Thought For Today - August

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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?

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Distractions

Distractions may interrupt your meditation. But in time, with practice and patience, you will easily learn to go beyond anything ‘coming in’ through your senses. Thus maintaining your focus of inner attention and therefore remaining undisturbed by distractions.

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Spotting the Good

We’re usually very good at spotting mistakes. We can also develop the quality of spotting the good in others and situations. If I keep thinking "they are wrong", I create a barrier which blocks me from reaching my own goodness. By going beyond the curtain of negativity, I will see and feel the good in myself and others.

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Invest in You

You've invested in countless things, countless people, but have you invested in your most important asset, YOU?

Invest in you and you'll have more to give and what you have to offer will be richer. The benefits will spill over into all areas of your life.

Invest in your personal development, your health, your wellbeing.... Make an investment in you.

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Life's Wake-Up Calls

When life gives you a wake-up call, do you hit the snooze button? Maybe it's not a convenient time, or you're too scared to do anything about it, or you just want to ignore it.... Keep hitting the snooze button & you keep postponing what you're avoiding. Why wait until your wake-up call becomes a full-blown alarm!

Next time you're about to hit the snooze button to life's wake-up call, stop! Remind yourself:1) You have the courage & strength to handle anything;
2) You snooze, you lose.

Wake up & face life!

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Capturing Ideas

Ideas happen anytime, anywhere. In the quiet, in a crowd, when you're walking, on public transport, waiting in queues, waiting for someone.

How do you capture all those new, interesting, creative, ideas, insights and inspirations that come your way?

Capture ideas on something that's accessible, and easy to organize and investigate later. Maybe use a notebook, your phone or an ***, rather than have lots of bits of notes everywhere.

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Like a Bookend

Just as bookends are used as supports to hold books upright, in the same way, there are people in our lives who do the same for us. They hold up our dignity & support us, especially when we feel a bit wobbly. So acknowledge & appreciate the bookends in your life.

Now think about providing a similar support to others. Like a bookend, be dependable & let others lean on you without making them dependent on you. Support others through your smile, thoughts, presence & words. And they too can become a bookend for others.

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Morning Intentions

Today, I will be more relaxed, tactful, cheerful, a clear communicator....

Set one intention every morning, before you get out of bed or on your way to work. It could be on how you want to feel or be during the day.

What's your intention, today? How will you put your intention into action?

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Making Assumptions

Assumptions are a part and parcel of life. We make so many assumptions about people, places and things. Assumptions are when we believe something to be true without actually knowing it to be so. We use assumptions as facts in our decision making process. When our assumptions are wrong, we may hurt others, make things complicated or have a misunderstanding. So, don't do it. Don’t assume! Be curious and ask for more information. Take the time to find out the facts.

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Inner Sanctuary Retreat

'Getting away from it all’ is something we all love to do. Why wait for the holidays! Whenever you need it, make time over the weekend for your very own retreat at home. Create a sanctuary. Drop the distractions. Take the phone off the hook. Listen to soothing music. Simply enjoy the solitude and some unstructured time. You can even use this time to review recent events, create new dreams or retreat into your inner space to renovate the soul.

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Thank God, It’s Monday

Forget TGIF (Thank God, It’s Friday). Think TGIM (Thank God, It’s Monday)! Increase your motivation, commitment, passion and the feeling of fun in the workplace. In other words, love what you do. Then you’ll happily go to work, Monday after Monday!

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What Are You Feeding Your Mind?

Our minds need to get fuel from somewhere. What is your mind's main food source? TV, news, music, podcasts, books, conversations....?

Are you feeding your mind unhealthy junk that offers no nutritional value?
Or are you feeding it something nourishing, wholesome, and healthy that is mind-stretching and life-enhancing?

Every source of food you feed the mind affects your thinking. Your thinking affects everything. So make better choices in what you feed the mind.

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An Overloaded To-Do List

Is your to-do list overloaded? Unload your to-do list and make it more manageable with the 3 Ds!

1. Drop. If it doesn't need to be done, delete it from your list.
2. Defer. If it doesn't need to be done today, postpone it to another time.
3. Do. If it really needs to be done today, just do it. Try scheduling one big
task for the day, three medium tasks and five small tasks.

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Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

When you are misunderstood, it can all be too consuming & hurtful, especially if the other person negatively comments on what you said or didn't say, did or didn't do.

To avoid not being consumed or hurt by it all, understand that
1) being misunderstood happens, 2) you don't have to engage with the other person's negativity.

Understand that you can choose not to respond at all or you can clarify yourself & resolve the misunderstanding. Just move past being misunderstood & move on.

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Something for Yourself

When was the last time you did something for you? Bought yourself flowers? Cooked your favorite meal for yourself? Treated yourself to a day out?

If you haven't done something nice for yourself recently, be good to yourself and do something today!

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Unflappable

When challenging situations come, think: whatever happened was good, whatever is happening is better and whatever is to happen will be the best. Genuinely feel that there’s “no problem!” Tap into your inner stability, stay strong and be unflappable. Then you’ll be able to handle the situation gracefully.

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Something for Yourself

When was the last time you did something for you? Bought yourself flowers? Cooked your favorite meal for yourself? Treated yourself to a day out?

If you haven’t done something nice for yourself recently, be good to yourself and do something today!