Hopes and Expectations

We have high hopes for others. Sounds good, but high hopes usually mean high expectations. People rarely meet our high expectations, and when they don't, we're disappointed.

So if you want less disappointment, think about lowering your high expectations and making them more realistic. But do continue to have high hopes for others.

The Internet Behind Your Eyes

They say that the eyes are the windows of the soul. Behind your eyes lies a world wide web of wisdom. Access the internet behind your eyes to broaden your understanding and perspectives. It can change what you see. Stay connected for unlimited free access anytime, anywhere.

Stormy Moods

Moods are like the weather. They can hit in gentle waves, descend like a grey mist or arrive as a full blown storm. Here are a few suggestions on how to deal with your stormy moods: Become fully aware of your emotions, consciously withdraw your energy from them; and choose how you want to feel; Do something worthwhile to shake yourself out of your mood; cook a meal, make a gift or enjoy an evening with friends; Dis-identify from the emotions that you’re feeling, and remind yourself that all moods come to pass. They always do … like all storms do.

Color Your Life

Holi is the festival of colors that's mostly celebrated in India. People playfully color each other with fistfuls of colored powder and water. Even if you're not playing with colors, why not color your life, this week.

Add more color to your attitude, to what you wear and eat, to your living space, screensaver or desktop wallpaper....

Release your inner child. Add a dash of imagination. Brighten up your week.

The Roles We Play

We play many roles in just one day: parent, child, friend, employee, colleague, boss, partner.... and each role requires different skills and behaviors.

Can you make the transition from one role to another successfully?

Here are 3 tips:
1. Clarify the skills and behaviors appropriate for each role.
2. Don't over identify with your roles; this makes it easier to shift and adapt.
3. Have a brief break or some breathing space, so that you're ready for the
next role.

Be More Dog

Have you noticed how enthusiastically most dogs greet? The tail wagging, leaping, jumping, bounding around you, it's bound to put a smile on your face.

Let's all try and improve how we greet and meet people. Be more dog and greet with more enthusiasm, more smiles, more heart, more hugs, more nods.

Having a Moan

Life isn't always fair, but moaning about it isn't really going to help or change anything. So you may as well stop. How?

Every time you have a moan, make yourself offer a solution or do something about the situation.

If you can't think of a solution or something to do, you're not allowed to moan about it!

Consult your Conscience

To consult your conscience: sit quietly and calm the mind, allow peace to fill your heart and then place a question before your conscience, your innate wisdom. Then let go and listen for a response. Be patient and there will be a response; often when you have stopped wanting it and when you least expect it!

Without Force

It’s great to be in control, and it’s great to let go. Let go of your expectations and fixed ideas about how things should be done. Don’t try to force things to happen. Just do as much as you can, then step back and see what takes shape.

Hurry Up!

How many times do you say "hurry up" - to yourself & to others? Does "hurry up" increase anyone's speed? Does it make things happen any faster?

Hurry only adds pressure. This week, take the pressure off yourself & others. Get things done on time & be on time, without saying "hurry up." Good Luck!

Support, not Solutions

When something is going wrong for someone.... we often start providing solutions, simply because we want to help them work things out.

However, what they may need and what may work best is our support, not our solutions.

That doesn't mean you can't help them. Ask questions that lead them towards a solution. Help them find their own solutions and they're more likely to apply those solutions and work things out.

Plan A, B, C

We all have dreams. And to make our dreams a reality, we plot and plan.

Yet often we're encouraged to make a Plan B or even a Plan C, in case things don't work out. It's smart and sensible, right? But when we're plotting other options, we're directing our energy and commitment away from our Plan A. We're short changing our dreams!

Recognize:
1) When you need a fallback option and make a Plan B.
2) When not to give yourself any other option except Plan A.

Then put all your energy and commitment into making your dreams a reality.

To Be Understood

We all want to be understood. But when we're not, we feel hurt, frustrated, ignored.... So how about, shifting from being understood to understanding?

Understand that we don't always understand each other. Understand that we're different in our abilities to understand each other. And that's OK.

Approach others with understanding and you open the door to being understood.

Changing Your Mood

When you're in a mood, try not to give yourself a hard time. Instead, realise that you need to change your mood. Realize this and you're halfway there!

The next step is to change your mood. If you are a joker, make a joke, if you are a baker, bake a cake. Just take an easy step in the right direction and you're already on your way to a better mood.

Now use all your inner resources to keep going.... you're nearly there!

Simplify Your Life

It's so easy to accumulate "stuff" - gadgets, clothes, appliances, shoes.... It not only takes up space in our home but also in our head. So simplify your life by reducing and recycling. Just look around your living space and take stock of what stays and what you can easily live without. How does the accumulating "stuff" begin? Shopping! So, the next time you go shopping, question the ‘I need’ items on your shopping list. Do you really need it? Shop less and simplify your life.