4.
Dream
“The
people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world , change it”
Steve Jobs
You
are allowed to wish for anything you want as well. Look, wishes and dreams are
private affairs. There are no wish police, no dream doctors who are on the
rampage looking out for unrealistic demands. It is a private thing between you
and … that’s it. Between you and absolutely no one else at all. The only note
of caution here—and I do speak from personal experience—is to be very careful
of what you do wish for, what you dream of, because it might just come true.
And where would you be then? A lot of people think their dreams have to be
realistic to be worth dreaming about. But that’s a plan, and that is something
quite different. I have plans, and I take logical steps to make them come to
fruition. Dreams are allowed to be so improbable that they are never likely to
come true. And don’t go thinking you’ll never achieve anything by sitting
around daydreaming all day. Some of the most successful people have also been those
who have dared to dream the most. It isn’t a coincidence.
5.
Have “Me Time”
So
what are you going to do with that time? Answer: absolutely nothing. And I do
mean nothing. This isn’t time for lying in the bath, sitting on the toilet,
meditating, reading the newspapers, or sleeping. This is a little space for
you, a breather, a time to sit still and do absolutely nothing. Just breathe. I
find that ten minutes sitting in the garden just breathing is a fantastic boost
a couple of times a day. I sit there, not thinking, not doing, not worrying,
just being, while I appreciate the pleasure of being alive. I find time spent
doing nothing really important, and as soon as I complicate it, it loses
something. If I add glass of Juice to my solitude, then it’s a Juice break and
not a space just for me. If I listen to music, then it’s a music break. If I
have a companion with me and I chat, then it’s a social occasion. If I read the
papers then I have moved away entirely from the concept of a little space for
me. Keep it simple. Keep it bare. Keep it pure.
6.
Have a laugh
By
letting go of things that really aren’t important, we can put ourselves back on
the right track. And the best way to do that is through humor—laughing at
ourselves, laughing at our situation, but never laughing at others—they’re just
as lost as we are and don’t need to be laughed at. Laughing at yourself and
situations you find yourself in has a double positive effect. First, it
diffuses tension and helps regain a sense of proportion. Second, it has real
physical as well as mental benefits.
7.
Step outside your comfort Zone
Be
prepared to be a little bit brave every day. Why? Because if you don’t you’ll
grow stagnant and moldy or curl up and wither. We all have a comfort zone where
we feel safe and warm and dry. But every now and then we need to step outside
and be challenged, be frightened, be stimulated. It’s this way that we stay
young and feel good about ourselves. If we grow too attached to our comfort
zone, chances are it will start to shrink, or something will come along and
dismantle it. If we have practiced stretching the boundaries of our woolly
cocoon occasionally, that kick won’t have too much impact—we’re ready for
it—it’s much easier to cope.
8.
Ask Questions
Asking
questions gives you time to think, buys you breathing space. Rather than flying
off the handle because you think you know the situation, it’s better to ask a
few questions and find out the truth. You’ll be better equipped to respond
logically, calmly, and correctly
