Serious question. Have you ever even thought about it? What is it that makes you crazy delighted about being alive?
Spend 10 minutes now writing some ideas down.
These are the things you’ll really miss when you’re gone, or they are. Start giving these the daily appreciation they deserve.
Well, with 7.8 billion people on the planet, chances are there will be at least one person offended by anything you say.
That doesn’t mean don’t say it though. Even if your intent is good and honourable, you can’t please everyone. And if they can’t see your good intent, that is not something you can change.
Think a little more before speaking. Choose your words and their order with more care. Keep away from generalisations like everyone, always, they and never. Be mindful of your biases. You don’t have to place them in people’s faces, like a red rag to a bull.
Is it a friend you want, or a fight? Can you live with your differences, or must you force them to your point of view? Remember, force rarely works.
People say things all the time without full awareness of its impact. That’s ok. Maybe they’ll try to be more mindful next time. But until then, and even if they don’t, we can pause and respond in a pleasant way. As often as required. We can control our actions and words.
Life’s too short to be offended often. Be kind. Be patient. Be compassionate. Maybe they’re hurting. Maybe they’ll learn from you.
Good luck with being the change you want to see.
Sometimes we make a mistake. Don’t be the person that doubles down on their error. Don’t escalate things out of control. You don’t need to prove you’re right, especially by might. It’s better to do the right thing for the greater good.
Put the shovel down. Stop digging a deeper hole.
And I’ve learned to be ok with that.
You really should have an end game in mind, and written down, when you take aim at a new goal, challenge or desired achievement. I don’t say this lightly. These elements build on key themes that run through three of the seven steps in my new book Achieve Anything.
Step 1 is Think, which includes beginning with the end in your mind. It also includes the rhetorical question, ’Why?’ Why are you putting energy and time into this process to reach the outcome?
Step 3 is Write. You need to take the thoughts and turn them into written words that you, or anyone, can refer back to.
Step 4 is Plan. You really should collect those written thoughts and turn them into a structured plan with dates, times, desired outcomes and the finish line.
Notice we skipped Step 2? Lots of people do. That is a big reason why many people do not achieve their goal. More on that in the book.
Can we still be friends?
Can we still be friendly?
Can we accept our differences?
It’s great to have projects on the go. But we need to keep a clear eye on these so they don’t last forever. It sounds great to be working on something, but sometimes we have to make that super extra effort and get items finished.
I have a handful of things that seem to get carried forward each day and have been for weeks, and months in some cases! There are various reasons for that. Some aren’t urgent. Some are nice to have but not critical. Others require input from someone else. Still others take more time then they seem to be worth.
Then occasionally I will have a burst and knock a few of these items off my list. Sometimes that means getting up earlier, going to bed later or switching priorities.
It’s been harder recently with completing the book, the book launch and some other pressing matters. However, I can see a time in late February / March where I can tidy up quite a few of these things. That will feel great!
Everything begins in the mind and with a thought. It is the kernel, the seed, the beginning. From there, anything can happen.
Your body responds to the thoughts in your mind. Even when you don’t think you have thought, you have. You don’t think through how to walk across the room. You just see yourself over there and off you go!
Start with a thought and it can take you anywhere.
And do not be concerned if few people see your destination. It always starts with one person and their vision. Airplanes are ubiquitous today, but 200 years ago flying was a wild idea. Even 120 years ago, only a few people could see it happening. Then, once the first flight occurred in Kitty Hawk, in 1903, more people believed and saw the potential.
Now, so many of us benefit from the power of that original thought by someone who was dreaming of a better world.
Use the power of thought to start changing your life. Reimagine your corner of the world and begin.
A snapshot in time can be so valuable. It can remind us of how things were or we’d like them to be. Happier times can be captured. So can people we no longer see everyday.
We can look at old photos and hear the echo of the past. Sometimes the voices will inspire or haunt us. We can know the story or make one up. It’s a powerful medium.
Cherish old photographs, as that time will never be again.
As a Canadian, I am pleased to see the trucker protest in Ottawa and elsewhere being held, generally, in a good natured, peaceful way. These are unlikely protestors and there would be few, if any, professional activists among their cohort.
Of course, with any large gathering, there will be a few things that go sideways and a few people who do things that both sides would prefer didn’t happen. But rather than look at the sample size of one, or two, lets look at the vast majority and the positives.
It’s peaceful. It’s almost joyous in its nature. There are lots of smiles and hugs, dances and good manners and even well spoken leaders calling for continued calm. Bear in mind it is mid-winter in Ottawa and temperatures sink to -20C (-4F) at night and might only climb to -6C (21F) during the day.
There doesn’t seem to be looting, rioting or arson, which makes it a much better experience for all affected. They are on point. They are there to be heard.
The UK has dropped the mask requirements, along with a growing number of other OECD nations. Serious Covid infections are now about 0.1% of all cases, despite cases being almost 5 times higher than this time last year. This is all good news going forward.
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in the UK, Covid deaths here are starting to approximate those of the flu and pneumonia. If we could live with their annual deaths and challenges for decades, perhaps it is time to make this a win for the people over Covid everywhere.
I entered a shop without a mask this past weekend. It felt so natural and so good. And those that wanted to wear a mask did. And we all shopped and went on our way. No issues. But having that choice felt so good, after two long years. I missed that great, natural feeling. It’s so good to have it back.
