Thinking about my run this morning, not only was it my normal kickstart to the day but I found myself reviewing an approach I'm currently taking in my business that isn't working right now.
My thoughts then changed to what I can do to improve my current approach so that it works, and I came up with a good idea, which was extremely simple.
It actually draws from the success of my mile each day habit, and once again uses the technique of habit stacking.
Whether its's running, meditating, going for a walk or mindful cleaning or clearing up, it pays to spend some time early in the day to allow the creative part of your mind to help you gain some clarity.
Friday, 13 February 2015
Thursday, 12 February 2015
Practicing acceptance
Yesterday nothing happened the way it was arranged to.
The people I turned up to see weren't available when I was supposed to see them.
The space I was expecting to see them in wasn't available.
I wasn't able to see anyone at all for a 3 hour period.
One of the people I was due to see didn't want to see me yesterday.
Another person I had arranged to see had left.
Yet another person I was due to see had moved and no one seemed to know where he was.
I eventually managed to see 2 of the 4 people I'd arranged to see.
It was a great day for practicing acceptance of what is and not railing against it.
After all nobody died, we all were able to look for the lessons, and today's a new day.
The people I turned up to see weren't available when I was supposed to see them.
The space I was expecting to see them in wasn't available.
I wasn't able to see anyone at all for a 3 hour period.
One of the people I was due to see didn't want to see me yesterday.
Another person I had arranged to see had left.
Yet another person I was due to see had moved and no one seemed to know where he was.
I eventually managed to see 2 of the 4 people I'd arranged to see.
It was a great day for practicing acceptance of what is and not railing against it.
After all nobody died, we all were able to look for the lessons, and today's a new day.
Wednesday, 11 February 2015
The bird's gift
When I left the house on my run this morning a little bird was singing its heart out as I set off down the road.
I couldn't see it because it was dark, and who knows there may have been more than one bird, but it seemed that the bird was following me singing. It stayed with me for a few minutes, then I lost it, but it was there again when I completed my loop, following me once again.
I don't remember that happening before in over 5 years of my morning mile.
I was so delighted by this little bird's song following me that I couldn't help but smile. In fact at one point I laughed just because it felt so joyful.
What would it be like if I gave a huge grin and an enthusiastic greeting to every person I met today?
It feels like it would be the equivalent of what the little bird gave me.
I couldn't see it because it was dark, and who knows there may have been more than one bird, but it seemed that the bird was following me singing. It stayed with me for a few minutes, then I lost it, but it was there again when I completed my loop, following me once again.
I don't remember that happening before in over 5 years of my morning mile.
I was so delighted by this little bird's song following me that I couldn't help but smile. In fact at one point I laughed just because it felt so joyful.
What would it be like if I gave a huge grin and an enthusiastic greeting to every person I met today?
It feels like it would be the equivalent of what the little bird gave me.
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Run the day
I discovered a quote by the late great Jim Rohn yesterday. It goes,
"Either you run the day or the day runs you."
I think that says it all really. Just brilliant!
"Either you run the day or the day runs you."
I think that says it all really. Just brilliant!
Monday, 9 February 2015
Expect the unexpected
The more I observe the more I notice that frustration, annoyance, dissatisfaction and anger seem to occur when expectations aren't met.
Does this mean that if we had no expectations we'd all be blissfully happy?
While an element of this might be true, it might also mean we'd still be living in a world that looked the same as the 19th century, and we'd probably not be that happy.
Having goals, dreams and inspiring visions of what our future could be like is fundamental to the human spirit and has been the fuel that has driven us to where we are today in terms of progress.
The thought of what could be and how we can change our lives for the better can give us that spring in our step that makes us greet a new day with renewed vigour and expectation.
But then as I said earlier, when we have expectations that aren't met we end up frustrated, dissatisfied and angry.
So what is the answer?
Now I'm not claiming to have this problem solved. I am most definitely a work in progress and frequently experience frustration and the other emotions listed above.
Dreams, visions and even expectations are great, but it's when we have a fixed idea as to how those expectations will be manifested that the trouble starts.
It seems to me that one of the keys to happiness is to keep our dreams and visions in the forefront of our minds, whilst letting go of exactly how they will come about and what format they will arrive in.
When something happens that makes you go, "That's not what I expected", that could actually be a good thing in the long run.
Does this mean that if we had no expectations we'd all be blissfully happy?
While an element of this might be true, it might also mean we'd still be living in a world that looked the same as the 19th century, and we'd probably not be that happy.
Having goals, dreams and inspiring visions of what our future could be like is fundamental to the human spirit and has been the fuel that has driven us to where we are today in terms of progress.
The thought of what could be and how we can change our lives for the better can give us that spring in our step that makes us greet a new day with renewed vigour and expectation.
But then as I said earlier, when we have expectations that aren't met we end up frustrated, dissatisfied and angry.
So what is the answer?
Now I'm not claiming to have this problem solved. I am most definitely a work in progress and frequently experience frustration and the other emotions listed above.
Dreams, visions and even expectations are great, but it's when we have a fixed idea as to how those expectations will be manifested that the trouble starts.
It seems to me that one of the keys to happiness is to keep our dreams and visions in the forefront of our minds, whilst letting go of exactly how they will come about and what format they will arrive in.
When something happens that makes you go, "That's not what I expected", that could actually be a good thing in the long run.
Friday, 6 February 2015
It's all in the mind
The most interesting thing I've experienced in the last 24 hours was running with a group of 3 other people and chatting with each one on a nice gentle four and a half mile route yesterday evening.
The thing that fascinated me most was talking to one of my fellow runners about how running had literally turned their life around in the space of less than two months.
While they'd dabbled in running before, they've joined a group, made some really good new friends, some of whom they run with on a regular basis, and are now fully committed to running.
They are loving it and reaping benefits in weight loss, improved mental attitude and increased happiness after going through a particularly tough time over the past couple of years.
Running is not the only thing that can change lives, improve your mental state and help you to meet energetic, fun like-minded people, but it's certainly one of the best ways that I've come across.
I don't think it's a coincidence that I'm fascinated with the effect our state of mind has on our life and that I'm a runner.
After all every morning I give my state of mind a huge boost with my morning mile.
The thing that fascinated me most was talking to one of my fellow runners about how running had literally turned their life around in the space of less than two months.
While they'd dabbled in running before, they've joined a group, made some really good new friends, some of whom they run with on a regular basis, and are now fully committed to running.
They are loving it and reaping benefits in weight loss, improved mental attitude and increased happiness after going through a particularly tough time over the past couple of years.
Running is not the only thing that can change lives, improve your mental state and help you to meet energetic, fun like-minded people, but it's certainly one of the best ways that I've come across.
I don't think it's a coincidence that I'm fascinated with the effect our state of mind has on our life and that I'm a runner.
After all every morning I give my state of mind a huge boost with my morning mile.
Thursday, 5 February 2015
Get proactive
Yesterday I had what felt like a very good day.
The reason it was good was because I completed lots of small things and felt really pleased with what I'd achieved.
Also I wasn't just doing stuff that I needed to do because others were expecting something from me. Rather than being reactive I was being proactive.
Now I'm all for being active, after all I'm a runner and if I sit for too long my concentration gradually evaporates into the air. I need to get up and move.
But are all types of activity equal?
What about reactive actions and proactive actions?
I've just done a Google search on the word reactive, and it says:
The reason it was good was because I completed lots of small things and felt really pleased with what I'd achieved.
Also I wasn't just doing stuff that I needed to do because others were expecting something from me. Rather than being reactive I was being proactive.
Now I'm all for being active, after all I'm a runner and if I sit for too long my concentration gradually evaporates into the air. I need to get up and move.
But are all types of activity equal?
What about reactive actions and proactive actions?
I've just done a Google search on the word reactive, and it says:
- showing a response to a stimulus
- acting in response to a situation rather than creating or controlling it
One of the definitions of proactive I found says:
- controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than waiting to respond to it after it happens
Seeing these definitions I can clearly see that I was being much more proactive yesterday than I've been for a while.
How much more fulfilling is it to be creating or controlling things, especially when it's to do with your future, rather than waiting for something to happen and then responding based purely on what has already happened?
Maybe that's why my mile each day seems to work. After all it's my first proactive action of the day.
I choose it day after day.
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