I am enough

View challenges as growth opportunities.

Every challenge I face makes me stronger

Focus on success, abundance, and positivity to attract them.

My mind is a powerful magnet for success and positivity

I act with confidence even when I feel fear

Believe the right connections will find you.

I attract the right people and opportunities into my life:

I Deserve To Live Life Of Happiness Success And Peace

I am in control of my destiny

Continuing the Journey: Keep practicing the affirmations beyond the 21-day challenge

The Power of Words: Your thoughts, phrases, and beliefs shape your reality

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

The 21-Day Challenge

Tragedy is not deep and sharp if it can be shared with friends

❄ Cold is the True Enemy – The extreme Siberian frost was as lethal as the camp guards, freezing men to death.🍞 Hunger Redefines Life – Starvation reduced prisoners to pure survival instincts, making food the only real currency.🧱 Hard Labor Breaks the Soul – Endless, brutal work in the mines and forests turned prisoners into living corpses.

Survival in the Soviet Gulag: A War Against Nature

⚖ Goodness is a Luxury – In Kolyma, kindness was rare and often punished, while cruelty was a means of survival.🔄 Trust is Dangerous – Betrayal and informants thrived, forcing prisoners into paranoia and silence. 🩸 Violence Becomes Routine – Beatings, murders, and theft were daily occurrences, desensitizing prisoners to brutality.

The Fragility of Morality Under Oppression

🔗 Despair is the Norm – Most prisoners knew they would never leave Kolyma alive, making hope an illusion. 🛤 Survival = Adaptation – Those who learned the unspoken rules of the camps had a higher chance of lasting another day. 🌀 Time Stops Existing – Prisoners lived in an endless present, where planning for the future became meaningless.

The Prisoner’s Mindset: Hope vs. Resignation

🔨 Gulag as a Machine – The camps were not about reform but about using up human lives as disposable labor. 🚨 False Accusations Were Common – Many prisoners were sentenced based on trivial or fabricated charges. ⚙ The System Devoured Its Own – Even loyal communists ended up in the camps, victims of the very ideology they served.

The Corruption of the Soviet System

📖 Writing as Resistance – Shalamov smuggled out his stories to bear witness to the horrors of the camps. 🧠 Memory is a Weapon – Recording the suffering of Kolyma ensured that the truth would not be erased. 💀 Survivors Had to Speak – Those who lived had a moral duty to document the unimaginable cruelty they endured.

The Role of Literature and Memory

🔒 Names Were Forgotten – Inmates were reduced to numbers, losing their identity in the vast prison system.🐀 Humans Became Like Animals – Hunger, cold, and fear turned men into creatures driven purely by instinct.🔄 Death Was Routine – Corpses were everywhere, and prisoners learned to step over them without emotion.

The Dehumanization of Prisoners

Varlam Shalamov’s Kolyma Tales exposes the brutal reality of Soviet labor camps in Siberia. Through haunting short stories, he depicts the relentless cold, starvation, forced labor, and moral erosion of prisoners. Survival is a fleeting hope, and humanity is stripped away, revealing a world where cruelty and endurance define existence.

It is estimated that some three million people died in the Soviet forced-labour camps of Kolyma, in the northeastern area of Siberia. Shalamov himself spent seventeen years there, and in these stories he vividly captures the lives of ordinary people caught up in terrible circumstances, whose hopes and plans extended to further than a few hours This new enlarged edition combines two collections previously published in the United States as Kolyma Tales and Graphite.

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

history

History

books

Books

Varlan Shalamov

Kolyma Tales

Constant negativity drains your energy and hurts those around you. What you focus on grows—so choose positivity.

Complaining is Toxic

“Complaining is like a virus—it spreads negativity and weakens the team.”

Instead of complaining, try:✅ Practice Gratitude – Shift your focus to what’s going right.✅ Seek Solutions – If something bothers you, take action to fix it.✅ Encourage Others – Be the person who lifts people up, not drags them down.

The 3 No-Complaining Strategies

Life throws challenges your way, but you decide how to respond. Focus on solutions, not problems.

You Can’t Control Everything—But You Can Control Your Attitude

Try going one full day without complaining. You’ll be surprised how much your mindset shifts!

The 24-Hour No Complaining Challenge

“Being positive doesn’t mean ignoring reality. It means facing challenges with a mindset that seeks solutions.”

It’s okay to express concerns, but complaints without action only bring negativity. Turn every complaint into a constructive solution.

Complaints Without Solutions Are Just Noise

When you constantly complain, you reinforce negative thoughts. Redirect your focus toward solutions, gratitude, and positive action.

Energy Flows Where Attention Goes

At work, in relationships, or in teams, complaining spreads like wildfire. Replace negativity with encouragement and problem-solving.

Complaining Creates a Culture of Negativity

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

When problems arise, view them as opportunities to learn, grow, and strengthen your mindset. Great leaders and successful people don’t complain—they adapt and take action.

Challenge is an Opportunity

Instead of complaining, take action, be grateful, and spread positivity. Small mindset shifts can change your life!

Final Takeaway

Negativity in the workplace costs businesses billions of dollars and impacts the morale, productivity and health of individuals and teams. "In The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work, Jon Gordon, a bestselling author, consultant and speaker, shares an enlightening story that demonstrates how you can conquer negativity and inspire others to adopt a positive attitude." Based on one company’s successful No Complaining Rule, the powerful principles and actionable plan are practical and easy-to-follow, making this book an ideal read for managers, team leaders and anyone interested in generating positive energy.

corporateculture

Corporate Culture

communication

Communication

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

Jon O. Gordon is an American author and speaker on the topics of leadership, culture, sales, and teamwork.

Jon Gordon

The No Complaining Rule

Stop waiting for the perfect moment. You won’t feel ready—but action itself creates the momentum you need.

Action Comes Before Motivation

You are never going to feel like doing the things that are tough, difficult, or uncertain. But you have to do them anyway.

Your mind is wired to keep you safe, which means avoiding discomfort. Push through the resistance and take the first step.

Your Brain Wants Comfort, Not Change

“You can’t change your life unless you get out of your head and start taking action.”

The more you analyze, the more you delay. Make decisions quickly and move forward before self-doubt creeps in.

Stop Overthinking and Start Doing

“If you’re waiting to feel ready, you’ll be waiting forever.”

Fear is normal. Instead of waiting for confidence, embrace fear as part of growth.

Fear is Not a Stop Sign

“Hesitation is the kiss of death. You might hesitate for a millisecond, but that’s long enough for fear to take over.”

Mel’s famous 5-Second Rule teaches that when you feel the urge to act, count down 5-4-3-2-1 and move immediately. This interrupts hesitation and builds momentum.

The 5-Second Rule Works

Most people settle for “fine” because it’s easier than change. But fine isn’t fulfilling. Your dreams won’t wait for you to feel ready—so start now. What’s one change you’ve been putting off? 5-4-3-2-1—go for it!

Why This Matters

This hands-on guide from Mel Robbins, one of America’s top relationship experts and radio/tv personalities, addresses why over 100 million Americans secretly feel frustrated and bored with their lives and reveals what you can do about it.   Mel Robbins has spent her career teaching people how to push past their self-imposed limits to get what they truly desire. She has an in-depth understanding of the psychological and social factors that repeatedly hold you back, and more important, a unique set of tools for getting you where you want to be. In Stop Saying You’re Fine, she draws on neuroscientific research, interviews with countless everyday people, and ideas she’s tested in her own life to show what works and what doesn’t. The key, she explains, is understanding how your own brain works against you. Because evolution has biased your mental gears against taking action, what you need are techniques to outsmart yourself.   That may sound impossible, but Mel has created a remarkably effective method to help you do just that--and some of her discoveries will astonish you. By ignoring how you feel and seizing small moments of rich possibility--a process she calls “leaning in”--you can make tiny course directions add up to huge change. Among this book’s other topics: how everything can depend on not hitting the “snooze” button; the science of connecting with other people, what children can teach us about getting things done; and why five seconds is the maximum time you should wait before acting on a great idea.   Blending warmth, humor and unflinching honesty with up-to-the-minute science and hard-earned wisdom, Stop Saying You’re Fine moves beyond the platitudes and easy fixes offered in many self-help books. Mel’s insights will actually help vault you to a better life, ensuring that the next time someone asks how you’re doing, you can truthfully answer, “Absolutely great.”

productivity

Productivity

mentalhealth

Mental Health

Melanie Robbins is an American podcast host, author, motivational speaker, and former lawyer. She is known for her TEDx talk, "How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over"; and her books, The 5 Second Rule and The High 5 Habit, as well as host of The Mel Robbins Podcast.

Mel Robbins

Stop Saying You're Fine

"Is it time for the next project because the clock or calendar says it's time, or because the work itself says it's time?"

The artist's job is never truly finished.This is because the artist's job is of two kinds:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">the work of doing</li><li class="ql-align-justify">the work of being</li></ul>Creativity is something you are, not only something you do.Staying in it means a commitment to remain open to what's around you.  What you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.There is no telling where the next great story, painting, recipe, or business idea will come from.Be ever present.

24/7 (Staying In It)

How many times have we decided to just flip a coin to find out.Do I want option A or do I want option B.And how many times do we secretly hope that "heads" or "tails" will appear when we have set our parameters.What am I truly rooting for?This is the option you go with.  While the coin is spinning in the air, your heart has already decided which option it wants.Let the coin fall.Don't look at it.Go with what your heart desires.That's how you choose.

How to Choose

"What we say,what we sing,what we paint - we get to choose.......The art is the final word."

The mission is to be in the present moment with the work.Clean slate is our ability to see the work again like it was the first time.This may require time away from the work.Let is sit for a minute, a day, a week, a month.When you return with a clear perspective, you will more likely have the discernment to see what the project wants or needs.Time is where the learning occurs. ﻿

Clean Slate

What motivates us?What drive us to finish certain pieces and not others?This energy that comes from our work feels similar to another force of creation in the world:Love ❤️You catch yourself losing track of time, forgetting to eat, withdrawing from the outside world.It generates excitement in you.It commands your attention.The call of an artist is to follow the excitement.

The Energy (In the Work)

"The best work is the work you are excited about."

Art exists in the same circle of death and rebirth.When consumed with a single work to the point where we feel it is our life's mission, we leave no room for new art to be born.While the artist goal is greatness, it's also to keep moving forward.Every artists creates a living museum of finished works.  One work after another.Keep moving forward❗️

Ending to Start Anew (Regeneration)

"A work of art is not an end point in itself.It's a station on a journey.A chapter in our lives.We acknowledge these transactionsby documenting each of them."

Making art is a serious matter.The opposite is also true. Making art is pure play.Some of the best ideas come from a playful state.Stress reduces our creativity.  Reduces our resourcefulness.In play, there are no stakes. No boundaries. No right or wrong.Let your spirit be free❗️Embrace your inner child with a fresh new box of crayons.

Play

"Whether the work comes easily through playor with difficulty through struggle,the quality of the finished piece is unaffected."

We have stories about ourselves,and those are not who we are.We have stories about the work,and those are not what the work is.You are you.The work is the work.As artists, we're called to let go of these stories.We move forward in the energy of curiosity to see what transpires.Even if perceived chaos, there is order and pattern.The work is you.You are the work.

What We Tell Ourselves

"Being an artist meansto be continually asking,"How can it be better?"whatever it is.It may be your art,and it may be your life."

As I continue to share the books I read, I hope you follow me on this journey.Remember that all the Deepstash publications I do end up being a subject for my podcast "All About Books"<a href="https://www.brianmunroe.tv">www.BrianMunroe.TV</a>

Thank you❗️ I hope you follow me.

There are so many great insights in this book I decided to break this into 2 parts.  Here is part 2 - Enjoy‼️

mindfulness

Mindfulness

creativity

Creativity

The Creative Act - Part 2

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."

<ul><li>Born in 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany.</li><li>Moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1933 to escape Nazi persecution.</li><li>Lived a normal life, attending school and making friends.</li></ul>

1. Anne's Early Life

<ul><li>Got a diary as a gift for her 13th birthday in June 1942.</li><li>Named it "Kitty" and wrote about her daily life and feelings.</li><li>Dreamed of becoming a writer some day.</li></ul>

2. Receiving the Diary

<ul><li>In July 1942, her sister Margot was ordered to report to a Nazi work camp.</li><li>The family decided to hide to avoid being captured.</li><li>Moved into a secret annex behind her father's office building.</li></ul>

3. Going into Hiding

<ul><li>Shared the small space with another family, the Van Daans, and later, Mr. Dussel, a dentist.</li><li>Had to be quiet during the day to avoid detection.</li><li>Relied on helpers who brought them food and news from the outside.</li></ul>

4. Life in the Secret Annex

<ul><li>Faced limited food and supplies.</li><li>Experienced tension and arguments among the eight people in hiding.</li><li>Lived in constant fear of being discovered by the Nazis.</li></ul>

5. Daily Challenges

<ul><li>Used her diary to express her thoughts and emotions.</li><li>Reflected on her identity, beliefs, and the world around her.</li><li>Matured from a young girl into a thoughtful teenager during the two years in hiding.</li></ul>

6. Anne's Personal Growth

<ul><li>Had a close bond with her father, Otto Frank.</li><li>Struggled with her relationship with her mother, feeling misunderstood.</li><li>Developed a friendship and brief romance with Peter Van Daan.</li></ul>

7. Relationships in Hiding

<ul><li>Despite the circumstances, remained hopeful about the future.</li><li>Wanted to return to school and travel the world after the war.</li><li>Aspired to publish her writings and become a journalist or author.</li></ul>

8. Hopes and Dreams

<ul><li>In August 1944, the secret annex was discovered by the Nazis.</li><li>All eight inhabitants were arrested and deported to concentration camps</li><li>Anne and her sister Margot were sent to Bergen-Belsen, where they died of typhus in early 1945.</li></ul>

9. Discovery and Arrest

<ul><li>Anne's father, Otto Frank, was the only survivor from the annex.</li><li>He found and published Anne's diary in 1947, fulfilling her dream of becoming a writer.</li><li>The diary has since been translated into many languages and serves as a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and the resilience of the human spirit.</li></ul>

10. Legacy of the Diary

Anne Frank’s life in hiding during WWII

For almost fifty years, Anne Frank's diary has moved millions with its testament to the human spirit's indestructibility, but readers have never seen the full text of this beloved book--until now. This new translation, performed by Winona Ryder, restores nearly one third of Anne's entries excised by her father in previous editions, revealing her burgeoning sexuality, her stormy relationship with her mother, and more.

habits

Habits

Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank was a Jewish girl born in the city of Frankfurt, Germany. Her father moved to the Netherlands in 1933 and the rest of the family followed later. Anne was the last of the family to come to the Netherlands, in February 1934. She wrote a diary while in hiding with her family and four friends in Amsterdam during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II.She lived in Amsterdam with her parents and sister. During the Holocaust, Anne and her family hid in the attic of her father's office to escape the Nazis.

Anne Frank

Take ownership of your life. You control your mindset, actions, and the direction you’re headed. Stop blaming external circumstances and start steering toward the life you want.

You Are the Driver of Your Bus

“You haven’t failed until you stop trying.”

Success starts with a clear vision. Know where you want to go, set meaningful goals, and focus on them daily.

Desire, Vision, and Focus Move Your Bus in the Right Direction

“Your energy and attitude are like a magnet. They attract people and situations that match them.”

Negativity drains you; positivity fuels you. Your thoughts and energy influence everything around you—choose to focus on solutions rather than problems.

Fuel Your Ride with Positive Energy

“Every crisis offers an opportunity to grow stronger and wiser; to reach deep within and discover a better you that will create a better outcome.”

Surround yourself with people who uplift, inspire, and support you. Build a team that shares your vision and enthusiasm.

Invite the Right People on Your Bus

“Great leaders don’t create followers. They create more leaders.”

Not everyone will support your journey, and that’s okay. Focus on those who do and keep moving forward.

Don’t Waste Energy on Those Who Don’t Get on Your Bus

“Don’t let the critics and energy vampires get you down. Focus on your purpose, your positive energy, and the people who believe in you.”

Negativity is contagious. Set boundaries and don’t allow toxic people to drain your energy. Protect your mindset.

Post a Sign That Says “No Energy Vampires Allowed”

“No one can drive you crazy unless you give them the keys.”

Passion and excitement are magnetic. The more enthusiastic you are about your goals, the more people will want to be part of your journey.

Enthusiasm Attracts More Passengers and Energizes Them

“Desire, vision, and focus help turn great ideas into reality.”

Success isn’t just about achieving your own goals—it’s about lifting others up along the way. Show appreciation, encouragement, and care for those around you.

Love Your Passengers

“The more you focus on positive energy, the more it expands.”

Passion is great, but purpose fuels long-term success. Know why you do what you do and let that purpose keep you motivated.

Drive with Purpose

“The goal in life is to live young, have fun, and arrive at your final destination as late as possible, with a smile on your face.”

Life is meant to be lived with joy. Don’t get so caught up in the grind that you forget to celebrate the journey.

Have Fun and Enjoy the Ride

The journey on The Energy Bus isn’t just about success—it’s about how we choose to live every day. Jon Gordon reminds us that positivity isn’t just a mindset; it’s a way of life.

Final Stop: A Life Fueled by Positivity

Jon Gordon’s The Energy Bus is a powerful reminder that positivity is a choice—and it’s one that can change your life

Enjoy the ride of your life with the Wall Street Journal bestseller None of us can expect to get through life without any challenges. Life isn’t always a constant daydream of unbridled pleasure and happiness. But that doesn’t mean you can’t approach everything with some zing – a big dose of positive energy is what you need to feel great, be successful and love life! And the international bestselling The Energy Bus can help you live your life in a positive, forward-thinking way. Learn the 10 secrets that will help you overcome adversity and harness the power of positive, infectious energy, so that you can create your own success. International bestselling author Jon Gordon draws on his experience of working with thousands of leaders and teams to provide insights, actionable strategies and positive energy. The Energy Bus: <ul> <li>Shows you how to ditch negativity and infuse your life with positive energy</li> <li>Provides tools to build a positive team and culture</li> <li>Contains insights from working with some of the world’s largest companies</li> <li>Foreword by Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One-Minute Manager</li> </ul>

teamwork

Teamwork

The Energy Bus

Ramadan is the perfect time to build the habit of reading the Quran. Every letter brings 10 rewards, and completing one juz daily means finishing the entire Quran in a month. Find a time that works best for you—after Fajr or between Asr and Maghrib—and stay consistent. Fasting enhances our consciousness of Allah, making Quran recitation even more impactful.

Read Quran Daily

“Allah will build house in Jannah for whoever is diligent in observing 12 sunnah rakat (as follows) 4 rakat before and 2 after Dhur, 2 after the Maghrib, 2 after Ishaa, and 2 before Fajr.”[Tirmidhi]Ramadan is the perfect time to build this habit, making voluntary prayers feel natural and spiritually fulfilling. These extra prayers bring countless blessings—start now and make them part of your routine!

Pray Sunnah Salaat

“O You who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance”{Surat Al-‘Aĥzāb33: Verse 41}Use free moments—while commuting or waiting—to do Dhikr. Simple phrases like SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, and La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah bring immense rewards, including forgiveness and entry through a special door in Jannah. Make Dhikr a habit and fill your days with blessings!

Increase Your Remembrance Of Allah

In addition to your Zakaat (obligatory charity) you should find a way every day to give extra charity. Feed a hungry child or family; give away some of your clothes to needy people; or even help an elderly person cross the road. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad salallahualeyhiwasallam, has said that even a smile is charity. The little things would add up and would be a great source of your blessings

Give extra charity

It has been reported that if someone approaches you and engages in nonconstructive talk, then you say ‘I am fasting, I am fasting’ and stop it in its tracks. This is a good way to cleanse your thoughts as well. Think positively and talk positively.

Do not engage in unnecessary talk

“There is no Muslim who visits a sick Muslim early in the morning but 70 thousand angles send blessings upon him until evening comes, and if he visits him in the evening, 70 thousand angles send blessings upon him until morning comes, and he will have a garden in paradise.”[Tirmidhi]

6. Visiting a sick Muslim

“Whoever provides food for breaking of the fast for a fasting person receives the reward of the fasting person, without the reward of the fasting person being reduced in any way.”[Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah]This is an easy way to receive more blessings during this month, while increasing our spirituality.

7. Providing food for breaking the fast

“LaylatulQadr is better than a thousand months.”{Surat Al-Qadr 97: Verse 3}The rewards from prayers of this night is equivalent to a thousand months. This is a great opportunity to get closer to Allah and build up your spirituality.

10 Spiritual Things You Should Do During Ramadan

Find 100+ Motivation Tips & Ideas  - Curated from inspiring sources like Books, Podcasts & Articles - Genuine Insights from like-minded Users like You!

The 21-Day Challenge

Kolyma Tales

The No Complaining Rule

Stop Saying You're Fine

The Creative Act - Part 2

Anne Frank

The Energy Bus

10 Spiritual Things You Should Do During Ramadan

Is Your Problem Not Having Friends?

How to be a Fun Pickleball Player

It's time to
Read like a Pro.

The 21-Day Challenge

Kolyma Tales

The No Complaining Rule

Stop Saying You're Fine

The Creative Act - Part 2

Anne Frank

The Energy Bus

10 Spiritual Things You Should Do During Ramadan

Is Your Problem Not Having Friends?

How to be a Fun Pickleball Player

It's time to Read like a Pro.

It's time to
Read like a Pro.