Category: Evolution

What Do We Tell Ourselves in Bed at Night?

Photo by Kevin Escate

You are getting all cozed-up after a long day of work and growth, with a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other. Or maybe you just went straight to bed, fallen flat on your tummy and let sleep take over. Either way, we are about to get our system rebooted. But the data that we input last will be picked up first in the morning. A bit of an irony when you think about an orderly lineup in processing information.

We can give ourselves the opportunity to be bright and excited next day by introducing three simple practices in our evening routine:

  1. Detach from work through a buffer activity – yoga, meditation, reading, listening to music or a nice bath
  2. Be thankful for what you’ve achieved, kindness, love and health
  3. Visualize yourself succeeding, being accomplished, making the difference you want to make into the world and add some descriptions of who you want to become – powerful, in control, creative, committed

Paying attention for ten minutes to our thoughts today and stirring them into the direction we want to go to will have a great impact on the next day and the next day and the next day. Our future is now.

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Monkey Mind Essentials: Mind Your Language!

Photo by Andre Mouton

What do you see when you are looking at your reflection in the mirror? Do you see someone who will power through, step over self-enforced limitations or someone who is scared and worried? All people, regardless of their ability to push themselves forward, had points in their life of feeling insecure and defeated. What matters is what we make out of that situation.

That tingle in your hands and dryness of throat signals that something exceptional is about to happen. Something we have never experienced before. Unless there is a real threat to life, realistically our brain and body is playing up the fear of the unknown. There are different strategies to manage anxiety and the anticipation of uncertainty and I am a huge believer of positive self-talk. This on itself can be uncomfortable, but power does come from within.

Love and kindness affirmations practiced in our head or said out loud in the shower or in front of a mirror help flip the narrative of negative self-talk. Positive self-talk does not replace taking action. Positive self-talk is a device that increases our confidence and with that, our chances of moving forward.

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Time to Reflect on How We Do Things

Hey you!

You might have noticed the lack of a daily post yesterday. I took a step back to rethink the structure of the blog and the way you get your daily dose of self-growth and life learning, if you will, from this space.

After some thought on how to maximise the value that this blog brings, my proposal to you is to share one-paragraph food for thought type of post every day, sometimes raw, undigested ideas, that might bring a different perspective into your life.

We’ll start the new regiment tomorrow, on a Friday, because Friday is just as good of a day as any other day of the week. To balance out the brief content I’ll put my energy and focus on one detailed, well-documented blog piece a week which will be addressing topics that have proven to be of interest over the past six months.

I’m always keen to hear from you – what interests you, what topic you’d like to nitpick if you had the time? Is there any research you wish you’d be able to stay on top of? Let me know in the comment section.

Stay well.

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How Is Accountability Different from Criticism

Photo by Andrea Tummons

Accountability comes from a place of love. It shows understanding of one’s circumstances and it asks for transparency on both parts. The person being held accountable would have to perceive it as a positive intervention rather than criticism. The person who takes the power must use it with respect and kindness.

Why Not Self-Accountability?

Being able to set rules and implement them in your own life is a superpower. It takes practice and discipline and putting something on the line can add to the level of commitment. We can go quite soft on ourselves when we planned to get out of bed at 4AM and we need to face the cool air. Negotiating with ourselves in the moment is challenging – because winning in the short-term is not winning in the long-term.

Here is where an accountability partner comes in. Someone who we respect for their commitment and care, for their interest in seeing us improve. It can be someone you’ve met on a forum, the hotel reception or a good friend. People care about people and that’s something we can use to our advantage to practice self-care and self-discipline.

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Working Towards Your Dreams

This is a gentle reminder to get regain your focus. I use it as an opportunity for myself to look at what I’ve accomplished so far and where I am headed. What makes today so special is the same as what makes every day special: we are moving.

Like it or not, life is continuous motion. Non-action means that we don’t control the direction of our course. Non-action means a static life for us and us alone, while everything around us evolves. Get in sync. Live in the now and pave your road to success.

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On Homelessness & People Outside the System

What are the first impressions when we see someone on the streets?

How can I help them?

I better walk quicker.

Is their situation the result of the choices they made or that someone else made for them.

Will it be the final step in this person’s journey or a transition period?

That’s not what we picture when we see people that made the street their permanent residence. We fall into what it is called ‘pluralistic ignorance’. We choose the herd that has some power. We cling on to that. And we don’t notice people outside the system of belief, people that need help.

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