Thought For Today - January

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January 1

New Year

The dawn of a new year is a time of new possibilities. Let go of the past, reach into the future and give birth to new possibilities.

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January 2

Preferences, Not Expectations

We all have expectations on how we want things to happen. When things don’t happen the way you want them to, instead of getting frustrated and disappointed, tell yourself: “I would have preferred “A”, but now that “B” has happened, it’s OK! Have preferences, not expectations. “I’d prefer if people were thoughtful, but when they’re rude, it’s not going to ruin my day.” “I’d prefer sunshine but rain is OK!” Play this game in your head, and you’ll feel more peaceful.

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Thought Diet

Why not make your mind healthier and go on a thought diet! Cut down on all those unhealthy negative and wasteful thoughts that offer no nutritional value. Start feeding your mind with positive healthy thoughts. Here’s our suggestion for a balanced diet for the mind: For vitamins have creative ideas. For proteins, think powerful thoughts about yourself. For carbohydrates, have good feelings for others.

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Get Your Inner Critic On Your Side

Your inner critic puts you down, but have you considered that your inner critic may not be against you? It's probably trying to help you to do and be your best, it just isn’t going about it, in a compassionate and a constructive way.

Rather than battle with your inner critic, try to a) take constructive suggestions from your inner critic, and b) make your inner voice compassionate and constructive. Try this and you’ll probably get your inner critic on your side.

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In The Heat Of A Stressful Moment

In the heat of a stressful moment, if you can, stop for a few seconds or minutes to relax. Take a few deep breaths and loosen your arms, drop your shoulders, rotate your neck and release the stress.

You may want to remind yourself that nothing can make you feel stressed without your permission, and also consider the possibility that you feel stressed because you think you are.

Calm your mind and take control of your stress. Do this and it will help you put stress into perspective, and handle the situation with a calmer state of mind.

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Respect, Not Neglect

Are you neglecting your relationships? We don’t mean to, but neglect often happens when we take our relationships for granted or get caught up in the whirlwind of life.

Strong relationships are essential to our happiness & resilience. So take an inventory of your personal & professional relationships & determine how to respect the relationships you have been neglecting.

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January 7

I Don't Have Time!

“I don’t have time.” If you think it, you believe it. Not only is it self-fulfilling but it also creates a feeling of scarcity, stress and sadness.

Ditch the “I don’t have time” attitude. Instead, switch to “I have time.” "I have the right amount of time to do the things I want and need to do." Change your attitude and see how it changes how you feel.

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January 8

An Open Mind

You've heard the quote: "The mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is open."

Try keeping an open mind. You may understand things better, enhance the quality of your relationships & discover a world of possibilities. The result may just be amazing.

So keep your mind open, just know what to let in.

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Places and Spaces

Have you noticed how the crowds, the quiet, the busyness in the workplace, the green in the park, all have an impact on you?

This week, find tranquil places and powerful spaces you can visit regularly. Soak up the atmosphere and the ambience, and keep yourself empowered and energized.

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Life's Waves

Often, when we get overwhelmed by life’s challenges, we lose sight of the bigger picture. It's as if we lose sight of the ocean for the waves.

Life’s challenges are like waves, they come and go. See the ocean between the waves and the waves will seem less overwhelming. See the bigger picture and you'll find it easier to overcome life's challenges.

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Playlists for Different Purposes

Music can boost our motivation and mood. But we all like something different, so create different playlists for different purposes and use music to your advantage.

You can create a:
- Motivational playlist to keep you moving towards your goals.
- Feel good playlist to lift you up when you feel down.
- Instrumental playlist to help you focus and get things done.

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Making the Right Decisions

Do you worry about making the right decision?

Even though you don't want to get it wrong, understand that each decision has a potential risk of being a wrong decision, so you can't get it right 100% of the time.

Even though it's about doing the right thing, there is no formula for making the right decisions. So you may as well stop worrying & start making decisions confidently & easily.

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Being Purposefully Vague

Do you sometimes find yourself being vague in your communication? Well, sometimes, being purposefully vague is useful. Sometimes less information is more, sometimes being less clear is a better option than hurting someone's feelings, and sometimes being vague limits people's interference in our life.

But vague isn’t easy to understand. So get clear about when to be vague and when to be really clear and leave no room for misunderstandings.

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January 14

Feel Like a Pressure Cooker?

Ever feel like a pressure cooker? When thoughts and emotions build up, we become like a pressure cooker on the verge of exploding.

Next time you feel like a pressure cooker, turn the heat down and loosen the lid of routine. Unwind and gradually let off some steam and release the pressure.

Once you’ve cooled down, think about 1) where the pressure is coming from, 2) how to avoid becoming like a pressure cooker again, 3) setting a whistle to warn you, maybe your body, emotions or reactions can signal you when the pressure is building up.

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January 15

What Freedom Means

We all love the idea of being free - but what does that really mean? Well, freedom doesn’t mean 'doing what you want, when you want'. Freedom is a state of mind.
So free your mind from all that holds you down and holds you back.

Be free and carry the experience of freedom into who you are and what you do.

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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.

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Above the Clouds

When life is cloudy, remember that:
a) You are not the clouds.
b) Like clouds, life's situations will sooner or later pass by.
c) Above the clouds, everything is bright and sunny.

When life is cloudy, remember you can always rise above the clouds and bask in the sun.