Thought For Today - January

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Waiting to be Happy

Are you waiting to be happy? Are you convinced that you'll be happy when....?

Why wait and put off happiness until.... Actually there's no better time to be happy, than right now! If not now, then when? Be happy, now.

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Annoyed and Angry

We all get annoyed and angry with the people in our lives. But when we let the annoyance and anger get under our skin and overtake our reasoning and reaction, it becomes a problem.

The next time you get angry with someone, try and understand a) that your annoyance is temporary but the relationship is permanent, and b) what's really getting under your skin.

Understand and you'll most likely regain your reasoning and reaction, and overcome the anger in a healthy way.

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A Lotus Life

Like the lotus flower, rise above the muddy water of negativity. But just as the muddy roots sustain the lotus flower, let the realities of life enrich you and enable you to bloom and reach your potential, and grow into something more beautiful.

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A Little Less Complaining

We often use 'complaining' as a social tool to share experiences and create humour. We also use complaining as a method to take action, but no one likes a complainer.

So, let’s stop complaining. If you can’t stop immediately or if you feel that it’s just not possible to stop altogether, try complaining a little less! How? Reduce the unnecessary complaints and you’ll find that your necessary complaints will be more effective. And try rephrasing the complaints into positive comments and it becomes easier for people to listen to you.

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Determination and Patience

When things get tough, do you quit? Of course, sometimes quitting is the right choice, but sometimes it's not.

So when the right choice is not to quit, tap into determination as well as patience. Determination won't let anything get in the way, and patience won't quit because it understands that all things have their time. Determination combined with patience allows you to stay persistent and keep going.

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January 21

While You Wait

We do a lot of waiting. Waiting at the airport, at the traffic lights, the bus stop, checkout counters.... What do you do while you wait? Keep checking your watch, tapping your feet, getting annoyed?

Next time you find yourself waiting, turn it into an experience. Resolve something that's been at the back of your mind or just let your mind wander. Strike up a conversation with someone or make phone calls. Or people watch, doodle, write a poem, stretch your muscles.... Of course, it all depends on where you are.

What are some of your favorite things to do while you wait?

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January 22

Thinking All The Time

We think, think and think. Most of the thinking starts off as necessary thoughts, but when these thoughts become repetitive they become unnecessary thoughts. If we keep thinking all the time, we use up lots of energy. It's exhausting and it just weakens our ability to focus.

Next time you find yourself thinking unnecessarily, put a stop to it. Think when it's necessary to think. This way, you will strengthen your ability to think clearly and constructively. You will also conserve your energy to focus when you need to.

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Thank your Mind

The mind can be unproductive; it can drive you crazy and make you agitated. But it does rise to the challenge, to think fast, think smart, think creatively. The mind does so much for you, but have you ever thanked your mind?

Even when it's being silly or negative, thank your mind, and it might just start thinking more positively and constructively. When it's being chaotic, even then, thank it, and it might just calm down and become quiet. Thank your mind and see what happens.

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Rethink your Resolutions

Are you struggling with your resolutions? If your New Year zest is starting to fade, don't give up on your resolutions just yet!

Rethink your resolutions and ask yourself:
- Are they still relevant? Do I still want to go for it?
- Are they realistic? Do I need to reset my resolutions?

And then remind yourself why the resolution matters and recommit to your resolutions.

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The Urge to Judge

We'd like to think of ourselves as accepting of others, but let’s face it, most of us are quick to judge. Now, no one wants to be judged. So the next time you catch yourself judging someone, remember how it feels to be judged & remind yourself, 1) I don’t know the whole story, & 2) Who am I to judge?

Stop the urge to judge & let’s give everyone the acceptance that we'd like for ourselves.

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Keeping a Journal

Do you keep a journal? If you don't, then how about motivating yourself to start one this year? You can write about your experiences, insights and realisations. You can write a word, a sentence, a paragraph, a page, whatever works for you. Just motivate yourself to keep a daily journal.

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You Can and You Can't

You're good at lots of things and not so good at lots of other things. Every now and then, challenge yourself to have a go at what you're not good at. Give it a go and you might expand your capacity. Or you might discover that there are some things you just can't do or be good at.

Know what you can and can't do, but don't let what you can’t do, get in the way of what you can do.

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January 28

Your Inner Library

Our inner world is a bit like a library; a world of words and images. Everything we’ve seen, heard, experienced, and the lessons we’ve learnt - all our memories and wisdom are stored here. But, often when we visit our inner library, we only choose books that are dark and negative.

Why not, reframe some of those stories and make them positive. Then, when you're next browsing through those books, they may actually be enlightening. Why not, recycle all that is not helpful. Then you'll refresh your inner library and make space for something new.

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January 29

Keep Forgetting?

Remember those good intentions you had at the start of the year? Well, if you haven't yet turned your intentions into actions, ask yourself, why! If the reason is simply because you keep forgetting, try this:
1. Remind yourself why your goal or resolution matters.
2. Place visual reminders where you will see them.
3. Attach your goal or resolution to something you already do.

Hopefully, one of the above will remind you to put your intention into action. `

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Now Here or Nowhere

You are here. But are you really here or is your mind somewhere else? Being elsewhere happens to us more than we would like to admit.

Every time you find yourself leaving the here and now, bring your mind back to the now. Come on, be in the now, and nowhere else.