Below is a list of the past articles at Personal Excellence. I’ve categorized them into the key categories for your easy viewing. These are all-time classics with my best lessons on living our best life.
Don’t attempt to read all of them in one shot – rather, bookmark this page and return daily to check out the posts. If there’s a topic you wish to see but isn’t covered here, let me know here!
Self-Improvement
Everything on being a better person. Articles on how to find your life purpose, develop your inner self, build your confidence, and more.
Purpose & Meaning
What is the meaning of life? Finding your life purpose is the first step to living a conscious life. Get started here.
- Are You Sleepwalking Your Life Away?
- How To Discover Your Real Purpose (7-part series)
- How To Know What You Want To Do In Life
- How To Know If Your Life Purpose is For Life (And Not Short/Medium Term)
- One Man’s Impact in the World
- How To Find Purpose After a Hard Fall in Life
- Lost in Life? Here’s Some Inspiration [Infographic]
- How To Deal With Disillusionment as You Grow Older
- Feeling Disconnected
- How To Discover Your Ideal Career: Your Message and Your Medium
Living Consciously
It can be said that our entire life’s journey is about growing in consciousness and eventually reaching enlightenment. Articles on how to be a more conscious being, increase your self-awareness, and understand your role in the universe.
- 101 Ways To Live Your Life To The Fullest
- 101 Life Principles To Live By Daily
- 101 Important Questions To Ask Yourself
- Living More Consciously:
- Finding Your Inner Self
- Create Real Change In Life: Address Root Cause vs. Effects
- You Are The Average Of The 5 People You Spend The Most Time With
- If Your Life Were an RPG, What Type Of Character Would You Be?
- Are You Living Vicariously Through Movie, Drama or Game Characters?
- 10 Reasons You Should Stop Watching TV
- You Always Have A Choice
- Are You a Self-Help Junkie?
- Top 5 Regrets of the Dying [Podcast]
- Do You Dread Growing Older?
- The [Delete] Button
- Are You Focusing On the Black Dot?
- Life Management:
- The Life Wheel
- Create Your Life Handbook
- Create Your Vision Board [Video]
- Get Your Big Rocks In First
- Are You Putting Any Parts of Your Life On Hold?
- You Are The CEO of Your Life
- Write a Letter To Your Future Self | [Video] Version
- Create Your Inspirational Room
- Create Your Inspirational Workspace [Video]
- How To Start When You Have Nothing
- The Howling Dog Story
- How Do I Prepare For My Comeback in Life?
- Are You Planting the Seeds for Your Future?
- 7 Limiting Beliefs Keeping You from Living Your Best Life
- Build Positive Habits:
- Is Your Routine Empowering You?
- 21 Days to Cultivate Life Transforming Habits
- How To Remove a Bad Habit
- Practice Positive Affirmations: 15-Day Affirmation Challenge
- Journaling: 21-Day Journaling Challenge
- 10 Reasons You Should Meditate
- How To Meditate in 5 Simple Steps
- 10 Meditation Videos to Relax Your Mind
- Brain Dumping: Increase Your Mental Clarity in 15 Minutes
- Why I Wake Up Early (And 9 Reasons You Should Too)
- 21 Tips To Wake Up Early
- More in Health section
- Break Negative Patterns:
- Us & The World:
Character Building
Character isn’t something that is fixed and can’t be changed; it’s something we are responsible for building. Articles on developing patience, humility, tact, compassion, and more.
- 101 Ways To Be a Better Person
- How To Be Patient
- How To Keep Yourself Humble While Recognizing Your Worth
- How To Stop Being Sarcastic
- How To Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
- Blind Spots In Personal Growth
- How To Be More Street Smart
- How To Be Kind: 14-Day Kindness Challenge
- How To Be Grateful: 14-Day Gratitude Challenge
- 5 Lessons to Learn From Lance Armstrong’s Doping Scandal
- How To Make Hard Decisions: 3 Decision Making Methods
- How To Stop Analysis Paralysis: 8 Important Tips
- How To Say No
- How To Say No [Podcast]
- How To Manage Uncertainty
- 7 Tips to Choose Your Battles and Fight for What Matters
- How To Be Confident (see next section)
Self-Confidence
Your relationship with yourself is the most important one you’ll have in your life. Learn to stop comparing, achieve true confidence, and love yourself.
- Confidence:
- Stop Comparing:
- Self & Body-Image:
- The Beauty of Self – How I Used To Feel Inferior about My Looks
- How To Love Your Body (4-part series)
- How To Embrace Your Femininity (3-part series)
- Why I Used to Hate My Feet
- I’m Bisexual and I Have Been Resisting My Sexuality. What Should I Do?
- Is there an ideal beauty? This lady gets her face photoshopped in over 25 countries to find out
- Self-Love:
General Inspiration
Inspirational resources such as inspiring quotes, movies, wallpapers, infographics, and more.
- 10 Powerful Graduation Speeches You Don’t Want To Miss
- 13 Meaningful Movies With Life Lessons To Learn
- 20 Amazing Commercials To Inspire the Greatness in You
- 56 Most Inspirational Songs of All Time
- 101 Inspiring Quotes of All Time (series)
- 15 Beautiful Inspirational Wallpapers For Your Desktop
- 15 More Beautiful Wallpapers With Positive Affirmations
- 7 Lessons I Learned from a Blind Stranger
- Barbie Thomas: Body Builder with No Arms
- See the Infographics section
- See the Manifestos section
Emotional Mastery
The ability to master your emotions helps you act consciously in every situation. Learn to master your emotions, including stress, disappointment, fear, unhappiness, and anger.
How To Be Positive
- How To Be Happy: 10 Timeless Principles for Lasting Happiness
- 10 Surefire Ways To Be Unhappy
- How To Stay Positive All the Time [Video]
- Are You Emotionally Generous?
- Are You Focusing On the Black Dot?
- Materialism Breeds Unhappiness
- How To Deal With Moments of Negative Self-Worth [Podcast]
- How To Deal With Depression When It Comes to Our Goals [Podcast]
- I’m Depressed about My Lack of Progress. What Should I Do?
- The Science of Happiness [Infographic]
- Nobody Loves Me [Podcast]
- 21-Day Positivity Challenge
- You Always Have A Choice
- 56 Most Inspirational Songs of All Time
Managing Stress
- How To Stop Worrying About Things You Can’t Control
- Is It Possible To Let Go of Unhappy Past Forever?
- The Night I Cried (Dealing With Work Stress)
- I’m a failure
- Why We Have Slumps And How To Get Out Of Them
- The [Delete] Button
- How To Meditate in 5 Simple Steps
- 10 Meditation Videos to Relax Your Mind
- How To Overcome Perfectionism (3-part series)
- How To Stop Emotional Eating (6-part series)
- How To Manage Work Stress [Manifesto]
Managing Disappointment
Managing Fear
Managing Anger
- How To Deal With Anger (5-part series)
- Part 1: My History with Anger and How I Let Go of It, Part 1: Growing Up in a Household of Anger
- Part 2: My History with Anger and How I Let Go of It, Part 2: The Damaging Effects of Anger
- Part 3: My History with Anger and How I Let Go of It, Part 3: Healing From My Anger
- Part 4: How To Deal With Anger: Your Gentle Guide to Removing Anger for Life
- Part 5: What To Do When You Live with Angry People: 7 Gentle Tips
- How Anger Affects the Brain and Body [Infographic]
- Burning Man Sculpture: What Happens When We Argue With Our Loved Ones
- How To Stop Being Abusive to Your Partner
Addressing Life’s Adversities
- My Father Just Passed Away and It Seems Pointless that He Isn’t Around Anymore. What Should I Do?
- How To Find Purpose After a Hard Fall in Life
- How To Handle Bullying: An Important Guide
- How To Handle Molestation: A Personal Encounter
- I’m in a Domestic Violence Situation. What Should I Do?
- The Day My Pet Died: How To Cope When Your Pet Passes Away
Goals & Success
Achieving your goals isn’t about luck — it’s about having the right system to achieve massive success. Read my guides on goal setting, developing your strategy, and more.
Set Your Goal
Every goal is created twice — first in your mind, then in reality. Read my tips on goal setting, including knowing your end objective and understanding the message of your goal.
- 7 Important Reasons Why You Should Set Goals
- Keep Your End Objective In Mind
- To Get What You Want, First Admit You Want It
- Know Your WHAT, then Devise Your HOW
- Create Your Vision Board [Video]
- 101 Things To Do Before You Die
- Are You Planting the Seeds for Your Future?
- What is the Message of Your Goal? [Podcast]
- 58 Resolutions For Anytime in the Year
- Why I Do Year End Reviews (And 6 Questions for Your Review)
- How To Set New Year Resolutions and Make Them Stick:
Develop Your Strategy
To achieve your goal, you need a game plan. This includes focusing on the 80/20 steps, developing your skills, creating the right environment, and more. Start below.
- Focus on the 80/20:
- Develop your skills:
- Create the right environment:
- Surround yourself with the right people:
- Brainstorming for ideas:
Develop a Success Mindset
Our success is directly linked to our mindset. Learn to develop the right mindset for success.
- Are You Looking For a Magic Bullet For Your Goals?
- Is Your Goal Worth 30 Minutes of Your Time Every Day?
- The Power of Little Changes
- The 21-Day Incubation Period
- How Do I Take My Goals Seriously Enough To Achieve Them?
- How Long Would You Spend Helping Your Baby Learn To Walk?
- Use the Right Language:
- Ignore Unwanted Opinions:
Overcome Obstacles, Setbacks
Obstacles and setbacks are normal in any goal pursuit. Learn to tackle them and stay on track.
- How To Start When You Have Nothing
- Not Getting What You Want? Time To Change Your Actions
- The Emotional Journey of Creating Anything Great [Infographic]
- When Goals Stop Working
- Dealing With Setbacks:
- Dealing With Unsupportive People:
- Facing Criticism:
Productivity
Want to get more done for your time? Read my best productivity tips to get things done.
How To Prioritize
The first step of time management is to prioritize. Learn how to prioritize, say no, and cut out distractions.
Get Things Done
Tips to get things done and finish what you start. Learn how to stop procrastinating and tap into your inner inspiration.
- 50 Ways To Boost Your Productivity
- Busy vs. Productive: 7 Tips To Be Productive, Not Busy
- How To Be Productive, Not Busy [Podcast]
- 8 Habits of Highly Productive People
- Self-Discipline is Overrated
- How To Finish What You Start: 10 Important Tips
- Shiny Object Syndrome: How To Stay Focused and Not Get Distracted
- The Emotional Journey of Creating Anything Great [Infographic]
- The Law of Diminishing Returns
- Skills Development
- Why You Should Outsource and How To Get Started
- When You Feel Uninspired/Unmotivated:
Dealing With Social Media
Productivity Routines, Habits
Improve Your Tools & Environment
Productivity isn’t just about changing behavior; it’s also about using the right tools and creating the right environment to get into your flow. Learn more here.
- Email Management:
- The Best Productivity System There Is
- Upgrade Your Tools
- 22 Useful Apps I Use in My Work and Life
- Create Your Inspirational Room
- Create Your Inspirational Workspace [Video]
- Type Faster with a Text-Substitution App [Video]
- How To Make Your Window Stay on Top of Other Windows [Video]
- Speed Up Your Web Browsing with These 9 Chrome Tips [Video]
Career & Work
Learn important work skills to be the top in your field, such as how to build good workplace relationships and develop your talent stack. Get career advice on dealing with career crossroads. Also, in-depth guides on how to pursue your passion and turn it into a successful business.
General Work Skills
- Job Search:
- Getting Ahead at Work:
- Daily Routines:
- Work Stress:
Dealing With Co-Workers & Clients
- General:
- Communication:
- Unreasonable People:
- Workplace Politics:
- More in People Relationships section
Important Career Decisions
- I Just Graduated. Should I Go for My Dream Job or Continue Studying?
- Should I Pursue My Passion or Work at a Passionless But Well-Paying Job?
- The Day I Quit My Job to Pursue My Passion: 6 Things to Do Before You Quit
- How To Discover Your Ideal Career: Your Message and Your Medium
- How To Make Hard Decisions: 3 Decision-Making Methods
- ‘It’s too late for me to work on X.’ (Pursuing Your Dream Job at Age 57)
Entrepreneurship
Strategies and tips on entrepreneurship. Interviews with successful entrepreneurs, how to get media coverage, and more.
- Starting Your Business:
- Can Everyone Be Successful in Starting Their Business?
- Should You Start a High-Profit Business or Do Something You’re Passionate in But Isn’t Lucrative?
- Should I Earn Some Side Income While Working on My New Business?
- Has Anyone Ever Discouraged You From Working on Your Blog? [Ask Celes]
- Have You Ever Lost Motivation During Your Journey? [Ask Celes]
- How Are You Earning Money When You Don’t Have a Job? [Ask Celes]
- How Long Would You Spend Helping Your Baby Learn To Walk?
- More in Pursue Your Passion section
- Running Your Business:
- Coaching/Blog Business:
- Interviews with Successful Entrepreneurs:
- Salad Stop! – Providing a Healthy and Tasty Meal Alternative for Modern People
- Delcie’s Desserts – Delicious, Healthy Vegan Delights
- Udders – Artisan Ice Cream Created with Care and Dedication
- Citrusox – Trendy Legwear that’s Fashionable, Comfortable and Affordable
- Dann’s Daily Cafe – Offering You Wholesome, Healthier Pescetarian Delights
- Millionaire Entrepreneur Derek Sivers of CD Baby Fame
- Groupon Singapore – Acquired for $24 Million in Less than 1 Year
- Getting Your Startup Acquired for $24 Million in Just 7 Months [Video]
- Tips on Earning Money (Million Dollar Tip Series):
- Inspiration and Lessons:
How To Pursue Your Passion
How do you pursue your passion and earn money doing it? I walk you through the steps to find your passion, get started with it, and succeed in your journey.
- Find your passion:
- Frameworks to design your ideal career:
- Passion or Money? (Mind-Body-Heart-Soul Framework)
- Your Message and Your Medium (Message-Medium Framework)
- Is It Realistic to Believe ‘Chase Your Passion and Money will Follow’? (Passion-Market-Skills Framework)
- Concerns before pursuing your passion:
- More in Business and Goal Achievement sections
Love & Dating
Frustrated with love? Or are you attached and looking to build your best relationship with your partner? Finding your soulmate and building a thriving relationship isn’t something that happens by chance — it’s something you actively work on and make happen. Read articles on dating and how to attract your highest partner. If you have found your ideal partner, learn how to build your best relationship with him/her.
Dating Tips
- Are You Looking For A Relationship To Complete Yourself?
- ‘Online Dating and Arranged Dating Are For Desperate People.’ 5 Myths Keeping You From Finding Love
- I Get Nervous When I See an Attractive Guy/Woman. What Should I Do?
- Why I Used To Be Afraid of Intimidating Men and Why It Does Not Faze Me Anymore
- Do You Treat Dating as a Game?
- How To Be Charming in Under 500 Words
- Are You Keeping People Away With Your Body Language? (And 10 Tips To Improve Your Body Language)
- How Can I Stop Feeling Lonely?
- I’ve Been Hurt Deeply Before. How Can I Restore My Faith in Relationships?
- How I Moved On From a Heartbreak (5-part series)
Finding Your Soulmate
- How I Found My Soulmate, Part 1: My Journey in Love
- How I Found My Soulmate, Part 2: Meeting My Husband (Someone I Knew From Before)
- How I Found My Soulmate, Part 3: Addressing My Inner Demons
- How I Found My Soulmate, Part 4: How I Realized My Husband Is The One For Me
- How I Found My Soulmate, Part 5: How My Husband Realized I Am The One for Him
- 10 Steps To Attract Authentic Love
- How To Know When You Have Found ‘The One’: 8 Questions To Consider
Being in a Relationship
- How To Manage Between Your Goals and Your Partner
- How To Be More Accepting of Others
- What Can I Do If I Want To Change Someone?
- How To Stop Being the Giver in a Relationship/Friendship
Address Conflicts:
- What Should I Do If I Can’t Stop Arguing with My Partner?
- Should I Tell My Ex That I Cheated On Him Before?
- I’m in a Domestic Violence Situation. What Should I Do?
- How To Stop Being Abusive to Your Partner
- Top 12 Signs It’s Time To Move On From A Relationship
- 10 Steps to Move On From A Relationship
- Burning Man Sculpture: What Happens When We Argue With Our Loved Ones
Dealing With Sexuality & Intimacy
Marriage
- Are Looks Important in a Marriage Decision?
- Should I Marry a Guy I Don’t Love?
- What I Have Learned From Being Hit On by Married Men
- Beautiful Advice From a Divorced Man After 16 Years of Marriage
- How Do I Stay With a Cheating Spouse?
- Ashley Madison: Why Cheating Is Not The Solution
- Stop Asking Couples When They’re Having Kids
People Skills
Want to get the best out of your people relationships? Everything from improving people skills, to improving family bonds, to building lasting friendships, to dealing with difficult people.
People Skills
- The Fundamentals:
- Meeting New People:
- Managing People Relationships:
- Interpersonal Communication:
- How To Handle Criticism:
Family
Everything about how to build your best relationship with your family.
- How To Improve Your Relationship with Your Parents (4-part series)
- What Childhood Stories Are You Replaying Today?
- Family & Personal Growth:
- Dealing With Family Conflicts:
- Losing a Loved One:
- Others:
Friends
All about making new friends and building great friendships.
- Making New Friends:
- Building Friendships:
- How To Have More Best Friends in Your Life
- How To Be a Good Friend Without Others Taking Advantage of You
- Should I Tell My Friends/Family About My Interest in Self-Help?
- How Do I Encourage My Friends and Family to Grow?
- How To Deal With Unsupportive Friends and Family
- How To Stop Being the Giver in a Relationship/Friendship
- Dealing With Toxic Friendships:
Dealing With Difficult People/Situations
How to deal with difficult people, and difficult situations involving people.
- Dealing With Negative People:
- Backstabbers:
- Difficult Situations:
Others
Health
Our body is the only one we have to live in, so care for it properly. Posts on improving your diet, lifestyle, and eating habits.
- General:
- Healthy Living:
- 21 Tips To Wake Up Early
- 5 Reasons To Quit Drinking Soda (And How To Do It)
- Benefits of a Good Posture (And 13 Tips To Get One)
- How To Stop Emotional Eating (6-part series)
- 10 Reasons To Run Barefoot
- What Nutella Really Looks Like
- What Your Poop and Pee are Telling You About Your Body [Infographic]
- What Texting and Mobile Usage Does to Your Spine
- Good Carbs vs. Bad Carbs [Infographic]
- What Happens When You Quit Smoking [Infographic]
- 5 Secrets to Live Over 100 Years Old
- Meditation:
- Fasting:
- Weight Loss & Fitness:
School & Studies
Are you a student? This section is dedicated to you. Learn to achieve academic success, overcome distractions when studying, and make the best out of your school life.
- How To Get on the Dean’s List (3-part series)
- How To Score a GPA of 3.98/4.00 – Interview with Straight-A Student [Video]
- How To Overcome Distractions When It’s Time To Study
- Procrastinating on Studying? 5 Ready Tips To Overcome Procrastination
- 6 Things You Learned in School that Don’t Apply in the Real World
- How Students Can Overcome Their Fear Of Failure
- How To Increase Your Learning Multifold
- 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Exam Performance
- 10 Powerful Graduation Speeches of All Time
- I Just Graduated. Should I Go for My Dream Job or Continue Studying?
- More in Goal Achievement and Productivity sections
Challenges
I used to conduct challenges at PE with thousands of participants around the world taking part in them. Here are the archive posts for some of the past challenges. While they are over, the tasks are timeless and you can do them in your own time.
- Affirmation Challenge — Overview for the Affirmation Challenge held in 2014
- Gratitude Challenge — Overview for the Gratitude Challenge held in 2014
- Positivity Challenge — Overview for the Positivity Challenge held in 2012
- Kindness Challenge — Overview for the Kindness Challenge held in 2012
- Journaling Challenge — Overview for the Journaling Challenge held in 2011
- Countdown Challenge — Overview for the Year-End Countdown Challenge held in Dec 2012