Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.
– Groucho Marx
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Express your talent
Paint, write, sing, knit, dance,… Find the time for it and do it with all your heart. Don’t judge it. For what you do is unique, it’s you. Get it out there -
Stand for your choices
Stick to your conviction but be ready to abandon your assumptions.
Voice your opinion. Accept that you make wrong choices. Be humble about it. -
Learn from your children
If you don’t have any, hire some from friends from time to time. They are your mirror but they are not you. They have such creative wisdom for all sorts of adult problems!
They are often the best teachers.
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Listen to your body
Sleep enough. Exercise to let your body breathe and free your mind. Eat healthy to allow your body to be healthy. -
Tell the truth
A lie is an internal brake (or break). It is a fear that locks us up. If we face this fear however, it makes us grow and the courage we used to overcome our fear reinforces us and makes us stronger. Always. And the energy we used to keep that lie alive will now allow us to do so many wonderful things. -
Be linked to your heart
Have friendships that are strong but not built on any kind of dependance or lies. Trust your gut. Listen to your heart. You ALWAYS know. -
Be REAL: authorise yourself to be human
Don’t try to be happy ALL the time. Accept lows and failures. They need to exist to allow for the highs and successes. No day without night, No rainbow without rain. -
Cease to do several things at a time
Multitasking usually means stress. You cannot listen to two of your favorite songs at the same time. Do one thing at a time, and do it well, with all your concentration. Get help. Hire a coach. Focus. -
Learn to ask
For help, for love, for advice, for an explanation, for an answer, …There are no stupid questions. Asking shows you’re strong and courageous. And often others will be thankful you asked the question they did not dare raise. -
If you want it to stick, make it a ritual.
You rarely forget to brush your teeth in the morning, right? So if you want to exercise once a week, pick a day and time and stick to it for a while until it becomes a ritual, a habit, a drug instead of a drag. Like children we need rituals so that we do not feel lost. -
Make lists.
To do lists, books to read lists, websites to visit lists, things to learn list,… They allow you to focus instead of forget or drift off. They will allow you to make creative connections. -
Listen.
Really listen…instead of letting your mind wander off and think about what you will reply, what your opinion is, what you have read on the subject or what you will make for dinner. Be present. Honour the other person of your undivided attention. It always comes back. -
Try to do something good or make someone happy every day.
Call your mom – even if you have to listen to her nagging – it will make her happy. Give someone a compliment. Send someone a thank you note. Donate 25$ at Kiva. -
Be grateful.
Write down 5 things that you are grateful for each day. Use this free worksheet to get you started.