Thought For Today - March
 

Thoughts on Vulnerability

What's your relationship with vulnerability? Think about what being vulnerable means to you and how it works for you.

For many of us, we feel vulnerable when we're open with others about who we are, how we feel, and what we want. Often, this is uncomfortable and complicated because we have no control over how others respond. But when we take the courage to be open and vulnerable, we show our authenticity and create authentic connections with others.

Do you protect yourself from feeling vulnerable? Or do you consciously choose when and with whom to show your vulnerability? Think about how to develop a healthy relationship with vulnerability.

Bigger Than Your Problems

When faced with a problem that seems impossible to solve try, this. Think: I am bigger than the problem.

Grow yourself to be bigger than the problem and your perspective changes. From a higher perspective the problem may seem more manageable. It may also increase your chances of finding your way to possible solutions.

Let Go and Let It Flow

If your mind gets clogged, take a few minutes to clear it.

Sit back. Breathe. Relax. Visualize your mind as a mountain stream, flowing from high in the mountains, over different terrains. As the stream flows towards the ocean, let go of all the anxieties, the pressures, the tensions and let it flow into the ocean. Now, let the tranquil ocean waves roll into your mind and clear everything away. Enjoy a few moments of tranquility and take it with you as you step back into the rest of the day.

Listening to your Instincts

Do you listen to your instincts? Your gut instinct, your intuition is like a personal GPS that tells you how to get to your destination. It also helps you to understand yourself and others more accurately. So, tune in, listen and follow your instincts with confidence.

But when you're not too sure, validate and verify your instincts with reasoning and rational thinking.

March 5

What You Do, Matters

Everything you do matters. You may not think it, but it does. Everything you do sets an example for others to do the same.

Now don't get stressed about watching your back, but people do watch everything you do. So be mindful about what you do, even when you think that there’s no one around.

March 6

Feeling Stuck?

There are times when you feel stuck and life feels sticky. And it feels like you're moving through treacle!

If you resist the ‘stickiness,’ it just keeps you more stuck. Instead, release your resistance. Then your mind is free to work out 1) where you are stuck and 2) what you can do to get unstuck.

Getting unstuck can be slow and sticky. So, just relax and when you feel ready, take a step forward. Now keep moving until you get out of the treacle!

Get Up, Stay Up

Today, choose not to allow anyone or anything to drag you down.

No matter how stressful or negative anyone or anything is, stay up, stay positive, stay happy.

If something or someone drags you down, shift and lift yourself up. Get up, get positive, get happy, and you'll soon lift everything and everyone around you.

Before You Respond

When you receive a message via email or text that triggers an emotional response in you, can you resist the urge to reply immediately? If we reply immediately, we’re likely to add to the misunderstanding or conflict.

If you really need to get things out of your system, write something, but don't send it yet, save the message as a draft. Once you've cooled down, read your message, make any necessary changes & read it one more time, before you hit the send button.

Staying Grounded

Are you really here? Or is your mind elsewhere?

When we are not grounded in the present, we're often lost in our own world & disconnected from reality. That's why it's important to practice being present. Every now & then become present with what is & bring yourself fully to the moment. Be really here & be grounded in reality. Then you'll be calm & centred, awake & attentive.

Curb Your Cravings

When you get food cravings, do you give in to them? Or do you beat your cravings through sheer willpower? Or do you distract yourself to get your mind off your cravings?

Here's something else you can try to curb your cravings:
- Cravings are a thought. You are not your thoughts. So, disengage from the thought.
- Observe the thought and the craving will lose its power over you.
- Create a sense of detachment to make better, healthier food choices.

Finding Meaning

There is a meaning in everything. Sometimes it’s visible, sometimes we have to search deeply & sometimes it takes a while before we find the meaning.

Finding meaning may help you make sense of things & may also help you experience life differently. But should we constantly search & find meaning in everything? What do you think?

March 12

Deliver or Over-deliver Promises?

We all know the importance of delivering on our promises. When we deliver what’s promised, not only are we seen as someone who’s reliable but also someone who’s good at estimating timelines.

But sometimes in our enthusiasm, we over-deliver. When we over-deliver, it’s going to impact everything else, and not always in a good way.

To deliver or over-deliver on our promises, what do you think?

March 13

The Mind Garden

Our mind is like a garden, and what we plant grows. What’s growing in your garden? If it’s negative thoughts, weed them out. If it’s limiting beliefs and attitudes, prune them away.

Plant positive seed thoughts and cultivate your mind. Before you know it, the garden will be blooming.

How You Talk To Yourself

How do you talk to yourself? Are you a critic or a cheerleader? How you talk to yourself not only has an impact on your self worth, attitude and achievements, but it also eventually comes out of your mouth.

So make your self-talk positive and encouraging, compassionate and constructive.

Give and Receive

Give others what you want from them. Whatever it is that you want from others, respect, care, help, forgiveness.... start by giving others your respect, care, help, forgiveness....

Give, & who knows, you may receive what you give. Even if you don’t receive anything back, it's OK, because when you give to another, you simultaneously give to yourself. So, give.

Get to Bed on Time

Are you a sleep procrastinator? You want to go to bed on time, but you don't. So what will you do to stop procrastinating?

Here are two tips that may help you get to bed on time:
1. Get strict and set a specific bedtime, or, set a ‘window’ of about an hour or so, to go to bed.
2. Set an alarm or a timer to remind you to put the book down, or to step away from the screen and turn off the lights.

Seeds of Patience

When making things happen, no matter how much hard we work we put in, we don't always see immediate results. That's because making things happen is similar to planting seeds. Seeds need time to grow, some germinate right away & others take longer.

Put in the effort to make things happen. Then grow seeds of patience. Be patient & see the seeds grow & show the wonder that lies within… a flower, a plant, a tree, a fruit..

Drop Your Thoughts

When your thoughts are scattered all over the place, try this: gather your scattered thoughts, gather all your worries, stress and anxieties, and bring them all together. Hold them in your mind like a ball, and then drop the ball. Watch your thoughts bounce away into the distance. Then let your mind breathe.

March 19

Bridge or a Barrier?

Are you building bridges or creating barriers? Not literally, but in terms of the relationships between people. Do you choose to build better connections between people, maybe even strengthening existing ones?

Especially look at the impressions you create about others to others. Are you building a bridge or a barrier?

March 20

Things You Own

Do you use everything you own? Haven’t got round to using some things because you don't know where you've put things?

Find things easily and make better use of what you own by:
1. De-cluttering your space. Throw out anything that's not functional. Recycle or
donate things you no longer use.
2. Organizing your stuff. Keep what you use regularly, accessible. Put everything
else in its place. `

Expand Your Focus

Often we get too caught up in the detailed scenes of our lives. When we get too caught in the hurt, the pain, the stress, the anxiety, our focus becomes so narrow, that at these times, we can't always see what else is possible.

Of course the details are important, but you may want to expand your focus and look at how the details fit into the big picture. See the situation as one scene in the entire drama of life. Feel better about your life and you’ll be able to see what else is possible.

Smile. It's Contagious.

Smile at the world and the world will smile back at you.

Smile at someone and, most likely, the person receiving your smile can’t help but smile back. It really is contagious. Experiment and get as many smiles back as possible.

A Clean Slate

When we've had an unpleasant encounter with someone, it's not so easy to approach them again, with a clean slate. But a clean slate is worth pursuing and practicing.

Drop the history you share and wipe the slate clean. If it's not easy to clean the slate, then approach them as if it's your first encounter with them. Of course it all depends on the person, the context and the history you share.

Want More Space?

Do you love space... space in your cupboards, in your life? Declutter your home, your work space, your digital life.... and create space.

Tackle your clutter hotspots. Throw out, recycle, simplify. File, unsubscribe, delete. Declutter, create space and breathe, focus, relax.

Right to Be Right

Who doesn't enjoy being right? But if we didn’t need to be right in every discussion, we might just see things differently and learn from other perspectives. We might also understand that 'right' is a matter of perspective.

If you can’t give up your right to be right, then be right and yet at the same time be open to other people’s perspectives.

March 26

Feel Comfortable in Your Skin

We look in the mirror every day, but the question is do you like what you see? Skin’s not perfect enough, teeth not white enough, hair not glossy enough…. Now go and look in the mirror, and say to yourself, ‘I am enough.’

Let go of how you used to look, how you should look like and what you would like to change. Get more and more comfortable in your skin, and really feel that you are enough.

March 27

Priorities in Harmony

Are your priorities in harmony with the priorities of others, at home and at work? What's urgent and important for one person is not for another. We all have different priorities.

For less frustration and more harmony:
- communicate your priorities to others, at home and at work
- respect the other person’s priorities
- know when to adjust your priorities, and when not to.

March 28

Be an Alchemist

Like an alchemist, transform something worthless into something precious. The key to alchemy is in your perception. Look for the limitless possibilities that surround you. See the innate value of everything and turn lead into gold. Focus on the pure gold within each one. You may have to overlook the visible lead to seek the hidden gold!

Be A Tourist

Imagine being a tourist in your own life... You may find that it puts you in a totally different state of mind. It may make you more curious to explore things that are out of your comfort zone, maybe start conversations with new people or eat something new. You might find it easier to brush off the little annoyances.

Be a tourist and see how it changes your reality.

Impressed or Inspired?

Are you easily impressed by people? Get impressed and you're likely to be influenced by them. This isn't necessarily a negative, but in the process, you may lose clarity to discern what’s right and wrong for you.

Instead of getting impressed, get inspired by people. Because people are amazing, be amazed and appreciative. And in this process, you're not likely to lose clarity.

Impressed or inspired, what will it be?

What's Stopping You?

What’s stopping you from... reaching for your dreams… doing what you want… becoming what you want? Is it your circumstances, other people, or is it a lack of resources, time, energy, talent? Or is it your fears and doubts?

Identify and recognize what’s really stopping you and then figure out what you need to a) stop doing, and b) start doing to be unstoppable.

It is truely better to give then receive. Try it.