Month: April 2017

As we get older, we start to realise the importance of surrounding ourselves with people that support and value us, rather than those who we may have been in relationships with for a long time that make a habit of nit-picking, complaining, dragging down new ideas and criticising our positive evolutions. Do a review of the people that you spend the most time with – can you do something to make your existing connections more positive? If not, make a conscious effort to limit the time exposed to these people and increase the amount of time you are spending with people who challenge you to be better and support you in your positive attitude towards the future.

Not everyone is automatically a morning person. But there is something to be said for getting things done first thing in the day. By having our ‘to-do’ list looming over our heads for an entire day creates mental weight that may prevent us from really relaxing and recharging without developing a sense of guilt about it. By waking up a bit earlier and getting 2-3 key things done as you begin your day, you build momentum and a sense of accomplishment, making your ‘switch off’ time later in the day all the more sweet.

Unlike what many ads and people tell us – happiness does not just arrive when new things come into our lives. You do not have to wait for a new boy or girl friend, a new job, a certain car, a certain income – in fact, if you are not in the habit of cultivating happiness in your life already, you may feel only a temporary high when you do achieve these things before you reset to your default of dissatisfaction. For many of us, happiness does not flow easily, but is an emotional muscle that we must train over and over again to produce a habit of optimism. This includes when things aren’t going to plan – look for something that you are learning or a small gain you are getting from that situation. Also, be grateful for the things that are good in your life that you may take for granted. When you train yourself to feel happy, more good things seem to gravitate towards you. So, what have you got to lose?

Are you someone who has short ‘bursts’ of energy for projects but rarely see them through? Do you have loads of unfinished projects and ideas in your mind, around your home and in your life waiting for a more ‘ideal’ time to begin? You may be nurturing mental patterns that don’t bring you satisfaction, reward or a sense of progression in your life. We work with systems and habits, rather than one-off days and quick fix solutions. The reason for this? It creates an easy discipline of new habits that consistently and reliably bring you results, rather than waiting for that elusive ‘available time’, ‘motivation’ and the appropriate ‘mood’ to align into perfect configurations. It is much easier for your mind and body to build in small habits over time and sustain them, rather than trying to overhaul your life in one day. Look at one of your goals. What is one thing that you would need to get done first (a small step or routine) to be on your way? Just focus on getting that part done today with your next small step planned for tomorrow. Before you know it, you will have walked a mile instead of sprinting 10 metres.

It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, without realising the significance of what we are doing. Just imagine – if you looked at your life from a ‘fly on the wall’ perspective, would you feel inspired? How often do you feel content and excited by your life? Would you like it to be more often? Of course, not every moment is going to thrill you, but harnessing your confidence, determination, intention and perspective can go a long way in making your day inspired and inspiring. Doing a really good job at work, getting a chore done that you keep putting off, paying all of your bills early or contacting that person you have been meaning to call have the potential to put that spring back in your step, and increase a sense of self-satisfaction and purpose. Appreciate all the things that you are able to do – and do them!

A great deal of us are informed about the world through our social media accounts. It’s fantastic that we now have unprecedented access to information about almost everything. The only problem with this is that misinformation looks remarkably similar to proven information. Everyone with an opinion can now write an article, fabricate a ‘list of studies’ or even create a documentary based on misunderstandings or falsities. With the right format, emotional music, edited clips and interviews – the ‘new’ truth can be overwhelming and eaten up readily by the public. Our social media feeds also channel self-affirming information into our feeds, making us feel more and more justified in our new beliefs. How to broaden our scope? Look up articles (preferably peer-reviewed) that claim to oppose your views. Engage with reasonable people who have different beliefs and be willing to learn. Your opinions and ideas can evolve everyday, don’t make the mistake of tying your identity too closely to one set of beliefs.

It’s not Monday. It’s not the 1^st of the month. It’s a regular weekday. But it is an opportunity to have your version of a great day. No matter what is circling around in your life – today is a chance to get some things right. Start the day off by nailing some small, satisfying tasks like working out, dressing in a way that makes you feel excellent, having a healthy and tasty breakfast and perhaps taking some time to sit and be still with yourself. These simple things, like blasting an old favourite song on your way to run your errands or going to work can do wonders for your mood and your sense of agency in your life. Give it a try – just for today. Make it great.

We hear the saying, “Do what makes you happy” very often when we are discussing vocations and lifestyle choices. At the core of this is an essential truth – follow things that make you deeply satisfied. However, this is often misconstrued in our minds. You will not always feel ‘happy’ when you are following an ambitious and deeply satisfying goal. You will experience hardship, stress, doubt and seasons of uncertainty. This is not a signal that you should stop – it is a journey that is building you to appreciate your hard work towards the end. If the goal you are seeking is still the overall thing that makes you light up with purpose, gather support around you and keep going.