Scott's Thinking - Page 180 of 236

Eat For Nourishment

Posted on July 29, 2021

Sometimes I eat for taste. At other times, I’ve eaten to procrastinate. Often we eat because of the time of day. However, if you eat for nourishment you’ll be on the best track.

Some people need to take whatever they can, whenever it is available. Other folks have food on tap all day and night. The challenge with that is that you might take more than you need.

If you take more than your body can process, you will gain some weight. Effectively, you would be using your body like a fringe and pantry. Rather than leaving the food comfortably near, you store it on you for future use.

This can be useful if you are about to swim across the English Channel. Having some extra body fat for warmth and energy will aid in your goal.

However, if you are not about to perform some endurance swimming, than try to keep things on the shelf until required.

Some of my favourite meals have been after being so very hungry. Food seems to taste better then. And eating clean, natural, foods with their tantalising taste, crispness and succulence can bring such pleasure to the mouth. Additionally, fresh food is so very good for your muscles, bones, skin and hair.

Eat for nourishment and you can thank me later.

Action Progress Time

Find Your Passion

Posted on July 28, 2021

Some people just know. Others take years to find their thing. The challenge is that it can change. But if you find your passion it will make your life more fulfilling.

If you are young and looking for it, be curious and try many things. See if you prefer being active, artistic or cerebral. Find things that spark joy in your life. If it lifts your spirits, then try to understand why.

It might be a skill you enjoy improving on. Alternatively, it could be serving others. You might like to create, direct or consume. Regardless, there is a place for you in this world.

Someone has to play chess for fun and others as professionals. People have to design and manufacture the boards. Some will be cheap and simple. Others will be elaborate and expensive. You will need coaches and people to write the books about the great players and the tactics of the game itself. Others will create ‘how to’ videos and ‘best of’ complications. And that is just for chess.

Look for those things that bring you the greatest fulfilment. But also know that there will be other things to do that won’t be as exciting but still need to be done. There will be admin, marketing, sales, organisation of events, course creation and making an income.

Some of these things can be done by others who enjoy those aspects.

So most importantly, find YOUR passion.

Property Reframe your thoughts Time

Build Generational Wealth

Posted on July 27, 2021

Have you got a money plan? Do you have a clear and precise written plan for your future or just a general idea? To build generational wealth, you will need to be specific and intentional with your plans.

The main thing holding you back in this era is your mindset. Secondly, it is your follow-on actions. Arguably you can be doing the right actions with a poor money mindset. Although, the mindset usually comes first before the motivation and actions. Regardless, it is better if they are both aligned.

Are you earning money only to pay for your current lifestyle? Or are you earning, saving and investing for now and for ‘retirement’. Ideally you are earning, saving and investing, with thoughts of your years ahead without an active income. And then ultimately, it would be great if you were preparing to have sufficient investments remaining to leave in an inheritance.

Preparing your finances is an important item on your to do list. The earlier you start, the stronger the habit will be. In addition, you are much more likely to have more money for yourself and for your heirs, the earlier you start.

Get a separate savings account set up. Place some money in it every week without fail. Learn about investing. Take it seriously. Though you can make it fun and interesting too. Begin investing for the 20, 60 and 140 year horizon.

Build generational wealth.

Action Observe Time

Finding The Best Deal

Posted on July 26, 2021

Take the first offer or shop around? People will do different things in different situations. Finding the best deal can be fun and rewarding but also time consuming and frustrating.

Are you someone that loves to find the best terms? Or if you find a price you think is reasonable, will you stop looking and go ahead and buy? Searching through all the possible options you can think of can be quite an interesting exercise. Some people thrive on it. Others do it out of current necessity. Sometimes it depends on the item, your finances, time available, or your desire to know all of the options.

Buying milk should be quite straightforward. You should easily and quickly be able to compare value based on standard sizes and fairly common prices. You may be a shopper for milk. However you may also be a grab and go kind of person for this product. Given its required nature for many things, and its relative low and stable price, some people wont even notice the price.

However, if you look at airline tickets or holidays, that may be another matter. I have spent too long reviewing some flight bookings. Mainly due to the timing options available. Though sometimes the price difference can be so great that you keep looking as you know what isn’t a great deal.

Finding the best deal is almost like a game. Spending enough time but not too much is the ideal way forward.

Action Health & Fitness Reframe your thoughts Time

Go Camping For Fun

Posted on July 25, 2021

There are lots of ways to spend your time. Camping is a great one for kids. Especially if they have a friend or two with them. Go camping for fun and you will find it.

Like everything, camping has its pros and cons. Though some of its pros are the open spaces, learning to build and maintain a fire, hanging out with friends and getting away.

Some of the challenges can be the weather, the food storage, finding things you think you packed and late nights.

Now these can also be pros depending on how they are viewed. However, you may need to see them in a different light than you are used to.

We were camping this weekend and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. There were no tv’s or PS4’s but there were walks, pizza’s, marshmallow roasting, chats and lots of great stories, smiles and laughter.

It can be tiring too. There is all the prep, the packing of the car, the unloading, the finding of things and trying new activities. There is also the drive there and back and also around the area for food or activities.

It’s great to be a part of it, even with its challenges. You may even find yourself booking your next outing!

Go camping for fun.

Reframe your thoughts

Worrying Helps No One

Posted on July 24, 2021

Getting concerned about Covid? Perhaps tensions in the Middle East have you concerned. Worried about food shortages? Worrying helps no one so why do we bother?

Why do we read about things that we can’t or won’t impact? What is it that compels us to investigate, learn, debate and organise our thoughts for? We can become quasi experts in a field but not act on any of the information.

I used to watch a lot of horror films as a tween and early teen. I also read quite a bit about the supernatural, ghosts and such. I am not sure why I did that, though there are some theories kicking around.

However, I then stopped. No more spooky books and then no more horror movies. Life is short and I wasn’t enjoying those knowledge or entertainment moments anymore.

If I were to die tomorrow, would I have wanted to spend any of those final hours watching an unnerving movie? So if not then, why ever?

This thinking is also why I rarely read any newspaper articles and watch any news channel even less than that.

If I am not actively making an impact on some topic, why spend time worrying about the ifs and buts of it? I could fill my mind with wonderful things such as great memories, the progress being made in the world and funny jokes.

Worrying helps no one. Fill your mind with joyful thoughts.

Action Health & Fitness Time

Getting Away From It All

Posted on July 23, 2021

How do you relax? Meditation is good. Having a nap can help. Watching a movie or going for a walk can do it for some folks. Getting away from it all may be the big one though.

A complete change of scenery and environment can do wonders for the mind, body and soul.

But getting away can mean many different things. Is it just away from your home? Or your neighbourhood? Could you go to a spa 10 miles away or do you need transcontinental travel?

Are you looking for adventure? Does action and excitement keep your mind focused and away from your daily life?

Some people prefer the serenity of a monastery. Others want to do yoga on a hilltop. Still others will go on amusement rides or play blackjack all night.

It really depends what you are looking for at this time in your life.

Mostly a change is as good as a rest, as the saying goes. Diversion of the mind can be quite a useful endeavour.

Regardless of what you do though, you’re best to come back rested, rejuvenated and ready to go.

Once you’ve had a taste of what does it for you, getting away from it all will never be the same.

Gratitude Time

Gratitude Is Great

Posted on July 22, 2021

When was the last time you said you were grateful for something? Who did you say it to? Gratitude is great if you actually do it. Writing it down and speaking it out loud are two great ways to express it well.

My daughter’s bedtime routine includes reflecting on the day and discussing what we are grateful for. Usually this part is done between my wife and daughter. This time was one for me though.

She asked me what three things I was grateful for today. Being asked the question by someone else creates a different level of importance on the question. You don’t really have to think about the question if you are doing it on your own. Just thinking about the idea of gratitude is enough to get you going. But it is not the same.

It was better to have the discussion. And I couldn’t be lazy or cop out with just one or two. It made me really think about what aspects of the day made me most grateful. It was such a good experience, I might try to do that more often with her.

I do write in a gratitude journal most mornings, though it is a little different. With my daughter it is out loud rather than written. Also, reviewing the day in the evening before sleeping can certainly help with recall.

Gratitude is great.

Observe Reframe your thoughts Think About It Time

It Is July 2025

Posted on July 21, 2021

What will you be doing? How will the world be coping? What will be happening? Imagine it is July 2025 right now. Are you happy with what you see?

Rather than wonder what you will be doing in 4 years from now, try something different. You can either research what some prognosticators are saying or make your own view. Of course when considering your own situation, it is likely you will have a better idea of the potential.

Who will be in power in the G7 countries? Who will be running your country? What will we know about COVID? What stats will we have? How will different countries be living with this?

Where will you be in your career? What about your close relationships? What will your finances look like? How old will your parents be?

If you have never written this down, you may find it quite an interesting exercise. Every time I do it, I think of other options I would like to have be true. In addition, when you look at things in the long run perspective, you tend to reduce emotional decision making. You also, get a greater sense of what could be possible for you. Also, you are more able to use facts and data rather than stories and unhelpful self-talk.

It is July 2025. Describe it.

Gratitude Observe Think About It

What Do You Believe?

Posted on July 20, 2021

When reading something, have you ever thought why you enjoy it or find it uncomfortable? What do you believe? Have you ever taken stock of what matters to you in life?

I remember a baseball movie from the 80’s where the lead character rhymed off what he believed in. I couldn’t remember all the details but I was impressed by his recount. It was impressive that he had actually thought about it and was quite clear about it. There was no pause, no slight hesitation or uncertainty.

Sometimes I have started to write out a list as well. It’s something I should continue. It seems like a reasonable thing to do, especially with the big topics in your life. Writing them out gives some glaring clarity too. You can’t simply play mind games with yourself. You can’t shift in a constant, ‘if this then that’, scenario.

Some people’s beliefs change depending on who is saying it. That is unfortunate but can happen. There are plenty of videos online which demonstrate this tendency.

Give it a try later today. Set aside 10 minutes and see how many core beliefs you can write into the notes section of your phone. Put them in there so you can review them occasionally. Reflect on them and adjust them as you consider them in the future.

What do you believe?