Thought For Today - August
 

What's Your Story?

We continue to tell ourselves a story about what's happened, what's going on, what someone did.... and these stories influence how we think, feel and act.

It makes sense to listen to the story carefully, and if it's not empowering or inspiring, or you don't like the story, then edit the narrative without glossing over the facts or turning it into a fiction.

Turn your tragic sob story into a tale of triumph; a drama or a horror into an action adventure mystery or even a comedy. It's your story, so tell it to yourself just as you would like! What's your story?

Supermarket Stress

It's easy to maintain your inner calm on a remote beach, but not so easy when you're in the supermarket! The good news is you can stay calm; even when you're dealing with the trolley, fellow shoppers, a long queue, the self-service checkout or the cashier. Think of ways you can reduce stress in the supermarket. Maybe: make a shopping list, don't shop when tired and hungry, shop at off-peak times. Or you can always shop online!

Shift into Neutral

Just as we put the car into neutral gear, in the same way we too can, in between activities, shift our mind into neutral. Just for a moment, bring everything in motion to stillness. Neutrality brings rest, renewal and balance. This empowers us to operate at an optimal level, make clearer decisions and move forward in the right direction.

Prioritize Your Priorities

Your core priorities are all the things that matter most to you & give meaning to your life. But in the whirlwind of life, when there are so many demands & opportunities, it's easy to lose sight of your core priorities.

This week, check in with your core priorities. Check if you're honoring & living them. If you're not, it's time to prioritize your priorities. Reorganize your schedule & make time & space for what's meaningful.

Tackle that Doubt

When doubts arise, tackle them head on. After all, what is doubt? It's just a thought. So don't give your doubts a second thought, otherwise you give them validity, a chance to grow and scramble your head.

The next time you see that doubt coming at you, rugby tackle it. Get hold of the doubt, challenge it and take it down. Or, you can step over the doubt or navigate past it.

With skill and determination leave the doubt behind and give yourself the best chance to move forward with stronger, more confident thoughts.

Kindness to Strangers

Are you kind to strangers?

Think of the strangers you encounter. People who obstruct your path, on the road, pavement, or escalators - can you smile and wait for them to move forward or ask them nicely to move? The tourist struggling with a map - will you stop and give directions or offer some local knowledge?

Take the chance today to show a little bit of kindness to someone you've never met before.

Make Opportunity Happen

Are you waiting for the next opportunity to come along? Well don't. Instead of waiting, make the most of where you are right now, and of what's in front of you. Make opportunity happen.

And when the opportunities do come along, you may want to consider whether to seize them or turn them down, because not every opportunity is worth your time and effort.

Your Inner Selfie

You've taken a selfie, right? Take a photo of yourself and capture how you feel, how you look, where you are, and post it online. Now there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you choose sensibly what you present and how you project yourself into the world.

Have you thought about your inner selfie? Well, meditation is one of the routes to the self. Give yourself some time each day to experience your inner beauty, positivity and power, and capture a natural feel good factor. Then you're ready to present and project your best selfie into the world.

The Truth of Illusion

Illusion is the idea that people should be and do what we want. The truth is, all is as it should be, despite appearances. This means you can be easy on others and with the world around you. So quit forcing, end the struggling and...relax!

No Problem!

When things happen, can you say, “No problem!”? When your opinions are challenged, can you say, “No problem!”? Today, when someone or something irritates you, say, “No problem!” with a smile on your face, and mean it.

Guardians of Everything

Everything comes to us in trust. This includes people, pets, time, mind, body, wealth, job, car, house, gadgets, as well as all the planet's resources.

When we become a guardian, a trustee and not an owner, then we worry less, stress less and fear less. It's a much more relaxing way of living and relating to everything that comes to us.

Honor, look after and use all the resources with a positive purpose.

A Boring Meeting, Again!

Have you found yourself in a boring meeting.... again? Try this, ask yourself 4 questions.

1. Do I want to feel bored or do I want to feel something else, if so what?
2. Why am I here, what's the purpose of this meeting?
3. Can I think of something positive about each person in this meeting?
4. How can I contribute here, listen or give suggestions?

Ask yourself questions to create some kind of interest, and try to find a way to engage in the meeting.

Surrender and Action

The flower surrenders to the night & shuts up shop as the setting sun surrenders to the horizon of another day. Geese surrender to the first autumn chills, & think of flying south. Well the same opportunity is also available to all of us.

Realize: There's a time to push & make things happen, & a time to surrender our ego & our need to control everything. Surrender is not about giving up or about inaction, it's about taking the decision to stop fighting ourselves, others & life.

When we surrender, we release tension & restore peace. So go on, find moments to surrender, today. See what happens & how things happen when you surrender first, & then take action.

Words of Praise

Praise others and it makes them feel good about themselves and also motivates them. But it's not healthy for people's self worth to be based on the praise you give.

Do praise others, just maybe not excessively, not because you feel you should, not because you want something in return. Praise sincerely, praise when there is a good reason to do so, and make your words of praise meaningful.

See Beyond the Ordinary

Everything around us can be extraordinary and meaningful, if we choose to see it that way.

Let's say you pass a building site each day, and even though there's nothing extraordinary about it, today, see beyond the ordinary. See how the building site helps you to understand a current situation in your life in a more constructive way.

Today, open your eyes. Find meaning in the meaningless, see the extraordinary in the ordinary and bring more depth to your day.