The pressures that have mounted up on me over the last few months have seemed at times almost overwhelming. It appears to be more than a coincidence that today, an oppressive mood has lifted and somehow ironic that it's the 1st of December and the start of Advent - the countdown to Christmas.
The fourth Sunday before Christmas or the first of December also marks the start of the new Liturgical or church year and signifies new beginnings. So how apt that this Sunday marked the beginning of an end and today the start of a new period in my life too. Although I'm not religious, a follower of astrology or feel myself easily connected spirituality as other's are, there appears to have been some major cosmic events of late, which have affected those around me. This has all come at an important period for change, bringing powerful feelings and emotions to the surface.
After this difficult last few weeks, with all kinds of outside influences weighing on me, I've realised how I've also come up against some inner conflict. I know there's some tough challenges still ahead of me that need addressing, but today, I'm feeling positive and energised again, ready for the future and what I can make of it.
We make lots of decisions about our lives. If we chose to tell ourself we are great, then we have a better chance of doing great things. Likewise, if we make negative statements about who we are and what we're capable of, we can end up making these beliefs a reality.
Positive Affirmations
We need to deflect negative information from others as much as possible and attach to the positive thoughts for defining who we are. The more we can focus on doing this, the better the chance will be of becoming that positive person.
Our lives unfold over time like the building of a house. The foundations are our childhood. This is when the strength of the base for the mansion we construct will be determined. It is very important to get this right for supporting the rest of the house and keeping it from sinking later on.
We can't choose our parents and we have no control over what information is put in early on in the build process of our lives. So we have to rely on the work put in to hold up our stately homes later on down the line.
We all have issues - either superficial ones built up from our adult lives or deep rooted ones from our distant childhood. Likening this back to the house analogy again, these can be minor cracks in the cement or major subsidence under the house. Quite often this will show up as a crack in the wall or dangerous movement and partial collapse.
Houses with subsidence can be underpinned. This is a major job. Just as dealing with our deep rooted issues will be. Even minor foundation defects can result in some long, hard work to repair if we leave them too long.
The thing is first to recognise the work, because we can't keep living in this shabby or dangerous abode. The second thing to understand, is that the house can be fixed. It may not be possible to keep everything the same in all cases but in many instances, the hard graft could actually fix and make the foundations even stronger.
We have the power within us to deal with these problems. They are not us. If we tell ourselves 'we are broken and sick and never going to be better', we affirm what we believe. But, if we can say - 'we are broken, we will fix and can be fixed', then we've acknowledged the issue, made attempts at the repair and know that time invested - albeit hard - will get results. We can use these positive affirmations to make ourselves great.
Having a poor start in life can affect us in very negative ways. But we just need to detach ourselves from the baggage of life. Don't like the hand we've been dealt? Deal another one. One of the greatest music legends and an inspiration for me of somebody who refused to accept a poor fate - James Brown. He grew up in a brothel, disowned by his parents, yet turned out to be one of the greatest music stars of his time.
Today I heard the phrase 'maybe you'll turn that into a positive' and thought about how powerful that phrase is in our lives to encourage change.
If we all look deeper at the negatives in our lives as a lesson for us to learn from, negatives can actually turn out to be considerably more positive than a standard positive result is.
Not only do negatives give us a greater reference point to aim higher, but going for a positive outcome, can help us to achieve a far better result through the work we have to put in. And because working towards positives gets us to think deeper, we often learn something as a result.
When we talk of negatives, they sometimes originate from positives in the first place. As an example, I'm currently run off my feet today. I am trying to cram everything in to a shorter time frame. Because I worked a full week contracting for someone else, I'm having to be very efficient with my time to fulfil my own objectives today. I'm feeling negative about losing my free time. But I shouldn't see it that way.
The last few months have been busy, but busy in a way that allows lots of 'in-between time'. This relaxed time has been great, but there's been little urgency and this mostly uneventful time has left me with no money as a result. If I've had no work and I'm suddenly too busy to do much else, I shouldn't be negative about the fact I'm really busy right now.
So we actually have a great positive there - I'm not only bringing home the much needed money but I'm also filling my days with lots of things that challenge me. Time feels elastic and days longer. If the personal objectives can still be achieved in a more condensed time frame, then the opportunities for making money and essentially 'saving' time in the process, should also be viewed as a positive.
'It's that time of year.' I'm hearing this phrase a lot lately in connection to a bout of colds that are doing the rounds.
The place where I'm currently working is rife with sniffles and coughs - some absentees even (which has been to my benefit). And because it's held in popular belief that a change in the weather brings colds and flu, a lot are succumbing to the bugs. But not me.
It's All In The Mind
I can't afford to be ill, particularly at this time while I'm low in funds. I've already managed to dodge colds at the beginning of this year, particularly at that time when winter turns into spring and 'that time of year' phrase gets bounded around for the first time.
It's amazing how we succumb to language and popular opinion if we allow it. This learning all comes back to my very first posts of 2015 - the ones about being up early in the morning and essentially getting a jump on our brains, the day and what we want out of it.
This morning was another clear win for me. I got ahead of the cold, did my yoga and daily positive affirmations. Lo and behold, I'm still feeling tip top, when I could so easily have told myself I was getting ill and made that become a reality.
Starting each day with some clear intentions about what we wish to achieve both short and long term, will help us to focus on the goals we are aiming for in life. The best way to to this is to set aside some time for some short morning rituals.
Waking Thoughts
If we get a restful night's sleep, the mornings can be our most productive time of the day. And, if we keep things simple, we are more likely to stick with a regular pattern. There are few things we can do from the moment we wake up:
To start on a positive note and to set clear objectives for the day, turn off your snooze function. When the alarm goes off (or you are well enough rested to wake before it does), follow these steps: 1 Take three very deep breathes. Getting fresh supplies of oxygen into our lungs will be a sure way to signal the brain it's time to get up. 2 With eyes closed, say out loud or in your mind: 'Today is going to be a great day. I am going to make the most of my time. I will not let anyone or any thing take this day away from me.' 3 Count out loud (or in your head) 3-2-1-UP! 4 Jump out of bed. 5 Splash some water in your face, clearing sleep from your eyes 6 Drink a glass of water 7 Look at your day's calendar and todo list then write down your planned objectives for the day
Once you've looked at your tasks, providing you've risen early, you should have time to get the body and mind up to speed for that busy day. Two great ways to prepare mind, body and soul are Qi gong and Yoga. The following 10-20 minute morning rituals should give you the necessary boost of energy to tackle whatever comes your way:
Qi Gong
For a gentle start to the day, with body movements for all ages and breathing, centring techniques, this is a lovely way to start the day. Lee Holden has a great 10 minute video which is for all levels of ability.
Yoga - Sun Salutations
Sun salutations are simple and an effective series of yoga postures that invigorates the whole body. These poses are a great way to focus the mind and gently stretch the body in the quiet moments of the morning and can also be practiced before sleeping to help quieten the mind and encourage a deeper, more refreshing sleep.
Meditation
Sitting or laying still for 10 minutes one or two times a day on waking and before sleeping, will help to centre us before or after a busy day. Allowing some time for ourselves, even if just 10 minutes, is a sure way to keep our minds quiet and relaxed. There are a number of apps for iPhone or Android that will help keep us calm even when we're on the go.
Positive Affirmations
It sounds simple....yet we are all susceptible to it - ie. the influence of other people and the power of words to lift us up or bring us down. It's been clearly shown that our mind and body are closely connected and will be affected by repressed negative feelings and emotions of guilt, anger and frustration etc. We can all be better at being aware when influenced by others but the worst offender is ourself. Tell yourself that you are ill or tired, you will be ill or tired. It's just negative affirmations. A friend of mine is always up for a bit more fun than we should be having on a school night and time again, have we listened to the birdsong on a Tuesday morning and had to go in to work after very little or no sleep. The key is to tell ourselves that we've had a restful 8 hours sleep. The amazing thing is that it really does work! So, to kick off your morning, find a mantra that works for you. Here's one my partner and I chant to each other every morning. ~ay it out loud three times (breathe in and out deeply between each) and really mean it when speaking aloud!
1 I draw unlimited energy into my body. 2 I feel more energised with every second 3 I feel AMAZING!
Create Your Soundtrack
Music is a great medium for lightening a mood, chilling us out or bringing back happy nostalgic memories. Stick on some happy, uplifting music in the morning and create a positive soundtrack for your your day.
Having the correct use of language to describe things is important for evoking positive or negative reactions. It's why advertising agencies are populated with very clever people all trying to tap into our emotions to sell us stuff we don't really need.
We are all swayed and primed by words. Just watch an Apple keynote address for how skilled their marketing folks are at marketing technology to us. See how the language used can whip up a frenzy for products that are marginally different to the previous versions. These products are not going to radically improve anyone's lives. Arguably, they don't even warrant ditching the previous version and splashing out on a 'new' one. Yet that's what I've witnessed many times. A friend, when asked recently why she wanted the latest top spec iPhone 6s over her top spec iPhone 6, quipped 'It looks amazing, I just want one' - she doesn't even know why - let alone what the new phone's features do over and above what her existing phone does.
Negative Triggers
Just in the same way that we can be swayed and cajoled to part with hard-earned cash, we can also have our moods affected by negative words.
One of the worst offenders for making the mistake of priming us with negative thoughts, are doctors. The medical profession is full of official-looking, uniform-wearing 'experts'. And hearing a diagnosis from a health professional (an assumption based on knowledge gained from what has been before), can either fill the recipient with hope or fear. Research has shown where priming has either given greater success for recovery or helped condemn patients to a worse fate.
The way we label things, grouping them into clusters and badging all under the same terrible banner without clearly making distinctions, arguably causes a lot of grief in those that are sick/unwell.
For example, Cancer is always said to be 'in remission' instead of healed, so the very language implies that this disease is still there and ready to come back at any time. The use of language in this instance is very important to retain a positive mindset and something to be addressed/improved in the medical field.
Counter Clockwise is another one of those books (alongside The Logic of Lying), that needs to be read by everyone if we are all going to better understand how our mind is open and receptive to good or bad messages, which, depending on how we choose to interpret them, can be for our greater detriment or benefit.
We all have different tastes in what we like and don't like. For certain open minded people (myself included), trying and experiencing new and different things in life is what's enjoyable and doing the same boring thing all the time, not much fun and hence not enjoyable.
On the whole enjoyment scale, there's many shades of grey. For others who have definite tastes, this means their preferences are very black and white. They either like something or they don't - ie, they have very distinct opinions of things that can make them happy and equally make them unhappy....sometimes even really angry.
I appreciate that there are certain activities or foods etc. that can bring about feelings of great pleasure but I find it so strange that someone can strongly dislike certain things in their life to the point of rage. We're not talking about injustice or corruption here, we're talking about not replacing the soap or the loo roll in the hotel loos and then to tell everyone else about their long whiney opinions via the internet....it all seems such a waste of valuable time.
Yet, if you read through reviews on sites like Trip Advisor, you can see there's hoards of people expending their time - dragging out their misery even further by leaving long negative reviews - mostly on such trivial matters that it boggles the mind at how these people can enjoy anything at all. Why do they do it and do they realise that nobody really cares? We ideally need a filter to switch off all these types of reviewers so we can read the most helpful of reviews.
Thing is....I really like Trip Advisor, mostly because I can read these sad reviews. Although they offer nothing to me for making a decision on staying at a particular place or not, they are entertaining. And, the madder they are, the better it makes me feel about my own judgements and general positive outlook. I know I shouldn't laugh at some of the ridiculous reviews that people write up on their miserable holiday and I really wish I could help them to see how ridiculous they are being about their loo roll not being replaced, but it seems some people thrive on finding problems with even the greatest things in life.
Visiting some of my quirky and most favourite places a couple of weekends ago, I couldn't help but get swept up in some of these miserable people's lives and get dragged down for a while myself. Thankfully, I was able to move to a spot out of earshot and it was there in that moment that I realised how poor a lot of people's lives are. Having one of the most idyllic views in the UK on a beautiful sunny summer's day, with a cold beverage in my hand and the girl I love at my side, I pulled myself back through after being subjected to the negative energy around me.
It struck me at that moment, that I have a duty to speak up for the sane. I just had to put my first review on Trip Advisor to counter the negative reviews. I now vouch to do more positive reviews - giving credit where it's due - to counter the bad reviews, so others may benefit from hearing how a positive life experience should be.
No matter how good an experience is, the lasting memory will always be based on the latter moments from that experience - be that a night out on the town or a week's summer holiday.
If it's just a night out, the final moments can be marred by simply having a poor experience getting home at the end of the evening. But provided the night's been a success in every other way, having a blip at the end merely diminishes a tiny fraction off of an otherwise brilliant time spent in enjoyment and experienced within just very recent memory. But on longer periods like a week, earlier good points will be already diminished in memory over the days that follow and the period of lasting memory will be built up from the later section of the trip.
So if you're planning on doing something on a final night of a trip - make sure it's something really special to better cement the recollection of the entire trip as something you'd want to remember.
We cannot be perfect all the time. Don't be so hard on yourselves! Even the great sages slip up. The most inspirational of people like Ghandi, Mandella and even Jesus, have all strayed from the path.
Every day, we make decisions, which, based on our temperament, can be poorly executed through lack of sleep, hunger, stress and factors out of our control.
The key is to recognise when anger, frustration and negative emotions are affecting decisions and those around us and try to make a correction or apologise for our unwarranted behaviour.
Making a noteof the times when we are clearly not at our best and identifying why these behaviours have occurred, can help us to better manage moods and unlock hidden stressors that are the catalysts for any sharp, reactionary emotional outbursts.
We should take these moments as a positive - because, it's when we see what underlines these behaviours that we can act and make the greatest improvements for personal growth.
Music is the perfect mood enhancer. Having some uplifting tunes ready at hand is the easiest way to lift a spirit! It's amazing how we can turn a grumpy, negative person into one that's carefree and fun to be with.
Create some playlists of your own, or try some new ones on YouTube, Rdio, Spotify or iTunes. We now have a couple of tunes playing that we do our 3 minute planks to help us get through the challenge in the mornings. Every time I hear the intro for Survivor's Eye of the Tiger, it makes me feel happy and ready to tackle these once-dreaded planks and can lift my spirits for any given challenge. Journey's Don't Stop Believing caries us through to the end of the session and gets us ready for the rest of the day and whatever it may bring!
Watching someone like Lee Holden, who has inspired me to practice Qi Gong every morning - I can clearly see someone who is truly happy with what they are doing in life. Success has followed happiness and Lee, it seems, is becoming the ambassador for an ancient eastern art form that brings health and vitality to himself and into the lives of millions.
Having partners, family, friendships and work commitments to maintain/keep, means we're compromising ourselves a lot of the time. This means our fun, companionship and family/work relationships and all the responsibilities they entail, can temporarily detract us from where we are aiming to go in our lives.
Everyone has intentions, but for most, they are not clearly defined. They are led by desires and easily changed through lack of focus, manipulation from others, or lost through intoxication. It takes extra effort to stop ourselves from being pulled off the day's intended path. It's that feeling, waking after an unplanned, late night of alcohol-fuelled shenanigans that the things you'd planned to do, got thrown out of the window. It's these situations in particular that we all wish to be more in control of – always seems like a good idea at the time...
Letting oneself down, feeling weak-willed and a failure - these are very negative thoughts that need to be avoided. Fun is an easy detractor from a path of intention, so there have to be pre-thoughts for the day to make allowances for these times when we're more susceptible to losing track of the day. A simple few minutes to think through possible scenarios and levels of flexibility for the day is all is needed to avoid having those dreaded feelings of self-loathing. There's always going to be other opportunities for fun.
Every evening, I will look at the following day's calendar of proposed events, my intentions and what I want to get out of the day. These intentions will then be discussed with my partner to better understand her intentions for the day too and we'll look at the possible factors that could scupper plans. This way, we will know what it means if we fall too far from our intended paths and already have a plan B to fall back on.
With the internet here in this modern age, we have even greater power to connect & communicate with practically anyone from across the globe. It's become so easy to converse using an email. Quite often, this is the best way to get something down in words to be kept as reference so communication can be looked back on at a later date.
This is why dealing with insurance companies, councils or anything official like the tax office or DVLA etc. email is the best form of communication - because that's how they work... systematically. But, for really getting the best out of people, it's much better to meet face to face. greater percentage of what we say, is picked up in body language, facial expressions and tone - with the content taken last. Essentially, it's not what we say, but how we say it. Looking someone in the eye, shaking their hand and being affirmative, polite, friendly... these are all things that are best done in person. It's still how we really make the best connections. For the next best thing - we should pick up the phone.
Happy Talk
We all try our best to get a decent days work done. Some of us are fortunate to have a job we really enjoy - but for the majority, it just pays the bills. So, if you want to get a positive result, call someone and start off by asking how their day is. Be friendly and inquisitive - ask where they are based? Enquire about their surroundings - is it sunny where they are? Talk about the weekend if it's just passed/approaching - and be charming. Make a better connection by sharing the environment across the phone and it will seem like there's no distance between you. If you are are on first name terms, use theirs frequently to make a connection early on. After a bit of chit-chat, put to them your conundrum/problem/request... and make it easier for them to want to help you out. Chances are, if you have an issue with the services this company provide - you won't be the only person who's called with an issue that day and hearing a moaning voice can get everyone down. So stay upbeat as much as you can and stand out as a positive person who they want to focus their best intentions on.
Be Bold
The same can be said about speaking with someone if you are the giver of bad news. An email is not the right delivery method for letting someone down - just as a text is wrong for letting someone go in a relationship. If you can't do it face to face, be bold and pick up the phone. Give the person on the other end a chance to take in the news, vent a bit of frustration and come to terms with the situation. The call can always be shortened by saying that you wanted to pass on the news personally. A follow up email will have all the specifics in it for them to read over afterwards.
Keeping Records Of The Conversations
If it's ever necessary to record a phone call, to use as reference at a later date - a really handy way of doing this is to use iPadio. If the talk is in person and you want it to remain a secret that you're recording the chat, use TSA. Both are available on iPhone and Android.
Consider this (and select the one that appeals the most to you): Scarlet Johansson/Ryan Gosling will be the second cousin of a mate of the girl who was introduced by a friend of a friend that you bumped into at the gym today. This phenomena is called the 6° of separation. Essentially, you will be in contact with someone indirectly that will have a positive influence on your life - in this case if you're a fan of US film celebrities.
If you're looking for a connection to get somewhere in life - put it out there. Think of the people you wish to make a connection with. You may be surprised at who you have access to that will help you to realise that goal.
You can't be on the up every day feeling a million bucks. It's just not possible - especially when you've been burning the candles at both ends and drinking a lot of booze. There's gonna be a lull. You're gonna have some days when you're just not on your game and there's a strong temptation to stay in bed and sleep it off. Thing is, you could wallow in it and chances are, your body will slowly recover from the lack of sleep, the clouds will depart and your sunny side will shine out again....eventually. However, the best way to get your personality back and effectively 'turn it around' - is to jump out of bed, splash cold water in your face, eat a decent breakfast and do something exhilarating where the sugars from the night before can be burnt off quicker and your mind switched back on. I'm now sitting in a bar having a cheeky half, feeling pretty lively and upbeat after taking a 2hr adrenalin fix.
Living the one pint mind-set
I heard this mentioned yesterday - how maintaining a one pint mind-set is the best way to live. I can go for that - one drink definitely gives you a little pep, makes you more confident/sociable and lifts a mood. And I can confirm it's true for me right now, as I'm ready for anything again - the trick is to stick to just one...!
I've woken feeling a lot more positive and inspired today! It really works when you consciously set positive thoughts in your mind before sleeping. The sun was out yesterday which helped with a low mood but it's looking a bit overcast today, so I'm really glad my head is in gear! I feel inspired to take in a play or gallery - so I've lined up my day.
I've got a tough job to do today involving work. It's not going to be pleasant and the picture above is a great metaphor because it reminds me of what's ahead. Looks a bit like something from Lord of The Rings to me...?! The break in the clouds is what I'm focussing on. The storm pictures of London can be found on Time Out (hope they won't mind me using it here!) - great online mag for finding stuff to do in and around a major city like London.
The morning will start with a 1hr boxing session - great for clearing any negativity and frustration. I'll then eat a hearty breakfast at one of my favourite cafes. Afterwards, I'll organise some of my things, collect my bike, deal with a tricky conversation and head to Tate Modern for some art inspiration.
***UPDATE***
So I decided to look at the day from an even more elevated perspective. This decision again has a significant value for me - and even though it's s Grey day, I can still see St Paul's Cathedral and it's still a great view from Oblisk @ The Shard.
It's amazing what a little bit of sunshine can do to your mood. I've not felt too energised the last few days. my sleep is off and my mind is muddled with stuff that's not conducive to being positive & productive. I had some boring bits to do. So off I went on a 3 hour walk. I took all my dull jobs with me as I went, calling the bank, sorting my annual travel insurance, getting a quote for the repairs to my car, emailing/calling work to arrange a meeting for tomorrow and went looking for a replacement phone. It's great having a hands-free, even if you do look like a nutcase to passers by.
I walked quickly to get my heart rate up a bit, taking moments to look around me as I went. I checked out a few clothes shops on route, grabbed a coffee, read for a bit, took some fresh air through the park and returned to prepare a delicious meal of smoked cod which I'd bought from our local fisherman. By the evening, my creativity had returned, my mood had lifted and I even managed to slot in a bit of money-saving work before retiring to bed. Which is where I am now - early, so I'll be up and on fighting form for my boxing training in the morning!
I've gone to bed with thoughts about my pending holiday in my head to help booster my mood tomorrow. I'm heading to the alps in a couple of weeks time and I'm sure there'll be a bit more healing sunshine while I'm there too (and hopefully some snow), so I'm really looking forward to three of my favourite things - sun, snow and the thrill of hurtling down the mountains. Tomorrow will be another great day.
It's Saturday today. The last day of Jan. The weather has suddenly turned colder. It's overcast, cold, wet and I feel really happy. I'm happy but sad at the same time because January is over. Yes, you did read that right - Jan has been my most consistent and favourite month that I can ever remember. My log cabin in the woods month. My partner, Cathy feels the same. Jan is a long month - and this one felt really long! That's because I've squeezed an extra 3 quality hours per day in. That's 90hrs or the equivalent to just over two extra work weeks !!! It's actually felt more like 3 months in one, because I've been aware and present in mind for as much of it as possible.
2014 was a fun year, but a lot of it was out of my control. I was socialising and partying a lot and the weekends were filled with laughter & friends or sleep & recovery. It was hectic with little respite, so come December, I was drained and at a low ebb. I looked/felt tired and my body was knackered. I needed a regroup and some focus. That's why I've loved January 2015 so much. I've relished every day. I've gone to sleep contented and tired after a full day and been excited to get out of bed again in the mornings to learn, improve & assess my progress. I've been doing things that I love to do and I can feel a new path laying out in front of me. Again, I'm reading more of Geoff Thompson (thank you Geoff for being my life adventurer, explorer & guide), I've just read a whole passage on his life where he's taken the exact same steps I am making myself right now! He's at this place of great wisdom today after investing 10 years focussing on his path and I'm so lucky to have re-affirmation this is my right path because he has so kindly shared this knowledge with us. My aim is to continue my new focus throughout the rest of the year and beyond and maybe I'll be in a position of great wisdom akin to Geoff and also doing the things I love every day a lot sooner than 10 years time. However long it takes, I'm ready to embark on this journey and enjoy each day as it comes.
Making The Most Of It
I've been hearing a lot of talk from those around me - negative stuff about January, the weather and life in general. I don't think they even know what they are saying. They can't wait for Monday to be over, can't wait for the weekend, can't wait to get back into bed, can't wait for January to be over.
It's sad... I want to shake them! They're in the prime of their life and wishing it away, failing to appreciate what each moment of the day brings and missing being in the moment.
A Break In The Clouds
A good example of appreciating the day happened this morning. Leaving the comfort of our room at an early hour, I marvelled at the extreme changes in weather from the day before. Embracing the cold wind and hail, I felt exhilaration as we walked in the maelstrom. Suddenly, the clouds parted and 'God's fingers' - golden rays of sunshine - burst through a break in the clouds for a fleeting few moments. I stopped to soak up the moment and capture it on my camera, while other people around me bowed their heads and pushed steely on - looking miserable, caught up in their own thoughts and completely oblivious to the amazing and beautiful event taking place.
Ever really taken notice of what being upbeat can do to your day? You possibly just take it as a bit of a surprise when asked how your day went. 'It went well', you'd say cheerily, without another thought - when on other not so good days, you'd maybe block out thinking about it at all, because it just didn't go well. Sometimes, on a regular day, good things can tend to go your way for no apparent reason. You haven't done anything different but it just seems a better day.
There's lots of factors that can affect your mood, but there's a trick to ensure a higher percentage of your days go well. It's pretty simple - you just tell yourself before going to sleep - 'Tomorrow is going to be a great day' and you'll wake up with that mindset. And if you feel good, and put that smile out there to face the word, you'll have an upbeat impact on others. Good feelings & positivity will be contagious and you'll receive back smiles with whoever you show them to. It reminds me of a stunt I saw a year or so ago. Here's the video:
Sleep And Eat Well
You get up early after a restful night's sleep. You eat a nutritious breakfast, watch, read, listen to some inspirational stuff. Before you leave the confines of your home, you take a minute or two to look out the window where you see a clear sky and the first orange glow of a sunrise on the horizon. There's a new playlist on your iPhone, and a book to read. You smile at people as you navigate the public transport system. You get a seat. You're unfazed when the packed train is delayed - you're early anyway. Throughout the day, your smile gets you a free coffee, a good table and a premium service at the restaurant. Later in the afternoon, helpful customer service advisers go above and beyond to make a usually tedious banking and mobile services call effortless. A colleague thanks you for helping out and you get a small gift from them. You have a productive and rewarding day working and return home to a happy house, because you've bought and made dinner. You plan your fun for the weekend - something new. Sleep comes easy. It's just a normal day and it's been a good one because you've done something called: 'getting out on the right side of bed'.
Practice Positivity
Last night, I watched some of The Secret on Netflix and had a read of my partner's book called Magic - both are by Rhonda Byrne. From my understanding, The Secret pretty much talks about the rules of attraction and Magic about the practice of getting things you want by thinking positively.
These books/film are a reminder that if you put out positive thoughts, you'll get positive results back. If you focus on the negative - you're already talking yourself out of getting a positive outcome. If these books work for you, great - use whatever it takes to be a more positive person and others will want you around and to be around you!
I particularly like the message these books contain about being thankful & grateful. Not sure about being reliant on getting rich by visualising money - sure, it can happen seemingly by magic, but you can't beat a bit of commitment and hard work to be truly successful. Writing a self-help book sure seems to be a good formula for attracting money though, but nobody likes a cynic, so I'm going to do the magic gratitude exercise and stick a cheque on the wall tonight.
Another book worth reading (or listening to) about being successful is Malcolm Gladwell'sOutliers - if you're going to visualise success as part of your daily magic exercises, it makes sense to understand that it usually takes a lot of hard work over time to get there. His other books are worth a read (or listen too on iTunes or audible etc.). I will definitely listen to these again.
Essential Rules For Attraction
To get on in life, you need to be reliable and decent in thoughts/action.
To make friends and be respected, always acknowledge others and ask how they're feeling. Know that we are all equal. Give compliments and allow opinions. Look people squarely in the eyes, remember names & shake their hands firmly.
I couldn't resist putting some quotes on here. On being decent: these wise words from Wilson Mizner 'Be nice to people on your way up - because you'll meet need them on your way down'
On quick success, Mizner also wisely said: "Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished."
And also this one about slealing quotes: "If you steal from one author it's plagiarism; if you steal from many it's research."
And just to make sure I'm not plagiarising Mizner's work and actually researching - here's another wise quote: "It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err." Mahatma Gandhi
