CategoriesActionGratitudeObserveReframe your thoughts

Only When It Happens

You can consider other perspectives. You can even prepare for things in advance. However, nothing can make you fully ready for exciting or challenging times. You can truly experience it only when it happens.

For example, a parent or grandparent dying is more impactful than you would think it would be. You know that in theory, we are all going to die. In addition, you’ve had years and sometimes decades to prepare for the moment. But when it happens, it can be quite a shock to the system.

Winning something special or seeing someone special after a long time can also be intense moment. You can guess how you would feel. But, living it is another level.

It’s good you can’t feel the extremes until those unique moments. It saves those very special or intense moments for only when it happens.

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CategoriesActionReframe your thoughts

Feeling Unstoppable

When was the last time you felt unstoppable? That feeling of everything going well with lots of energy and confidence. Can you recreate it?

You can recreate it but it may take some training. You’ll need to notice what makes you feel that way. Usually celebrating some wins can really help. So celebrate small ones and large ones. Wins can add up if you appreciate them.

A solid mindset can also help. Keeping things positive is a good start. Feeling you are on the right track even if you aren’t at the moment and there is some evidence of that. Believing that you’ll get to your destination is reassuring and empowering.

Feeling unstoppable is a good prerequisite to being unstoppable. So practice in your mind and celebrate every win.

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CategoriesActionHealth & FitnessReframe your thoughts

Get In Your Best Shape

You’ll feel better. You’ll look better. Everything will work better. In addition, your self-esteem will be at its highest. There are many benefits, both mental and physical. Fighting off illnesses is another one.

Get in your best shape. Your future you will thank you.

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CategoriesActionReframe your thoughts

Have Rational Discussions

This can be hard for people. Because we start with an emotional position and look to rational-lies them, it can be hard to have balanced discussions.

You might wonder why people on the other side of your opinion don’t all simply come to the table and have rational conversations. You might not notice how you then can’t have a rational conversation about something else.

For example, if you’re a Remainer (I.e. anti-Brexit in the UK) you might query why Brexiteers hold such an impassioned view. However, only some hold an empassioned view. Many could provide a logical argument for their position. Though it may be easier to generalise and assume all people with the alternate view are unreasonable.

That same person might find it difficult to be restrained or balanced on other topics. If you’re unsure, there are few topics more polarising than Donald Trump, even in these post-President days.

A friend noted that it is important to give credit where it is due. That we should acknowledge the fair points of the opposing side or we can’t have a proper discussion. We will become polarised. It was, and is, a good observation. It is harder to live by though, for most people.

Have rational discussions. It’s harder than it looks. Try it. You’ll be better for it.

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CategoriesActionProgressReframe your thoughts

Do Some Prep

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.

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CategoriesActionHealth & FitnessReframe your thoughts

Make The Effort

If you don’t make the effort, you would be silly to think you’ll get the results you want.

Whether you’re trying to bulk up or slim down, make more money or improve your relationship, you have to do the work.

Yea, that may be annoying, boring or frustrating. Too bad. No effort, no result. You’ve got to do your own push-ups.

Be the person that gets results rather than gives reasons. Make the effort. Daily.

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CategoriesActionObserveReframe your thoughts

Judging A Book By Its Cover

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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CategoriesObserveReframe your thoughts

Opinion Is Not Fact

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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CategoriesActionGratitudeProgressReframe your thoughtsThink About It

It’s Hard To Fail

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.

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CategoriesActionProgressReframe your thoughtsTime

It’s Hard To Start

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.

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