Motivational Monday

The Happiness Habit

It is said that happiness is a state of mind and to a certain extent, that is true. But I believe that whether we are happy or unhappy is also about the habits we have.

It is a sad fact, but a mere 33% of people consider themselves to be happy.

Why is this? We are fortunate to live in a land filled with opportunity where anyone can choose to live the life they want.

But they don’t.

Instead we see unhappiness all around us. From the impatient person queuing behind you at the post office, to the teller at the bank who looks like she would rather be anywhere else at that moment, to your neighbours, who never look up and say, “Hello.”

The main difference between the person you see happily walking down the street seemingly without a care in the world and the person next to them consumed in doubt and misery is the choices they make each and every day.

What choices will you make each and every day so you can BE happy?

What If I Get Rejected?

There is always that chance.

You might get your hopes up only to find them dashed.

You might decide where you want to go and then not get there.

You might fall in love with your dream of the future and then discover it does not happen.

How much would it hurt to have those hopes, those decisions turn out to be all for nothing?

Of course, it's not for nothing. In fact, those hopes, those decisions and that love is the foundation for a path worth pursuing. It is what makes us better.

The odds will always be against you, but statistics are a lousy reason to avoid exploring something.

Dumping Syndrome

As I was reviewing information for a patient I stumbled upon ‘Dumping Syndrome’ (also called rapid gastric emptying). This occurs when the undigested contents of your stomach moves too rapidly into your small bowel (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dumping-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20028034).

Common symptoms are abdominal cramps, nausea and diarrhea. But luckily, it is normally managed by adjusting your diet.

Made me think….how many times do I engage in my version of ‘Dumping Syndrome?’

Dumping my s**t on someone else simply because they are nearby or because I can. Time to adjust my mental diet to manage my dumping syndrome.

Motivational Monday

Your pain can be your ally. By facing your pain, you can turn it into energy.

Here's the secret: The more pain you feel, the more energy you have to channel. See the pain as fuel - not as something that stops you from moving forward.

Hence pain becomes our ally and fuels us onwards.

Kenji Miyazawa says, “We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.”

Business Tips: Do Customers Switch for Cheaper

Do customers switch for cheaper?

No. 

Most people switch for better.

Without a doubt, there is a slot in every market for the cheap enough, good enough alternative.

However, rapid growth and long-term loyalty come from being better instead.

When your product or your service does not measure up, the answer probably is not to lower your price or offer a refund to the disappointed customer.

Instead, the alternative is to invest in making it better. So much better, that people cannot help but talk about it — and so much better that they would truly miss it if it were gone.

Why Kindness?

A theory exists that says that if you treat people well, you are more likely to encourage them to do what you want them to do.

In essence, there is a return for making all that effort. A pay off. If I do this, then I get that.

Let’s reconsider, you might treat people with kindness merely because you can.

Regardless of what they choose to do in response, this is what you choose to do. Simply because you can.

Motivational Monday

The Four Horsemen of the Mediocre

Denial - "They made that choice. It wasn't me. It is not my fault."

Helpless - "There was nothing I could do. My boss won't let me."

Contempt - "I don't get paid enough to deal with that."

Fear - "It's good enough, it's too much of a risk, we might fail..."

The industrial age brought compliance and compliance brought fear and fear brought us mediocrity.

The good news about fear is that once you see it, realise it for what it is, you have a huge opportunity, the chance to make it better.