‘Comments’ Now Operating
It is now easier to comment on these posts. If you would like to share an insight, make an observation or start a debate simply go to the 'Reply' section at the foot pf each post. I don't generally respond to comments but I'm always grateful, and encouraged by those of you who take the time to share your ideas. Please keep them coming!
Hope for the Hopeless
It’s all very well for people to try and cheer us up with proverbs about hope, but when we hear something that doesn’t fit our view we tend to reject it. There is another route out of hopelessness though, and the great thing is that you don’t have to understand it (or believe it), to appreciate it.
What I Meant to Say Was…
A fatalistic attitude can help with some things but it has to be used selectively. It's easy to fall into a "there's nothing I can do..." mindset, and even if this is true, there is still something that one can do. Perhaps we can't influence events, but we can influence ourselves.
Take the Simplest Route, Not the Shortest
Without realising it we have a habit of complicating our lives by choosing solutions to problems that are ineffective or even aggravate the difficulty. Simplest is best, so look for explanations that require the least number of guesses and speculations.
If This Annoys You, Read On
We are constantly prodded, poked and stimulated by messages aimed at us by all and sundry. Ubiquitous ‘calls to action’ vie for our attention. Some succeed in getting it, but most don't because we filter them out. When we notice things it is because they seem relevant to us, or because they irritate and bug us. We may learn from things that interest us, but sometimes we can learn more from those that annoy us. When something irritates you enough to turn away or turn it off, it may be ...
“It’s Complicated…”
Complexity is a matter of perspective rather than an inherent characteristic of the thing that seems complicated. Things that appear hopelessly complicated are usually quite simple, to the trained eye.
Sociability Helps Others
Staying socially active, being well connected with family, peers and colleagues, is a major factor in health and survival. The quality of our relationships is, to a large extent, what governs our sense of wellbeing and happiness, but it goes further, and taking the first steps is easy.
The Benefits of Waiting in Line
Next time you are caught in a queue, resist the urge to whip out your smartphone or to grumble inwardly about the person in front of you, and take the opportunity instead to to a little personal development. Think of unavoidable hold-ups as ‘punctuations’ in your day; a chance to pause, take stock and plan your next move, and rather than railing against it, relax and enjoy the wait.
We All Like a Bit of a Moan, But
It's OK to moan and complain that life is unfair, just take care to balance it with some good news. When problem-talk becomes a central theme in someone's life it can be toxic. When they believe it, it shapes who they are.
