Think About It Archives - Page 38 of 64

Who Decides?

Posted on March 14, 2022

Someone always gets to decide. A judge, jury, media, influencer, criminal, teacher, professional, tradesman, client or child. The list continues.

The key is to try to make as many of your own decisions as possible. Stay healthy, so doctors don’t have to make decisions for you. Stay in safe areas so the criminals don’t get to decide how your life goes.

Same with staying out of trouble with police, make good decisions for you so the authorities don’t get to make decisions that affect your life.

Sometimes some person will decide you’re an -ist or -phobic. It could be accurate but may not be. They could use 1 data point out of 300. That may be enough for them and their standard.

People’s opinion can wield incredible power. Please use your power well. With great power comes great responsibility. Your decision to use certain words can have a similar impact as an executioner’s sword.

Deciding to destroy a person and their family, first by reputation, then it hits financially and finally physically, is not something to take lightly or in a casual conversation.

Who decides often depends on the circumstances. Be kind.

Action Observe Think About It

Diversity Of Thought Or Appearance

Posted on March 9, 2022

Which is better? Are they both good but for different reasons? Should we focus on improving one, the other, both or neither?

Should we be trying to engineer things or let them take their natural course? Think about the forced path meandering across a green space in front of a university or other building. Then notice the well worn path in the grass that is the direct route across the space that so many people clearly take.

Diversity of appearance can help people see themselves in the position of that admired person one day, as outward appearance is a quick identifier.

However, if you take the Bible and wrap it with dozens of distinctly different looking covers, the text inside will be the same. If a book club selects all the different books based on their cover, when each review is given, the content will be strikingly similar and monotone. There may be little diversity of thought or intellectual diversity.

On the other hand, a person could look very similar to a few dozen other people and have very different views, experiences, thoughts and perspectives on a variety of topics. This would demonstrate diversity of thought.

So, as always, it depends on what your intent is and what you are solving for.

However, don’t argue for diversity of thought while only seeking diverse appearances. Likewise, it’s best not to think you’re getting diversity of thought when you are really just keeping up appearances.

Action Gratitude Think About It Time

Appreciate The Process

Posted on March 6, 2022

It’s your discipline, consistency, drive and vision that helps you gets the wins you can celebrate. Success doesn’t just show up. You need to put in the work. The effort you make over time will compound and eventually you will see the benefits.

Don’t delay. Set up your environment to win. Decide what you need to do and get cracking. The results will come if you appreciate the process and work at the process every day.

Pick three things you want to improve on this coming week. What simple and quick things could you do each day to inch you closer to your desired outcome. What will you have to overcome to make this happen? Write these things down. Create a brief plan around them. Then act to make them happen. Review at the end of the week, or even daily! Then celebrate each win. Repeat!

Action Reframe your thoughts Think About It

Nothing To Lose

Posted on March 5, 2022

When you or your group push someone too far, they can get to the point where they have nothing to lose. Are the Allies creating this scenario with President Putin?

I’ve not yet seen the Batman movie, Joker, but I think there may be some similarity here.

President Putin is looking more and more like Joker – nothing to lose if they keep tightening the screws. His choice seems to be a War Crimes trial or thrown out or voted out (and then War Crimes tribunal). Nothing looks good as an end of life legacy. Except doubling down and step on the gas, conquer Europe and live like a Tsar.

He needs to believe his legacy will be elevated if he stops this campaign now and orders his troops home. Or something similar. Otherwise The English Channel beckons.

Gratitude Observe Think About It

Making Profound Choices

Posted on March 2, 2022

What are the tough choices you have to make daily? What to buy for lunch? Which clothes to wear? Where to meet up with friends?

Sometimes we have to make far more difficult choices. Occasionally we have to decide whether to have an operation or not? Or what to do with an aging parent. Other choices may involve divorce, having a baby or going on a unique holiday.

Hopefully you never have to make a decision about who to execute or whether to evacuate a war zone. May you never have to say goodbye to your spouse or children as you go off to war. These are the types of decisions millions of people are having to make right now.

We all have bad moments, days and even years. Spare a thought today though, for all the people caught up in this very challenging time in Ukraine. Many have to make life and death decisions, some do so several times in a day.

Gratitude Observe Think About It

What Makes A Favourite Book?

Posted on March 1, 2022

Is your favourite book fiction or non-fiction? Was it written recently or is it a classic? Was it written by a famous author or a relatively unknown one?

Is it a favourite from childhood or later in life? Is it a children’s book? Why is it your favourite book? The cover, content, story or just the right time and place for you?

I have many questions ?.

Some of my favourite books are: Encyclopaedia Brown, The Celestine Prophecy, One by Richard Bach, Achieve Anything and Atlas Shrugged.

Let me know yours below ?

Gratitude Health & Fitness Observe Think About It

What Makes A Wonderful Day?

Posted on February 27, 2022

Sunshine? Warmth? Health? Family? Friends? A purpose? Winning at something? A kind word said to you? Kind action from another person? A flower? Good news? A phone call from an old friend? Completing a task? A cease fire? A peace treaty? A favourite song?

You don’t need 24 full hours of wonderful to declare, and feel, it’s a wonderful day. It can be one simple thing.

I had a wonderful day today. Gorgeous sunshine. Warmth from the sun. Blue skies. Freedom. Confidence in our institutions and law. Coaching and watching my son’s rugby ? team. He scored a try and played very well.

Then I went to watch my other son play field hockey. He scored a goal and helped his team to victory in the England Hockey quarterfinals. On to the semis!

There have been other lovely moments today too. But those really made it wonderful. Being healthy and able to enjoy children having fun, with some competitive tension, can make one blissful.

My wish for you is many, many wonderful days in your life. Keep it simple, observe and enjoy.

Action Observe Reframe your thoughts Think About It

My Mind Is Popping

Posted on February 25, 2022

So many ideas, thoughts, perspectives and considerations have been bouncing around in my head this week. I can’t keep up! I’ve written down about 35 blog post titles, ideas or drafts in the past seven days. So many points to cover or clarify in my head.

Sometimes I can write quickly because I have thought about that topic numerous times and I am clear in my thinking and position. Other topics require a little more consideration, addressing all six chairs, removing the sample size of one and decoding all of the information supplied by various media, social accounts and friends.

Assessing without judgement. Considering without bias. Or noting my own bias and flipping the tables to see from the other side. Then I can remove my bias when I walk in the shoes of others.

So many things to write, to share, to consider! My mind is popping!!!

PS Thank you to all of you lovely people buying my book Achieve Anything and keeping it in the bestseller lists on Amazon! I am surprised and delighted each day it is there. And thank you to those putting rating and reviews up on Amazon – Greatly appreciated! Put one up if you haven’t already and we’ll head into double digits. Finally, thanks to those telling others, posting on social media, sending me pictures or notes, and generally delighting in it. ?

Gratitude Think About It Time

My Friend Passed Away Today

Posted on February 23, 2022

Almost 7 hours ago, at the time I started writing this, she passed. You may be reading this hours, days or years later. You may have had a friend or family member pass too. Maybe it was recently or some long time ago. Perhaps it’s in the known future. If so, you know what I’m talking about and how this feels.

Death is a tricky thing. I feel as though we try to keep the topic at bay, as if we’re going to catch it ourselves. Otherwise we might launch into dark humour or bravado. We tend not to spend a lot of time discussing it, so many of us are not particularly well versed in the dos and donts and best practices.

She said in some ways she was lucky. She could have been hit by a bus and never had a chance to say or hear goodbyes. She was pragmatic with a good sense of humour…

Well we’ve had some, though not much, time to say goodbyes. We even had a Zoom Celebrity Toast in her honour on Monday night. That was quite a beautiful and lovely event. Some fabulous friends organised that and many other things. Hearing how she touched the lives of so many people from around the world was wonderful and inspiring.

Why do we wait to have an event like that? Or never have it, at least when the person is alive?

We were at university together, and on the AIESEC exec team, back in the 1900’s. It was ‘93-‘94 to be precise. So almost thirty years ago.

We were more in touch again these last couple of years, which was nice. It’s a nice thing to chat more with friends from long ago. Contact one today and just say hi. See where it goes.

She recently returned to Canada to spend her final weeks with family and dear friends. She decided on the date and time of passing. You can do that in Canada.

So today, spare a thought for someone you would miss and tell them something nice about themselves. And think of someone who has passed too.

This note is in fond memory of Christina Bowe of Peterborough Ontario (also Ottawa, Vancouver and London/Maidenhead, England)

Gratitude Observe Think About It Time

Not All Weeks Are Created Equal

Posted on February 22, 2022

You would think they were created equal. Perhaps they are. When you open the calendar they all look the same. All 52 weeks look identical.

But then we put meaning to some. The week with Thanksgiving in it, Christmas, Easter, your birthday, kids birthdays and school holidays.

We add in all the hope-filled weeks. The ones where we expect to find happiness, joy, love, family, community and success.

Then there are those other weeks. The one before you go on holiday, the one with the passing of a loved one, those with challenge, strife or heartache.

Perhaps weeks are born equal. But then we create stories around them which give them colour and emotion. So once they’ve been through some life, they are no longer equal. They are different.

Some better. Some worse. But they all make the rich tapestry of life. Savour each one, for they are all that we have.