Month: June 2019 Page 1 of 2

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Winston Churchill.

For many years it has been said that positive stories don’t sell newspapers. A brief amount of time spent browsing the papers or watching a news channel can be a negative and draining experience. There are many stories reported that contain lots of conflict, suffering, tragedy and negativity.

The reports can have an adverse impact on our mood and energy levels. As a result, it can be a challenge to remain upbeat and to have a positive mindset after you have read or heard the stories.

We exercise, take vitamins and health supplements to maintain good physical health. Therefore, I believe that we need to take conscious steps to develop and sustain a positive mindset and attitude. This can include taking vitamins for the mind to inspire, nurture and nourish it to keep it in a tip top state.

On occasions life will throw us some curve balls. We may be given obstacles and adversity to overcome. When this happens, we are more likely to meet and conquer these challenges if we have a positive mindset.

Whilst we can’t control outside events, the good news is that we have total control over our response to such events. This will determine the outcome of the situation. With this in mind, it’s vital that we accept and take total responsibility for the attitude we choose to adopt in life and present to the world.

A practical way we can do this is to regularly take some vitamins for the mind. Here are a few suggestions for the various mind vitamins that are available to you:

1. Live in the present, defer worrying

Put off worrying until you have a reason to worry. We can all spend lots of time locked in our heads imagining all sorts of scenarios that never actually happen. Research suggests that that 70% of what we worry about never happens, 25% is trivia and 5% is out of our control. .

2. Be self –disciplined

Setting clear goals and taking action each day towards achieving them helps to raise our esteem and confidence levels. Having healthy daily routines and rituals mean that we make the best use of our time. This discipline and structure provides us with the freedom to enjoy life and make the most of our leisure time. Accomplishing goals improves our mood and reduces anxiety.

3. Show gratitude. Appreciate all that you have in life

Take a few minutes each day to write down 3 things that you are grateful for. This helps to develop an abundance mindset rather than one of scarcity and lack. Make a conscious effort to show your appreciation to people who support you and make your life easier. Like attracts like, this simple act will attract even more things to be grateful for into your life and help you feel good.

4. Practice self-care – make good health a priority

If you have good health you have everything. It helps you to keep good energy levels and a positive frame of mind. Good health truly is your wealth. Thirty minutes aerobic exercise helps to reduce body tension. Good sleep helps the body to heal and repair. Aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Count the calories and watch what you eat.

5. Hang out with positive people

If you have ever spent time with people who complain constantly and who don’t like other people much, you will know what a draining experience it can be. People who give the impression that nothing is right in their world drain the life out of you. Be discerning about the company that you keep. Socialise with people that think positively, genuinely care about you and make you laugh.

6. Remember to laugh

Nothing increases your mood and energy levels more than a good belly laugh. The news coverage can contain lots of negative and sad stories. Life is busy and demanding and we can all get a bit serious from time to time. Regularly watch or read things that make you laugh. Consider taking a break from watching news bulletins or reading newspapers for a period.

7. Keep a journal

If you do find that your mood dips or you are having a challenging time, one of the best ways to lift your mood and externalise your feelings is to write in a journal. There’s no need to edit the words that you write, just note down whatever is on your mind and let your pen flow on the page. Writing in this way brings clarity, calmness, a sense of balance and perspective.

8. Maintain your boundaries – say no when you need to without feeling guilty

We all have a limit to the amount of time and energy available to us. Whilst it’s a great feeling to please others, we must ensure that we honour our own needs. Saying yes, when we actually want to say no does nothing for our self-esteem and can have a negative impact on our mood. Guard against over committing your time and spreading yourself too thin.

This week why not take a few moments out to reflect and consider what mind vitamins you need to take in order to develop and sustain a positive mindset.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” – Eleanor Roosevelt.

Last week, on June 6, it was the 75^th anniversary of D-Day. This military operation was codenamed Operation Overlord. It was the allied invasion of France in 1944 and the greatest amphibious assault in history. It was an alliance of various countries which included Great Britain, USA, Canada and Holland.

It was the start of the mission to liberate Europe from Nazi rule. 156,000 troops were landed onto the French shore. Additionally, 7900 paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines six hours ahead of the amphibious assault to secure the flanks of the invasion area. Sadly 10,000 allied troops lost their lives that day.

As I listened to the various stories from veterans (now in their 90’s) it occurred to me how brave and courageous these young soldiers needed to be in order to take part in the operation. Some were as young as 16 and were literally stepping into the unknown. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to them for ensuring that we can live in a democracy and enjoy freedom including free speech.

We can learn much from the events 75 years ago. History can provide answers to help heal some of the division, anger and conflict that’s prevalent in today’s world. Much can be achieved when people form alliances, work together to execute a clearly defined plan and collaborate to fulfil a purpose.

D-Day required the soldiers to take a massive leap of faith. They needed to have much courage to do what they did.

Courage is a human quality that always impresses and inspires me. It’s the ability to disregard fear, to be brave and act on one’s beliefs.

I love to read and hear stories about how people stood up for what they believed in despite significant opposition. This could be tales of individuals or groups who persevered when they faced adversity and accomplished something outstanding against all the odds.

We all need courage to try something new and step outside our comfort zone in order to grow and evolve.

We sometimes need to be courageous to be ourselves and not follow the crowd.  We also have to be brave to confront inappropriate behaviour and beliefs.

Like the D-Day soldiers, there are many stories of people standing up for what they believed in notwithstanding the opposition they faced. Some made significant personal sacrifice and displayed incredible conviction to make a stand and fight injustice. Their battles helped to create more freedom and rights for millions of people to enjoy.

Some examples include the suffragettes who were members of women’s organisations in the UK in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They advocated the right for women to vote in public elections. There was also Rosa Parks in Alabama, USA, whose courage in the 1950s led to improved human rights for black people in America.

Sometimes we need courage to overcome a fear, try a new approach to an old challenge, learn a new skill or take up a new hobby.

Some people resist change because they are scared and can’t picture a positive outcome. They choose to stay stuck in their comfort zones even though they may not be happy with the status quo.

Over the years I’ve come across many people who have resisted taking a leap of faith despite being unhappy and unfulfilled. Some hated their jobs or were bored with their career and wondering if this is it. Some were unhappy in their relationship. Others felt that life was passing them by and were  stuck in a rut.

The main reasons that people stay stuck and procrastinate tend to be because of a strong sense of responsibility to others, fear of failure and the unknown. Also people underestimate their capabilities. It’s quite common that people who have been in a job for a long time to think that they aren’t capable of doing something else.

As well as fear, limiting beliefs, negative thinking and past set-backs can get in our way and stop us being all that we can be.   Our brains sometimes don’t help us positively, as they are designed to keep us safe and comfortable. This can make us risk averse.

There is a famous phrase “If you leap the net will appear.” This can inspire us to take a leap of faith when we’re contemplating change. If we listen to our hearts, have done our planning and know that the change is the right course of action for us, then quite often a magic seems to happen.

It’s incredible that when we fully commit to action, believe in a positive outcome and set our mind to succeed, the world has a knack of conspiring to support us. The right people and circumstances tend to show up at the right time to support us. You may have a dream to visit a new country, write a book, change job, start a new business, begin a new hobby or learn a new skill.

If you feel like you are stuck in a rut and want to step out of your comfort zone, start by making small changes to your daily routine. Always remember that small actions applied consistently over time lead to outstanding results.

Why not take a few moments out this week to pause and reflect. Consider what you would start/do if you knew that things would work out positively. What first step will you take to get things moving?

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk