediately over ice.
    24. BRAZILIAN LEMONADE
    25. Wash limes thoroughly. Cut off the ends and slice into eight wedges. Place limes in a blender with the sugar, sweetened condensed milk, water, and ice.
    26. 
    27. Blend in an electric blender, pulsing 5 times. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove rinds. Serve over ice.
    28. POTATO SALAD
    29. Bake six potatoes for 1 hour 400°F
    30. Cool, peel and cut in small dices. Place in bowl. Dice, onions mix with potatoes.
    32. Add mayonnaise, vinegar, salt and pepper to onion and potato mixture.
    33. Mix with fork (do not mash) , all ingredients. Use less pepper if desired.
    34. Refrigerate until served

Few things consider to be a successful leader -- How Do You Measure Up?

Do you consider yourself successful? This question came up during a recent business dinner with a group of leaders, and the collective response caught me off guard.

While I simply thought, “Yeah, I guess,” others went on explaining the flaws that hampered their success. Although I considered everyone at the table to be a very successful leader, I realized we all have different perceptions of personal success and different metrics for gauging it.

Here are the seven main standards of success brought up during our dinner that every leader should excel at:

1. A Healthy Relationship With Yourself

Yes, I know this might sound too lovey-dovey, but this response stood out to me. It came from the global chairman of a large company who mentioned that he’s still working on his relationship with himself. This initially surprised me, and before I jokingly tried to hold hands and sing “Kumbaya,” I thought about it more and realized he was right. I do the same thing: I give myself a hard time for missing out on an opportunity or making a simple mistake. But it’s important to consider your own well-being and what’s worthwhile for your career and yourself.

Someone once told me, “The most important relationship you’ll ever have is with yourself,” and I couldn’t agree more. Success ultimately hinges on how you internalize every experience. You wouldn’t berate your best friend for a minor blip — you’d work through the situation and help that person grow from it. Treat yourself the same way.

2. A Gratifying Family Life

Are you a good wife, dad, aunt, cousin, godfather, etc.? The idea of family looks starkly different for each person, but it boils down to treating the people most important to you well.

Are you there for them when they need you? Do you make a concerted effort to improve their lives? Do you try to maintain a meaningful relationship or simply go through the motions? It’s hard to celebrate and appreciate your own successes when your home life is at a low point. Consider taking the first step in reaching out or actively keeping up with family members this year. Recently, I took the initiative to plan a trip with a variety of family members. In the past, I’d been so caught up in my work that I never made the effort.

3. A Fair Wage

Money doesn’t create happiness, right? Well, let’s be honest — it might not create happiness, but money can certainly offset the stress of larger issues like mortgage payments or putting your kids through college.

However, it’s important to find a balance where your wage is in line with your performance. Even if a leader makes millions each year for delegating work to others, that doesn’t constitute success. You feel rewarded when you receive a wage fit for the work you put in and can pay others generously while recognizing their hard work.

4. Good Health

When you’re consumed with business as usual, it’s easy to let your health slip. I just got my first physical and blood test in 10 years. All tests came back normal, except I finally discovered why I wasn’t sleeping well, and I am so grateful I did. This will make a world of a difference in my mood and overall daily performance.

Succeeding in health is similar to how you’d treat a nice car. Do preventative maintenance by eating healthy and exercising often, and don’t forget to get regular checkups so you’re not missing underlying issues that could be affecting your performance.

5. A Fulfilling Career Path

While many business leaders might spend more time at work than with their families like myself, that’s not necessarily an indicator of success. You have to enjoy how you’re spending the majority of your life to truly feel accomplished. Some of the happiest people I know don’t make much money, but they love what they do. It’s hard to find the ideal situation. While work inevitably brings its challenges, if you don’t find a sense of satisfaction in your daily work, you should probably consider a career switch.

When I was younger, I left a position specifically because of the culture. I actually liked my job, but the company leaders and I had very different ideas of how to treat people, so the switch needed to happen to preserve my happiness and sanity. However, in other work scenarios, I’ve let one small task or issue eat away at me, which ended up costing me sleep and additional stress. Accepting these minor concerns has substantially increased my happiness at work. Decide whether the annoyance is worth accepting or searching elsewhere could minimize your stress and revive your positive outlook on life.

6. Respect for Others

I’ve worked for and alongside many wealthy business leaders, but unfortunately, many didn’t earn the respect of their staff or colleagues. Sometimes, it’s obvious whether they just lack self-awareness, don’t respond well to feedback, or really don’t give a shit.

When you strip away the ego, you end up seeing that these people aren’t truly happy. It’s natural to want to feel appreciated and respected and treat others the same way, so if that’s not there, it can leave a big hole in your feeling of success.

7. Contentment With Your (Brag-Free) Lifestyle

I’ve said several times recently that I like to live a “call liquor” life. For example, when I go to a wedding reception, I’m typically content with a Jack Daniel’s or an inexpensive glass of wine — even if high-end options are offered. I don’t necessarily want the cheapest or the most expensive.

There are needs in life, and there are wants. Most of us are lucky to simply have what we need because not everyone does. The most successful people in my book are the ones who aren’t driven by their egos, but by what makes them feel content. Others consider themselves successful if they’re always getting a new Ferrari and sharing pictures of it all day. Are you really successful if you need to constantly share photos of the your new car that most can’t afford?

I’ve started grading myself in each of these areas and plan to ask others to do the same so I can hold myself accountable. Each quarter, I’ll reevaluate and see where I’m out of balance. I hope this can serve as a reminder to reflect on your work-life balance and account for ways you can find success as a leader.

John Hall is the CEO of Influence & Co., a company that specializes in expertise extraction and knowledge management that are used to fuel marketing efforts.