Never? Really? You probably know. You might not want to admit it though.
Face the brutal facts of reality. Assess them. Make a plan. Execute. (The plan…)
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Category: Think About It
What Was I Thinking!?
This can be so difficult to identify. Have you ever tried to untangle your thoughts and feelings about even a simple sentence said by someone else?
Each word spoken can have different meanings or perspectives and be bound by different time constraints by the speaker or listener. Take the following sentence, for example: “He was so demanding of his children, it seemed cruel at times.”
There are so many ways to look at these words and I will mention a few here. What does “was” mean really? Could it be he was that way once, when the speaker saw it? Perhaps he was like that occasionally, often or always?
The word “demanding” can be used with different context. Demanding can mean high standards and in a good way. I would want the head of engineering at an airline, or my neurosurgeon, to be demanding of their team and tools.
Although, demanding at the other extreme could indicate harshness, cruelty, and unnecessary rigour.
How old or capable are his children? It can make a big difference if they are 3 or 38 years old or have some mental or physical limitations versus someone without those extra challenges.
Whose definition of cruel was being used? Was it challenging in the short term but would be more helpful in the longer term?
So much interpretation can go into one sentence. A person can misunderstand or misinterpret it with relative ease. It would be wise to guard against that. Ask more questions with less judgement or leading commentary.
Trying to understand what someone was thinking is quite different to trying to attribute a thought or sentiment to someone just because it’s what you want to hear and believe, through your biased lens, that that is what they meant.
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Use Your Imagination
When was the last time you used your imagination? Was it for a creative writing exercise? Or perhaps you were finding shapes in the clouds? Have you used it to imagine your life being different or better in some way?
Using your imagination can unleash powerful forces. It may be easiest to demonstrate its power if you think of monsters under your bed or terrible things that could happen with your finances or relationships. Sometimes your imagination can go into overdrive and paralyse you with fear.
Yet it can work for you going the other way too, in a positive direction. You can imagine passing an exam, creating a career you might love, excelling at a sport or decorating your dream home.
Use this super power for good and positive things and you’ll begin to see exciting changes in your life.
To find out more about using your imagination to achieve anything, pick up a copy of my book Achieve Anything. We explore it further in Step 1: Think, and give you some exercises to help you power up. Available on Amazon and other online stores. Head to www.Scottsbook.com for more details.
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Savour What You Have Overcome
We all have to overcome something at some point. We’re actually overcoming many hurdles every day. But do we appreciate what we have achieved or accomplished? Do you recognise the significance of the moment?
Think back to some of the huge hurdles in your life and how you overcame them. Consider what a huge turning point each of those victories became. Savour your victories.
Write out three major things that you have overcome in your life. Read them out two or three times. Savour your victories.
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What Are You Grateful For?
Can you write out a list of 20 things you are grateful for in under five minutes? Try it. Right now.
I am grateful for….
Here are a few ideas to get you started. I am grateful for my good health, all of my formal, school-curriculum education, my spouse and children, my warm house, our comfy furniture and the peaceful country I live in.
The more items you note on the list, the more calm and relaxed you are likely to be. You will realise how great your life is. This isn’t compared to the wealthiest 1% today but rather against the difficult circumstances of living in 621. A life back then was quite different.
So what are you grateful for?…..
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What If You Ruled The World?
Would you be a benign dictator? What demands would you have on others? How would you change things, if at all?
We all like to think we would be just and fair. But often people think they would rule on everything too. Though you wouldn’t have time to gather all the facts of every situation of all 8 billion people.
The world is fairly self-correcting. It isn’t perfect but it is pretty good. You may not get things your way all the time but perhaps that is a good thing.
What one thing, rule, law, situation, etc would you change, enforce or improve?
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Enjoy The Silence
Does silence worry you? Is it pleasant or distracting? At the moment, just enjoy the silence.
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Inclusivity That Excludes
When we try to be inclusive, we can alienate others along the way. If we include the footballers, the cricketers may feel rejected. The outsider may feel better for you bringing them into the circle but the locals may feel excluded.
You can’t please everyone all of the time but be aware of who you’re turning out when you are trying to bring someone else in.
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Timing Is Everything
Think catching the bouquet, a fly ball or a wave. Or consider arriving on holiday as a hurricane is announced, living during a pandemic, or far worse, a war, or sharing a lift in a foreign land with the person you eventually marry.
Timing can be good or bad, brilliant or devastating. Try to set up your environment to win and set up your mindset to win too.
Maximise your good timing and minimise your bad timing. Get yourself where you’ll reap more benefits.
Perhaps timing isn’t everything but it is incredibly influential.
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Dream Versus An Idea
Lots of thoughts come into our heads. But which are our real dreams and which are simply ideas that have occurred to us but we aren’t in love with them.
Sift through these ideas. Dismiss the merely interesting ones. Grab the one or two that lift your soul and make a smile on your face. Those are the dreams.
Now take at least one step right now to progress toward them.
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