Category: Observe

CategoriesActionObserveReframe your thoughts

Judging A Book By Its Cover

Posted on October 27, 2021

My new book is coming out soon! It will certainly feel great once it is published and available. I look forward to having a copy in my hands and turning the pages.

At the moment, however, I need to decide on the book cover design. Currently I have 6 options in play. I have posted these to my Instagram story for those curious to see them. They’ll be there until about noon GMT so go check out the story and have your say. Vote for your preferred book cover. You might get your favourite one selected.

It is a funny thing about getting feedback on the cover. We are advised that we shouldn’t be judging a book by its cover. Yet, I am pretty sure we all do something akin to that. I certainly assess wine, books and people by that first visible impression. It is hard not to. You see something and you apply your library of related visuals to it.

You may not judge it but you might assess it. That is natural. You would assess a wild lion or stray rhino. It’s a survival instinct.

So why not pop over to my Instagram account (@scottsthinking) and assess, or judge, the covers on display. Then message me with your preferred cover. Let’s see which one wins!

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CategoriesHealth & FitnessObserveProgressThink About ItTime

When Does The Covid Pandemic End?

Posted on October 26, 2021

It might be 2026 or as soon as spring 2022. It could be any other time too. I hear one of my favourite phrases in my head, “It depends”.

Who will declare the pandemic is over? What criteria will be used? What will happen after? Has anyone thought this through? I am sure lot’s of people have considered the idea of this pandemic finishing. It will be interesting to see how that plays though.

Will some countries like New Zealand and Australia maintain a Moat status with frequent lockdowns for another 5 or 10 years? Denmark seems to have opened up internally, though there are still some border restrictions, which could end by November. The UK is fairly open and almost back to 2019 activity and freedom of movement.

So it depends on what the ruling parties want to see in each country, state, province, territory etc. Some leaders are aiming for zero new cases, some want zero hospitalizations or deaths. Other leaders are being more pragmatic and are ok with many cases as long as hospitalizations and deaths stay relatively low. Another view is the number of vaccinated people.

However, even if there was a 100% vaccination rate, people would still catch it and pass it on. The vaccine reduces symptoms and can aid in reduction of the spread but it does not stop the spread or eliminate Covid. So people will need to get their head around that. Perhaps comparing it to the seasonal flu and how we dealt with that would be possible for some. If not, prepare for masks, social distancing, semi-annual booster jabs, frequent testing, occasional lockdowns and stressful travel for the next 3,650 days.

When does the Covid pandemic end? It depends.

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CategoriesObserveReframe your thoughts

Opinion Is Not Fact

Posted on October 25, 2021

No matter how well you dress it up, an opinion does not make something a fact.

Some phrases simply elicit a biased response from me. The following are some of them: ‘The fact is’, ‘It’s a well know fact’, ‘As a matter of fact’ and ‘Check the facts’. What people often mean is check the facts that support my position.

And just because you want it to be a fact or accurate, doesn’t mean it is.

Opinion is not fact. Get a better opinion if you need to dress things up as a fact to make your point seem stronger.

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CategoriesActionObserveReframe your thoughts

Shifting Momentum

Posted on October 19, 2021

Have you ever felt momentum? Maybe you’ve felt it while watching a tennis match or other major sporting event. It is incredible to watch. It is palpable.

You can see heads start to lower and energy and focus disappear. Frustration can set in and then mistakes are made. This compounds with growing negative self talk. It can be hard to come back from it.

On the other hand, the energy can grow while focus gets better. You are in the state of flow and each decision seems to be right. You float over the opposition. Your heads are high and your confidence is too.

Use shifting momentum to your advantage. Be sure to relax, have fun and commit to each moment. Keep the momentum on your side.

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CategoriesObserveReframe your thoughts

What If It Worked Out?

Posted on October 18, 2021

What if you went for it and it surpassed all your expectations? What would that look like? How would it feel?

Too often we think of something we don’t want. Not a good start. Then some of us focus on what we do want. This is better. But even when focusing on what we do want, oftentimes we will see the downsides or negative outcomes more easily than the upsides and positives.

But what if it worked out? If we would focus on how amazing everything could turn out, maybe it would turn out that way.

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CategoriesObserveThink About ItTime

Moments Are Powerful

Posted on October 13, 2021

We remember moments. The good ones and less good ones. These powerful, emotional moments will have a great impact on our lives. These moments can lock in how we feel about someone for years or decades. Something said or done can really hit you in a few seconds.

Accidents, crimes, criticism, awards, compliments and victories have very strong moments attached to them. They are felt and they are memorable. They can be found in your memory bank without much effort. Though some need some real digging if you buried them deep.

Find these and extinguish their negative effect or use the positive ones to create great energy. Moments are powerful. Learn from them.

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CategoriesActionGratitudeObserveReframe your thoughts

Follow Positive Traditions

Posted on October 10, 2021

Cultures have traditions. Follow them if they are beneficial. There is something simple and calming about traditions.

Try to understand why the creator of the tradition created it. Don’t just assume why they did it through your biased lense.

Follow positive traditions. They’re a great part of life.

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CategoriesActionObserveTime

Stay On Top Of Things

Posted on October 9, 2021

Keep your calendar up to date. When you get a new item with a date or time, put it in there. Do it even if you have to put TBC. Write your thoughts and to-dos down too. Think in terms of rolling weeks. Be mindful of the week ahead. Also be mindful of two, three and four weeks ahead.

Keep your files up to date. Know where things are. Tidy up your drawers and eliminate all unnecessary or unknown items. Keep lean. Give things a home in your house and make sure you put things back straight away. There’s not enough extra time in life to spend hours looking for things.

Stay on top of things. You’ll be happier for it. And there will be more calm and confidence in your future.

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