Fear

Fear is not the enemy, infact fear can be a great survival mechanism, without it, we will take some really stupid risks with our lives (sometimes alcohol and other substances help dull that sense, usually with catastrophic results). However, fear can become rather crippling and stop you taking risks, hindering any chances of progression in life.

First we must recognise which aspect of our life is hindered by fear, could it be a fear of rejection? Or taking on new challenges due to a fear of failure? Once it is recognised, then it must be tackled. Most times, fear is due to certain flaws that we have and feel overwhelmed by. Unless it is due to a complete loss of a limb, for example not being able to be a Formula 1 driver because you are an amputee, then most flaws are really down to certain instances in our lives that may have had a negative impact psychologically, and put you off that particular activity. Once we can accept that flaw and work on improving it, we regain confidence and are able to try again. We can't let the fear of failing completely truncate the possibility of success, we really only require a close analysis of where a little extra work needs to be done.

Remember, with better preparation, an overhaul of your own perception of your abilities and an open mind, you can overcome your fear. If it can be done, you can probably do it, as long as you do not let fear work against you.

A Successful Life

I believe the one thing we all owe ourselves as we navigate our way through life is happiness, it is the ultimate goal. Think about it, absolutely everything we do is geared towards either an instant, or protracted elevation of our mood. Sometimes, the pressures of life do throw a monkey wrench in our gears of bliss however, and we do require a few tricks up our sleeves to ensure we don't spend too much time marinating in these pesky moments.

One thing that would elevate your mood is reflection on the good things in your life, no matter how bad things get, there is always something we take for granted and forget to be grateful for, take stock of these things and smile about it, while giving yourself the required boost to tackle whatever it is that may be getting you down. Attract some good karma while you are out and about, spare some change for those that need it, or grab an extra cup of tea for that person living on the streets, your act of kindness and compassion will have an effect on your mood as well as the recipient's.

Learn and regularly practise breathing exercises, these have been proven to help reduce stress and anxiety. A quick online search will provide some very effective methods that can be useful when you find a few moments of quiet to gather your thoughts and clear your mind of clutter. Listening to some soothing music can also help elevate mood. I believe the definition of a truly successful life is one where very little time is spent being sad or allowing negative energy to have more than a fleeting moment in it. Think about it.

Element of surprise

Giving a gift is always a pleasant occassion for the parties involved, I like to believe, the giver feels elated that they have contributed somehow to elevating the recipient's mood, and ofcourse the gift receiver has a cool new toy or accessory to enjoy. Deciding what the perfect gift is takes knowing the recipient quite well, or going about your selection of appropriate gift by asking exactly what they would like. The trouble is, as effective as this method is, it can get rather boring when you already know what you're getting. A key part in the presentation of a great gift is the amount of thought that has gone into it's selection and the element of pleasant surprise involved when the idea is spot on.

One tip is to go with an unusual, unique gift. Be creative, with a tiny bit of effort, you will find a perfect gift not just picked off the shelf of your local retail chain, and it does not have to be impractical either. It may be a beautifully designed Cushion cover, a trinket box or a necklace made out of Coconut shells (I have seen quite a few really cool ones). The idea is to present something that is one of a kind, when most of the other folks are probably giving the same old generic gifts, meaning you get to stand out, which in turn means your gift WILL be remembered and that gesture will very likely be reciprocated at some point.

Where do your dreams go?

Remember all the dreams you had about what you would love to be when you grow up? I have a feeling not a lot of people get to live their dreams, I understand how some of these dreams may have been bound to fail because they were unrealistic to begin with (those ideas of being Catwoman when you get older was really never going to happen, was it?). With more down to earth desires however, how does it get lost?

The reality of having responsibilities to meet, and bills to pay may have driven one to take the easiest, available option with regards to making a living, but the dreams don't have to die. If you aren't totally overwhelmed with life, make a cup of tea and ponder how in your current situation you can STILL make your dream come true. Take a close look at the skills you may have acquired up to this point, therein may be something beneficial in making those steps towards your dreams easier than you thought.

Create a plan and follow it. Do some research into your career/path of interest, look at the option of further training, if needed, speak to close friends and family about it. Most importantly, feel the fire in your stomach, feel the desire to pursue your dream, if these are not present, you may just be walking in a different direction and still end up at the same destination you thought you were escaping, another dead end job with zero satisfaction.