Be First Class

“Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both and you won’t have to hunt for happiness.” William E Gladstone.

International Day of Happiness is a global observance held annually on March 20. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to recognize the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals in the lives of human beings around the world.

This year’s theme explores the relationship between social media and happiness, highlighting the potential challenges for our wellbeing as well as ways we can all use technology for good. There’s no one “right” way to use social media but small, thoughtful choices about how we use it and how we treat each other online can make a real difference. More information about the day and how you can get involved can be found at www.dayofhappiness.net.

Here are three ways you can put happiness first and create a healthier, more intentional relationship with social media:

Step 1: Choose

Be mindful of if, when and how much you are on social media.

Pause and ask yourself, “What do I really want to do right now?” Keep a list of analogue activities you can do instead, like playing music, drawing, gardening or going outside for a walk.

Set a timer so scrolling is a short snack rather than a wormhole.

Give your mind space to think, keep the bedroom phone free, try a ‘digital sabbath’.

Step 2: Connect

Don’t let scrolling be a substitute for real connection.

Phone a friend for a chat or send some voice notes, instead of scrolling.

Make plans offline, get excited about your next adventure with loved ones.

Use social media to connect with supportive friends and communities that are meaningful to you.

Step 3: Curate

Personalise your experience to support your wellbeing.

Follow plenty of positive accounts – bloom scroll, don’t doom scroll.

Share and amplify uplifting stories, messages and ideas, be aware of misinformation.

Be kind in the comments, it matters more than you think.

If you have found this useful, spread the word and encourage others to do the same. Use the hashtag #InternationalDayOfHappiness.

This week, why not pause for a few moments to reflect. Consider how you can use social media as a force for good, to spread a little bit of happiness and positivity.

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

“Focus on being balanced – success is balance.” Laila Ali.

In last week’s blog, I talked about the fragility of life and how important it is to have balance in our lives. After I wrote it, I was reminded of the story called Five Balls from the book “Suzanne’s Diary to Nicholas” by James Patterson, which covers the topic of balance. I have shared it below.

Five Balls

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – Work – Family – Health – Friends – Spirit, and you’re keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?

1. Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
2. Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.
3. Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.
4. Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.
5. Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
6. Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us together.
7. Don’t be afraid to encounter risks, it is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
8. Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
9. Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.
10. Don’t forget that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
11. Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.
12. Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.

 
This week, why not pause for a few moments to reflect. Consider if there is anything you need to do to ensure that there is balance in your life.
 
To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk

“The best gift we can have is living in the present moment and really enjoying it for what it is; and, not being in our heads and getting sidetracked.” Amy Smart.

Recently, my wife and I attended a funeral. The service was for the husband of one of my wife’s friends. Roland had been diagnosed with an illness a few days before Christmas last year. He died at the end of January aged just 65. His death was sudden and unexpected.

He was warm, kind and full of life and was popular and likeable. This was confirmed by the number of people who attended the service. The church was full with well over a hundred people in attendance. It was a very touching and moving service and it was clear that much thought and love had gone into planning it.

The phrase ‘live, laugh, love’ came into my mind as I reflected on the funeral. Roland certainly lived. He had many interests, lived life to the full and enjoyed many holidays with his wife and family. He laughed. He had a great sense of fun and was funny. He also loved.  It was clear that he adored Janette, his wife of 39 years, his three daughters, their partners and his grandchildren. They had lots of special family times with get togethers, breaks and barbeques.

Experiences like these are a reminder that life is fragile. None of us know what is around the corner. Therefore, it’s important that we try not to sweat the small stuff. We also need to avoid getting anxious, frustrated or angry about things that don’t really matter in the overall scheme of things. For instance, being irritated when we are kept waiting, when someone is late for an appointment, we miss a deadline or we encounter a traffic jam etc.

It’s vital that we treat every day as a gift, to learn to live and enjoy the present moment. Irrespective of what happened yesterday or may not happen tomorrow, the present moment is where we are – always!

I once saw a poster outside the British Library in London, which has stuck with me – it contained a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt and said “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift that’s why we call it the present.”

When we suffer loss or tragic events occur, we are reminded what truly matters in life – loved ones, family, good friendships, good health and focusing on the things we are passionate about and bring joy to us and others. It is so vitally important that we have balance in our lives.

This week, why not pause for a few moments and consider what you need to do to live your life more in the present moment and to live, laugh and love more.

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