Thought For Today - July

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Capture The Moment

To enjoy the moment, you need to be fully engaged in it.

When you capture that moment on a camera or a phone, you inadvertently remove yourself from that moment and, as a result, you’re missing out on enjoying the moment itself.

So, the next time you want to take a photo, pause to consider: Do I want to engage in and enjoy the moment or do I want to capture and document it?

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The Making Of An Apology

We're quick to apologize when we step on someone’s toe, or bump into someone, but what about when it really matters? Maybe, we're not so quick because apologizing when it matters, requires a dose of humility.

Humility enhances our capacity to reflect on our flaws, take responsibility for the effect of our actions, and frame our apology sincerely - all without devaluing ourselves.

Not only does it take humility to make an apology but it also takes humility to accept the apology.

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No Time To Think

Do you feel like there’s no time to think? What do you do when something is urgent or important and you want to make it happen? You schedule it into your diary, squeeze it in, even when it seems like there’s no time.

So, understand the importance of thought and make time to think. Churn big questions or let your mind wander. If you really can't schedule time to think, squeeze it in when you take a shower or eat breakfast, or when you're walking or waiting - and make it happen.

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Monday, Monday

Do you look forward to Mondays? Is it your favorite day of the week?

If you find Mondays a bit of a drag, try the following:
- Plan for the coming week on Friday.
- Make time to unwind on Sunday and get enough sleep.
- Kick start Monday with a good breakfast.
- Hold back from moaning about it being Monday.
- Take pride in what you do and do what you do with joy.

Change your approach and you'll get more out of Mondays.

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Choosing to Love

There are some things in life that can’t be changed, but you still have some choices that are yours to make: to love or hate, to embrace or ignore, to accept or resist, the choice is yours.

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Magnify or Modify

Ever make a mountain out of a molehill? Make much ado about nothing? Many of us have the habit of magnifying situations in our minds. Magnify and we turn nothing into something, making the situation more challenging than it really is!

Instead of magnifying, modify the situation in your mind. Modify and turn something into nothing, turn a mountain into a molehill, and you’ll find it easier to handle the situation.

Modify or magnify, the choice is yours.

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Calming The Emotional Storm

Sometimes our emotions are like calm waves, sometimes they descend like a grey mist, and sometimes they arrive as a full blown storm.

Next time you get swept up in an emotional storm, try and detach from it, that is withdraw your energy from the emotion. Observe the emotion you feel, without judging. Detach and observe, and you withdraw the energy required to keep the storm going. When the storm calms down, think about what triggered the emotions in the first place.

If you can’t detach and observe, simply ride the storm out until your emotion becomes calm once again.

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To Do, Before A Conversation

Before an important conversation or even a difficult conversation, take a little time for preparation. Work out your purpose for the conversation, what to say and most importantly, what not to say.

Prepare and set a clear intention for the conversation and you'll heighten the chances of a positive outcome.

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Know Your Stress

What causes you stress? Is it your job, a relationship, health, wealth.....? Or is it a demanding deadline, an overcrowded train, a throwaway comment.....?

To know your stress, try this:
- Take a piece of paper and divide it into three columns.
- In the first column, list your stressors, for example, presentations.
- In the second column, get specific about exactly why you feel stressed. So, if you’re giving a presentation, are you stressed about the audience, the use of technology, your performance?
- In the third column, brainstorm the solutions. Do you need some extra technical training or tips on how to calm your nerves?

Try this exercise; sometimes it unveils practical solutions and sometimes just knowing your stressors can mean that you don’t react so strongly to them next time.

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Caught In The Shallow

Most of us get caught up in events and people, local and global, famous and not so famous. When we get caught in what is happening on the surface, often, it can make our connections shallow.

If you want to develop deeper connections, go from shallow to deep. Go deep, be deep and see the depth in everyone and everything. Look for the deeper meaning in the world around you, and you may experience life differently.

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Think Short Term or Long Term?

Often we're too focused on the short term. We go for quick fix options, not long term solutions. We look for short term enjoyment, not long term benefit. Often it's because we're too busy managing everyday pressures or too caught up in the 'right now'.

No matter what's happening, learn to find time & space to think both short term & long term at the same time. Then you'll not only benefit right now but you'll also be better prepared for the opportunities & the challenges ahead.

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Flow Like Water

Be fluid like water and adapt your nature to your surroundings. Your practice is not to resist. Instead of forcing things to be the way you want them to be, go with the flow.

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Turn Weaknesses Into Strengths

Focus on your strengths but don't forget about your weaknesses. This week, identify your weaknesses, for example, behaviors that hold you back or things you find challenging. Then decide how to fix them. Here are two ways to turn weaknesses into strengths:

1. Strengthen your weaknesses. For example, if you are disorganized, then turn that chaotic energy into creativity. Or if you happen to be a bit shy, use your quiet nature to be more reflective.

2. Improve your weaknesses. For example, if you're not good at cooking, learn from online video tutorials. Or if you find DIY difficult, sign up for a course to master basic DIY skills.

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We Speak The Same Language

Even though we live in a world of diversity, where we're so different from each other & have such different communication styles, we all smile & laugh in the same language.

Share a smile or a laugh & you can communicate & connect with everyone.

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When It Hurts

When someone steps on your foot, do you fume? Keep fuming and you'll spoil your mood. Yes, it hurts but can you forgive their carelessness?

Next time someone says or does something that's emotionally hurtful, try to forgive. This doesn't minimize or excuse what's happened, but it does free you up respond constructively and then get on with life.

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It's Time For Downtime

We all need a bit of downtime, and if it's getting relegated to the sidelines, here’s a reminder to reserve time for downtime.

How you use your downtime depends on what you need at that time. Nap, read, sketch or just sit and do nothing, but do give yourself the space to recover and recharge your batteries.

Carve out some time daily, weekly or monthly, perhaps plan for some downtime when you come out of a busy period or finish a big project. Just remember, downtime isn’t wasting time, so enjoy it, guilt free - you deserve it!

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Are You Should-ing?

"I should exercise more." "I should eat healthier." "I should do more." The word "should" isn't negative but the way we use it, has a negative tone.

Think about replacing "should" with something that's more encouraging and empowering. How about, "I would like to...." or "I will...."

Stop should-ing and start creating a more positive and motivating tone.

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In the Middle of a Muddle

Are you in the middle of a muddle? What's clouding your clarity? Emotions, expectations, history with the story, people's influence and opinion....

Be an observer, like a member of an audience watching your own performance on stage, or take a helicopter view and observe everything from above.

Take the time to step out of the muddle and you may see things differently, see the bigger picture, and see what needs to happen. You may just gain a new perspective and clarity.

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Crack the Glass Ceiling

For most of us, the glass ceiling that stands in the way of success is our own self-limiting beliefs. Identify what's holding you back. Determine the steps you need to take to move forward. Take the steps. When you crack the glass ceiling, there are no limits, just potential and blue sky!

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It's Time For A Pat On The Back

Finish one task & it’s onto the next. Any feeling of accomplishment is quickly lost as we move onto what's next.

When you finish one thing, how about, taking a moment to acknowledge your efforts & progress. And give yourself a pat on the back.

If you can’t take a moment and really need to move onto what's next, acknowledge your accomplishments as you cross the task off your list or at the end of the day. It’ll be good for your motivation & self-esteem.

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Thoughts On News

How do you feel when you read, watch or listen to all those news stories that are scary & sad? Mad? Next time you get mad, turn it into M.A.D. (Make A Difference)

Channel the anger into positive action, & make the change you want to see. If you can't take action, make a positive impact through your thoughts.

Thoughts have considerable impact. Create peaceful, powerful & compassionate thoughts & direct them to where you want. And feel that you are making a difference.

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Making Small Talk

Do you think small talk is unimportant, a waste of time? If you do, then think again. Small talk is worth your time. It’s an opportunity to show interest and find out how someone is getting on. It can be a relationship builder and may even open the door that leads to ‘big’ talk.

Today, think about how to make small talk better. Here are a few suggestions:
- Get curious about people and what makes them tick.
- Ask simple questions, as well as open ended ones.
- When you’re asked a question, try and avoid one word answers.
- Most importantly, let the conversation flow naturally.

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What's Your Agenda?

We all have personal agendas. They inform everything we do. But often we ourselves are not aware of what they are. So check, why you do, what you do.

Be clear about your own agenda. If it's not what you want it to be, then either drop your agenda or change it to something positive.

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Being A Busy Bee

Now there's nothing wrong with being a busy bee. But as you buzz around, what are you collecting? Things that weigh you down or make you buoyant?

Now just as bees don’t waste their time and energy collecting useless things, be like a bee. Collect what’s useful and stay buoyant.

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A Better Atmosphere

Whether at work, at home or at any other place, the surrounding atmosphere affects us.

If the atmosphere is stressful or negative, you can choose not to absorb the stress or the negativity. Instead, generate a calm, positive atmosphere through your calm, positive thoughts and feelings.

Contribute to creating a better atmosphere, and you will positively affect yourself, the place and the people around you.

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Like a Trapeze Artist

If change is a fact of life, then why do we try to hold on to the old ways or adapt badly to the new? Why not be like a trapeze artist and leap from one swing to another. Let go of old habits and old ways of thinking; switch over and grab hold of new habits and new ways of thinking.

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Life's Speed Bumps

We encounter many speed bumps in life, just like the ones on the road - situations that come into our lives to slow us down. If you don’t slow down but drive over the speed bump too fast - ouch!

Stay observant. And when you see one of life’s speed bumps ahead - don't get annoyed, don't let it become a roadblock, just slow down and drive gently over the situation.

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Think I'm Lazy

Ever find yourself thinking, 'I'm so lazy'? If you think of yourself as lazy, you’ll convince yourself that you have no energy or focus. This may breed more laziness.

Come on, you’re not lazy, but your thinking and behaviour may be lazy. So, choose not to think of yourself as ‘lazy’. Think: I am energetic and focused.

Get energetic and focused, and then think: I'll do what needs to be done for just 15 minutes. Start doing, and after 15 minutes, who knows, you may just carry on until things get done.

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The Mind Room

Think of your mind as a room; what does it look like?

Are the curtains & the windows closed? Is the room of your mind stuffy? Cluttered with thoughts & information? And what's hanging on the walls of your mind? Are your sticky emotions stuck on the wall? Open the curtains & let the light in. Open the windows & air the room. Clean the mind & put everything in its place. Brighten the walls with brighter emotions.

Make the room of your mind somewhere where you can be comfortable & creative.

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Unplugging Your Expectations

Expecting the best of others is definitely a better option than the alternative.

But when people don’t live up to your expectations, how do you react? Now, you can't expect people to fit into your expectations, can you? Unplug from your expectations and accept people as they are. If need be, readjust your expectations to something more reasonable and realistic.

Expect the best of others but relate and interact with them as they are rather than how you want them to be.

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Savoring Delicious Moments

Have you had any delicious moments today? Moments you've really savored?
A morning drink, a good meal, a favorite activity....?

How about savoring, not only the enjoyable things in life, but also the difficult and the unpleasant? When you savor, you immerse yourself in what's happening, in what you're doing, and you start to notice and appreciate the little details, the textures, the flavors. Then something that was difficult or unpleasant becomes something enjoyable.

Savor and you create delicious moments.