If It Doesn't Feel Right

In the process of decision making, if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn't.

Honor your feelings and listen to them, instead of pushing through them and rushing into a decision. Verify your feelings with logic and data. If it still doesn’t feel right, you can always postpone the decision or decide not to decide.

Like the Palm Tree

Palm trees in a storm bend and sway with the wind but they don't break or uproot.

In the same way, try not to resist or become overwhelmed by the storms of life. Flex, adapt and bend with the situation and the changing priorities. At the same time, stay strong, rooted and grounded in who you are and what's important to you.

Be like the palm tree and flourish.

Have Done List

To-Do lists are important. But often what we have to do overweighs what we have done. Why not make it more rewarding by keeping a "have-done" list. A "have-done" list gives you a chance to acknowledge and appreciate your accomplishments. It also gives you the encouragement to do more. Look at your "to-do" and "have-done" list, and notice what sorts of tasks aren’t making the journey from “to-do”’ into the “have-done”, and work out why. Refine your strategy and bridge the gap between your expectations and your results.

Tackling Something Challenging

Have you tackled something physically challenging recently?

Tackle something you're not sure you can do and see if you can. Of course it all depends on your fitness and interest. Maybe a charity bike ride, walk, run, half marathon, full marathon? Maybe a daily five minute run is challenging enough?

Just start tackling something.

People You Spend Time With

The people you spend most of your time with have an effect on you. They can elevate you, drag you down, empower you, leave you feeling negative....

Who would you like to spend more time with? How will you increase contact with people who have a positive effect on you?

Thoughts Are Like Ants

Negative thoughts are like ants, if one comes, a whole troop follows.

If you don't want negative thoughts taking over, then track down where they're coming from and stop them. If you don't want those negative thoughts to come back, regularly clean the mind and spray it with positive thoughts.

Talk Too Fast?

In conversations or presentations, do you talk too fast? If you talk too fast, slow your pace. Try adding short pauses and at the same time keeping it natural.

Slow your pace to:
- give yourself space to breathe, smile and make eye contact
- sound more calm, less harried
- make it easier for the listener to listen and process what you’ve said

Be Your Own Search Engine

Ever thought about being your own Google? How? Type a question into your mind and see what pops up. You may have to stay with the question and wait for your subconscious to scan and respond. You may retrieve a forgotten memory, locate momentous insights, gain creative solutions….

Be your own search engine and find your answers.

Enrich What You Do

Often tasks feel like a chore because we forget to see what we do as an opportunity to enrich and be enriched.

See things differently and then find something called enthusiasm inside of you. Now put enthusiasm into what you do and not only will you get tasks done better and faster but you'll also feel enriched.

Walk in your own shoes

Would you walk a mile in someone else's shoes in order to understand them - where they're coming from and where they're going? But can we really understand others? We can keep trying, but at the same time remember, someone else’s shoes will not always fit. To understand others better, we have to understand ourselves and walk in our own shoes. Understand who we are, where we're coming from and where we’re going.

Reflection in the Mirror

Are you happy with what you see in the mirror? Do you consider yourself to be beautiful? Most of us complain about the reflection in the mirror. Even the swan could complain: "I'm too big, my neck is ridiculously long and my feathers are plain white." Be less critical, be more appreciative. Accept yourself. You are beautiful.

Can't Relax Your Mind?

When you're tensed or stressed, and you find it hard to relax your mind, try this: sit comfortably and then begin to relax your legs and hips, stomach and chest. Loosen your arms and hands. Release all the tension from your back and shoulders. Relax your neck and jaw, eyes and forehead.

You'll find that as you relax your body, your mind will follow. As both the body and mind are deeply connected, most often, you'll find that as you relax one, the other will follow.

Extending Respect

Everyone wants to be respected, including the person you really don’t like.

So, regardless of your history with that person, separate ‘don’t like’ from ‘respect.’ Try and find something to admire in that person and keep it in mind during your interactions with them. Communicate thoughtfully and extend respect consistently, and watch the effect it has on you and on the relationship.

Setting Realistic Deadlines

Do you set deadlines that are too tight? Add extra pressure on yourself? How about, loosening up the pressure by setting achievable deadlines.

Just be more realistic when estimating the amount of work involved and how long things take to get done. Remember to add some extra time to the deadline to deal with the unexpected - you'll need it!

It's Difficult

If you think it's difficult, it will be difficult.

So, why set yourself up for making things difficult. Frame your thoughts positively and make difficult things easy.