Progress Archives - Page 33 of 49

What Would You Give Up To Save The Planet?

Posted on November 4, 2021

You can blame big oil companies if it makes you feel better. However, their products (oil, gas, plastics, etc) exist to quench people’s demand. They are not discovering, extracting, refining, shipping and storing oil and gas in the hopes that one day they will find a use for it and be able to sell it.

So governments and corporates can set the stage for change but it really comes down to the consumers of the world to make changes (forced or willingly) before we will see significant or meaningful change in environmental or climate impact.

With the world population expected to grow to just under 10 billion by 2050 there will be some additional strains on the environment. If countries haven’t been able to reach their Paris Accords targets previously, adding an additional 2 billion people in 30 years, a 25% increase, is unlikely to make the challenge easier.

So to reduce environmental impact, consumers will need to switch to new, clean energy sources in 2022. They / we will have reduce more, reuse more and recycle more if the world population has any chance of making a noticeable impact. To that end, what would you be willing to do? Give up on that new electric toothbrush and buy a bamboo one? Drive less? Stop air travel? Buy fewer clothes and plastic items? Only buy food from your country or local area? Reduce meat and dairy consumption to once per month?

I think most people find it incredibly difficult, or undesirable, to significantly shift their personal consumption habits whether it is to benefit climate change or not.

What would you give up to save the planet?

Action Progress Reframe your thoughts

Do Some Prep

Posted on October 30, 2021

Yes, you can wing it. That is an option. But you may not get the results you want. To improve your chances of getting results you’d be happy with, remember to do some prep.

Learn a little about the topic, event or activity. You can search the web for an article, workshop, podcast or video tutorial. Learn about it. Train yourself to improve your understanding or skill.

Prepare well ahead of time and make the most of your abilities while you have them. Injuries, illness or lack of time or energy can make it more difficult to progress as you grow up or age.

Do some prep. A little effort ahead of time could change your life’s trajectory.

Health & Fitness Observe Progress Think About It Time

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.

Action Gratitude Progress Reframe your thoughts Think About It

It’s Hard To Fail

Posted on October 24, 2021

Choose your hard. It’s hard to start, continue, finish and fail. But if you don’t do the first three, you may have to settle for the last one.

Now we should get into the definition of fail, of course. It means different things to different people. Traditionally it means you did not succeed with your desired goal. Though it can be defined quite broadly. If you haven’t stopped trying then you may not have failed yet.

However, if there is a time limit, then if you’ve past the time allocated, you could say you failed. This is most accurate in a timed activity, project, match or game.

It’s not fun to think you failed at something. But you have only failed in the attempts up to now. Perhaps you will succeed on the next attempt!

Until then, it’s hard to fail. But it can be the only way to finally succeed.

Action Progress Think About It Time

It’s Hard To Finish

Posted on October 23, 2021

Completing the task can be a challenge. Sometimes we get started and stay consistent. But completing the task, so it is all done, as we wanted, can get sidetracked.

We might get delayed, sidetracked, see goalposts move, never quite reach the goal or many other reasons. Being emotionally involved in the process or never feeling quite ready can be other issues to overcome.

You must begin with the end in mind. Have a vision of the completed project. Prepare a celebration. Have a timeline that you follow. Have some contingency and prepare for things to not go exactly to plan. You may need to be a little flexible.

It’s hard to finish but that’s where the glory, relief and calm is.

Action Progress Time

It’s Hard To Continue

Posted on October 22, 2021

Starting can be easy compared to keeping something going. Pay for the gym and go for two weeks. We’ll check back in with you after week seven. Still going everyday? How about three times per week?

Quit smoking? Great start! Let’s see where things are after 60 days. Saving money to build an investment pot for retirement? Great! Let’s see where things are at in month four. What happened?

Starting has it’s challenges but so does keeping it all consistent. But since you started, keep the discipline every day. Save just one pound in your piggy bank or online bank. Do one push up. Push the smokes away one more time.

It isn’t easy. But it is worth it. So many benefits in building new, positive habits.

Do one thing towards your new goal each day. Have a solid reason why you’re doing it. Make it an emotional one, not just practical. Develop tenacity and discipline. Listen to, watch or read motivational material such as The Quote of the Day Show, YouTube channels, or my upcoming book (sent final typesetting changes back to the publisher today ?).

It’s hard to continue. But do it and build your pride, self esteem and better life.

Action Progress Reframe your thoughts Time

It’s Hard To Start

Posted on October 21, 2021

Getting going can take some time. Top tip though is to write five key bullet points. Right now. Type in or jot down five key bullet points about the topic, the call, next steps, outcome desired or plan.

Cracking the seal makes it feel real. Which is great. But it is also part of the problem. You see, until you write something down, the points are just ideas in your mind. You can fantasise about the outcome, the amazing letter you’ll write or the results you’ll get.

However, once you start writing it down, it makes it feel real. You need to be more precise. Realism comes into play.

This realisation scares the dickens out of most people. It can feel like your head getting whacked when the reality sets in. But it’s a good thing. Because if you don’t start, you can’t continue or finish.

It’s hard to start. But it’s necessary.

Action Observe Progress Reframe your thoughts

Change Yourself First

Posted on September 29, 2021

Then you can change the world. If we all tried to be better people individually, we would be better as a group through natural consequence.

If you’re trying to change someone, you’re unlikely to do it. Only the subject person will make the change happen. Berating someone or belittling them won’t do it. It often has the opposite effect. You can lead a horse to water…. Even make it look nice and dress it up. But you can’t force someone, or a horse, to take a sip.

Change yourself first. And if you have time left on the clock, then help others. Rather than force them.

Action Progress

Gather Intensity

Posted on September 28, 2021

Bring your energy, like a laser, to focus on your most pressing issue or task. Get psyched up with power words and prepare to address the matter at hand. Gather intensity and build the expectation that the task is already done. Charge forward, relentlessly and even tirelessly, to accomplish those tasks and achieve your goal.

It feels incredible when you attack the day.

Gather intensity and win!

Action Gratitude Progress Reframe your thoughts

Use Affirmations Frequently

Posted on September 27, 2021

Yes you might feel uncomfortable doing this. You might even cringe a little just thinking about it. But really, you probably do negative affirmations all the time. You might say, ‘I am so stupid’, ‘I am an idiot’ or even ‘I am terrible with money’.

Think about that. You are willing to say pretty rough stuff to yourself but cringe when thinking about saying something nice. And the nice stuff is probably more accurate on the whole too!

Try saying, ‘I am a very good person’ or ‘I am pretty fit’ or even, ‘I am quite good with several financial aspects’.

Those aren’t so cringeworthy. They are simply stating how it is, fairly accurately.

So think of 5-10 ‘I am’ phrases you’re comfortable saying and start saying them to yourself every 30 minutes. Brainwash yourself. Love bomb yourself. And don’t just say them. Feel them when you say them. Stand straight and tall. Smile. Be proud of who you are in the moment.

After a few weeks of half-hourly affirmations, you’ll have convinced yourself about how good you really are. Then you are on your way to being Unstoppable. You will be able to achieve anything.

Use affirmations frequently.