Practising Mindfulness

Category: Personal and Professional Development

  • Beautifully Mindful

    Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
    The first thing to be aware of is that living a beautiful life takes effort and constant monitoring

    I currently live in a small but expanding town on the south coast of England called Dartmouth. It’s fairly well known for its connections to the British Navy and the fact it’s situated alongside the mouth of the river Dart. A great place, and due to this has many visitors, in particular, during the summer months. During this time it can feel a little claustrophobic.

    Many people keep their boats on the river and in addition to this there are a lot of wealthy second home owners who also visit in the summertime. An extreme example of this population explosion occurs in a town a little further along the coast called Salcombe. During the winter the population of this town is around two thousand and during the summer months this can increase to as much as twenty two thousand. Seasonal change is something the people of Devon have become accustomed to. As a means of escaping the summer occupation of Dartmouth, my partner and I keep a little caravan in a much quieter part of Devon, that isn’t quite so seasonally affected.

    Now as I’m sure you can imagine, many of the business’s in the south west of England are dependent on the tourist industry. For example, there’s a little business, recently established alongside the river Dart, that teaches people how to paddleboard. There is some unfortunate news in that they’ve recently had most of their boards and paddles stolen. Even so, I’ve no doubt they’re insured and will soon be back in business teaching people how to have fun on the river very soon. There is a point to all of this that I’ll come back to. In the meantime consider this statement:

    I care about me more than I care about anybody else

    No matter how idyllic or stress-free the setting, if the mind isn’t absolutely present, this environment will never be fully experienced or appreciated. In this regard, at some point during our lives, we will all face challenges and distractions from our plans. On some level we all plan to have a nice time and enjoy our lives as much as possible. Even so, it’s interesting how many of us aren’t able to appreciate, and sometimes even recognise, when we’ve reached one of the markers we’ve set ourselves. A prime example of this would be to overly involve ourselves with the troubles of others.

    Take the stolen paddleboards. On hearing the news we might become saddened or angered and we might (as was the case) exaggerate the facts. One local person took it on themselves to spread the gossip that the paddleboard thieves – rather than stealing everything – had vindictively broken the paddles. This wasn’t true and is example of someone becoming overly involved with the distress of others and then needing to spread this negativity. If we want a comfortable, stress-free existence, we must constantly monitor and be aware of our thoughts and behaviour. We must also monitor to what extent we allow the thoughts and behaviours of others to affect us.

    Another example concerns the inability to distance ourselves from the troubles of family members. We have ties to family that place demands on our time and energy. Once family members have reached adulthood it is expected that they’re then able to take full responsibility for themselves. There are times when this can’t be the case (perhaps due to unforeseen illness) and so family members must step in to help. Even so, through having awareness and control over our minds, we’re able to separate, compartmentalize and prioritise ourselves.

    You must always place yourself as the priority and be aware of how easily you can be distracted

    Remember: no matter how beautiful the setting and the life, if you’re not fully engaged with this – in the moment – it will all be for nothing. Take control of your mind, through learning how to successfully meditate, so that you may improve everyday mindfulness.

    When it comes to the troubles of other this is an occasion when it is of great value to cast the mind forward to a time when the troubles are over. No matter the problem it will always come to an end. Everything has an ending. In predicting the future we’re also able to see how things always average out and in the end.

    So we can see the value in keeping the mind present and we can also see how casting the mind forward also has value. My partner and I understand how claustrophobic Dartmouth can get in the summer and we compensate for this through planning our little escapes. Without occasionally thinking ahead this wouldn’t be possible. When we’re at our caravan our minds must be present and enjoying what we’ve created there. And the same applies when we’re in Dartmouth.

    Engaged in the present moment we feel everything that is occurring now. If in this moment things are not as we want them, there is a tendency to need escape. It’s a fabulous survival strategy. However, for us to live fully, we must be prepared to experience all of the aspects presented to us. If we lazily allow our minds to constantly wander off we will often delay making necessary changes.

    In contrast, if we have reached a point in our lives where it feels like plans are coming together, we can easily be distracted by the troubles of others. We can be driven by the negative forces of guilt. Once again if we’re allowing our minds to wander off we can forget that everyone has a responsibility to themselves. We all have the ability to plan and care for ourselves within these plans. If others have failed to do this, failed at getting their insurance in order, we must be aware that there is no value in sharing the discomfort they might experience as a result. There is no value in you experiencing it with them. Others must be left to wonder how you mange to remain present and happy.

  • This Extraordinary Moment

    Image by Reimund Bertrams from Pixabay
    Human history is full of extraordinary moments

    Even though this is true, when we bring things down to a personal level, it really is only this present moment now that matters. Of course the important proviso is, that you’re actually fully aware, and immersed in this moment now.

    For me, being fully in the moment, involves an awareness of just how weird and wonderful everything is. I imagine myself feeling similar to how a child must feel when viewing everything for the first time. There is an added appreciation of this due to my awareness of just how much I don’t know or can come close to understanding. This only makes the moment even more fascinating.

    All in all, human drama, pales into insignificance, when we glance at the bigger picture

    We mustn’t become self-absorbed as a result of being present. There is the tendency to be this way during meditation. In fact, on reading a lot of the literature surrounding the subject, we can be misled into thinking that meditation is all about the self. Initially, it might start off this way, and yet in time we must gain an awareness, through our meditation, of our place in the world. Through this, we can gain a sense of how small and insignificant we are, and there is value in this.

    The value, in seeing our insignificance, comes from understanding proportion

    If we become overly absorbed with our own lives and problems we can easily make the mistake of losing our sense of proportion. Fear of death or illness is a prime example. Stepping outside of ourselves, we see how the bigger picture can help us to appreciate, that there really is, only one moment we can live in. It’s a bit like the wealthy man with all his money, possessions, and places he can be. He can only ever be in one place at a time. The more we grasp, and want to claim for ourselves, outside of this one moment, the less we’re actually alive. The more we have the more distracted the mind is from appreciating our insignificance. Never see insignificant as a negative. When we are insignificant so are our problems.

    Take a moment to wonder at what exists outside and then marvel at the very fact you have an awareness of this

    It may seem a very strange thing to assert, that within the grand scheme of things, you are no more then a spec of dust. None of us. Not even the wealthy and powerful. I believe true power comes from an awareness of this. There is true power in knowing that you know nothing and there is true power in understanding your insignificance.

    I would much rather this than live the life of a dreamer seeking the illusion of recognition or significance. But then again, if none of us had dreamt of something different, would we have ever reduced the suffering we experienced in the past? An interesting question is it not? Perhaps, through understanding our individual insignificance, we could dream of a better future for all.

  • Find the Stillness

    Image by Ylanite Koppens from Pixabay 
    Whatever is happening to you

    Even if that dog owner is saying “fuck you” by allowing their dog to piss up your front door, find the stillness.

    Even if that man is using his fists, find the stillness.

    And if that woman is manipulating you emotionally because you can’t say no, find the stillness.

    The only way to find it is to remain indifferent, impartial and non-judgmental

    The dog owner, the wife beater and the abusive woman hold no power over the individual who can calmly endure.

    Endure with a stillness that enables you to reason with yourself. A calm reasoning that enables you to know what you must do next.

    The inconsiderate or abusive human being shall simply receive your thanks

    That’s right! Thank them for showing you the damage to their soul and, providing you survive, thank them for showing you how important you are and how afraid of you they’ve become. Know you can’t have frightened people in you life and that is all they are. Your stillness will be based on love and because you’re able to connect with that – daily through your mindfulness practice – it remains as you endure.

    know you only need endure their fear and ugliness for a short period as your mind calmly shows you the exit route. And you’ll never need to stop them weeping for their loss, they’ve never been in love.

  • Discover Reality and Stop Yearning for the Unobtainable

    Image by Joshua Woroniecki from Pixabay 
    Self-analysis can result in release from chasing the unobtainable

    We could spend our entire lives frustratingly seeking the love, acceptance and approval of a long dead parent, or we could engage in analysis and free ourselves. With that said, the discovery of truth can be excruciatingly painful, which is of course why most people look to avoid it.

    Finding your true self is how to achieve contentment

    And so how do we know when we’ve found our true selves? What does true self actually mean? The identity we discover, and much of what we choose to do, can be traced back to our childhood need for love and acceptance. As time moves forward the origins of our identity and drivings sink down to the unconscious level and the reasons for what we do go along with it. We just blindly go on not really understanding what the motivations were or are. And yet when we find frustration in our pursuits, bringing these now unconscious aspects to the surface, proves useful. This is how to discover our true self. We do this by recognising how we may be chasing the unobtainable. We then stop and choose pursuits that are based on reality.

    Your true self can be exactly what you want it to be

    Believe it or not, seeing the truth could help us decide to stay with our chosen identity and continue along the path we’re on, but instead of frustration, this time, we can find success. The difference being that we now understanding how our frustration was due to an unconscious yearning that could never be satisfied. The addicts (past or present) among us can relate to this.

    Addiction is driven by a longing that can never be satisfied. The addiction is there simply because the addict is trying to satisfy – or quieten – an unconscious longing or destructive emotion. I can clearly remember the alcohol, or whatever, just not quite hitting the mark. Ever.

    Freedom

    As a result of discovering the truth, we can make a conscious choice to either form a new identity, or continue with what we have. In either case we can experience freedom. Freedom from chasing illusions and the unobtainable. Our energy is focused in an entirely different way. We are no longer chasing shadows.

  • Kindness . . . Where will that get me?

    Image by Александр Мартинкевич from Pixabay
    Hate is on the agenda, the 1% are getting attention, so the rest of us need to work harder

    In light of that heading let’s just remind ourselves what there is to gain from kindness. You never know, this short post might make you aware of something, you didn’t previously know. And once reminded of the benefits and power of kindness we’re then much more likely to spread the message.

    It does seem the media are focusing on hate and deep down we all know why; it grabs attention. We’re bombarded at the moment with all the incidents of hate and the consequences. Our curiosity is piqued, we want to know how tough others lives are. We want to feel some light relief and distraction from our own problems. This is the human condition and the media know it. On the back of this we must always remember the figures in my opening heading: it’s the 1% we’re currently having an issue with and if it wasn’t for the media they wouldn’t have a voice and our lives would be less affected. Unfortunately, that isn’t the world we currently live in. So the antidote is for the rest of us to focus more intently on kindness, the advantages to us, and how we can spread it around a bit.

    Spread it like chocolate spread on toast or marmite if that’s your preference

    Let’s start with the understanding of where kindness will get us. In days of old we believed that kindness would earn us merit and increase the chances of being taken off to a better place after death. Of course many people still believe this, and yet fail at being kind, so that ones out the window. However, there is another slant, on the kindness issue. And even though you won’t earn merit in the heaven stakes, what you will earn, is a calmer state of mind. You will earn peace of mind.

    The way this works is simple. Before explaining that we must start with understanding hate

    Let’s say for example you object to the actions, campaigning, beliefs – or whatever – of a certain individual, and you would like them to stop. Let’s say you decide to start your own campaign of hate. Straight away we can know that this kind of strategy might make you feel better for a short while and indeed you might feel that it is having an effect. Over time though, this kind of thinking, begins to create rot.

    The hatred begins to compound itself and its force becomes stronger. It permeates through your entire being. In the end it will always end in tears. We can go further. At its root, hate, is fear. It could be that it’s the campaigning of others that is a threat to your beliefs and way of life. When such things are threatened fear is triggered at a deep level. We only need to question the shaky beliefs of religious zealots to see how fear manifests itself.

    So instead let’s say you begin a campaign of kindness

    As mentioned, kindness offers peace of mind and calmness to the giver. This works in the same way that hating compounds hate. Kindness compounds kindness through tapping into the associated emotion: Love. Yeap, love is the word. And that is what we need more of.

    So how do we start a campaign of kindness when we are afraid? Well we must own up. We must own up to our fear. When we are afraid it is almost impossible to project love and kindness. Owning up to this defuses its power. When we say: “Yeap, what you are doing frightens me,” we defuse the hate that’s there on all sides. We then begin to build a common understanding of how we can move forward from the issues at hand.

    The individual who is campaigning against what he sees as wrongdoing must recognize the hate that exists within him

    Such an individual may think that his campaigning is doing good, and yet fail to see how his beliefs in right and wrong, are the real problem. When we’re offering kindness to each other right and wrong cease to exist. We begin to understand the viewpoints of all concerned.

    So there we are. Do yourself a favour and offer kindness today. It will calm you and offer a peace of mind that facilitates understanding. When we understand the fear, love, is free to roam.

  • Beans on Toast

    Image by Andi Perdana from Pixabay 
    There are times when all we want is uncomplicated nutrition

    It’s the staff of life isn’t it? Beans on Toast. Tasty, simple and easy to cook. And how lovely it is to be offered something simple that’s tasty and nutritious. So how about a little Beans on Toast for the mind? How about something that’s simple yet easy to understand, universal in it’s nature, and powerfully beneficial in the real world.

    So often nowadays the information we’re bombarded with is complicated, unnecessary and often confusing. We have people with Degree’s in everything from Jazz Dance to Surf Science and we’re all trying to be smarter and wealthier than the next person as a result. I really feel it’s time to get back to basics and remind ourselves about some important healthy mind ingredients.

    Let’s start with togetherness

    Even though governments have successfully instilled the importance of keeping socially distant, wearing masks and washing hands etc, we must remember how importance it is that we retain an awareness of how crucial our togetherness is. All we need do is simply remind ourselves that we are in fact all in this together. We might need to remain mindful of not transferring a virus, yet we must also remain mindful of compassion, gentleness and our oneness.

    The emptiness of no identity is all about recognising our oneness

    In some respects the Buddhists are on to something with their concept of emptiness. They say that we are all intrinsically interdependent and there is no such thing as I. In this respect, if we weren’t all so keen and building such powerful identities, perhaps we would gain a better sense of how we are all one; one species that is interdependent with everything around us.

    But let’s not get too distracted, Buddhism is certainly one of those subjects that we humans have chosen to overcomplicate. Suffice to say, when we put aside our precious identity and look a little deeper, we will clearly see the oneness we posses with each and everyone around us. Know that the man or woman who seems so different to you is in fact, at their root, the same as you. It is our failing to recognize this fundamental truth that causes our prejudice, hatred and opinions, to form. At root we are all one.

    Love is not something to work at it is something to feel for ourselves

    Our togetherness is so much easier to foster once we see the importance of love for ourselves. We must remember that the aspects we dislike about ourselves are something that has been taught to us – or learned by us as a result of childhood confusion. We project these (often unconscious) unlikable aspects on to others. We feel prejudice toward others when we believe in there being something wrong; that there is something wrong with how a person behaves, looks or sounds. That there is something wrong with us. Forget wrong or right. See the whole person. See them just as you are: Learning to be a better person. Learning how to become whole.

    So there we are, some simple nutrition for the mind. And you know what? I fancy some beans on toast for my tea. How about you?

  • Protected: Doubt: A Bigger Monster Than You Might Think

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  • The Long Game Plan

    When we compare the kind of mindset it takes to be successful, against that of successful failure (we only ever succeed at failing), we reduce the margin for error.

    People who regularly achieve success in their personal and business lives do so through their ability to plan. There are short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans. Playing the long game is all about long-term plans.

    Think of what it takes to knit a jumper. The first thing we must do is work to a plan. We have the body of the jumper, front and back, we then have the sleeves and the neck. All in all, there are five elements. When knitting the separate parts to our jumper, it does take some imaginative skill to see it as a complete garment.

    One thing to consider at this point is, we don’t actually need to be able to see the complete garment in our minds eye, all we need is a plan that will eventually bring all the parts together

    It’s a little like modern airliners that are made in different factories in different parts of the world. At some point in the future, all the separate parts are brought together and assembled to make a complete plane.

    The person making a wing, doesn’t need concern himself with how the plane will look once completed. Neither does he need to know how to build the engine. His job is to construct the wing, and that’s it.

    In the same respect, when it comes to business or personal lives, for that matter, we must take each element and focus on them individually for the greatest success.

    Compartmentalization is the ability to focus on one aspect of the plan, to the exclusion of all other aspects, until it comes to the final assembly.

    Keeping our minds in the present moment means we lose sight of the outcome of our long-term plans

    There is a benefit to this in respect of us breaking things down into their component elements; being in the moment means we focus on that single element at that moment in time.

    When working in this manner, the day to day, or moment to moment elements of any long-term plan may seem trivial and insignificant. When the results of each day are fairly small, compared to the eventual outcome, we can become disheartened.

    Even though this is the case, we must be cautious with how much time we spend with our minds in places other than the present moment.

    The long-term goal, as with our jumper or plane, is for all the individual elements to finally come together. If we distract ourselves too much with this aim, we may fail. Especially if the long-term plan is something that covers a good number of years.

    So to sum up. When there are many elements, long-term goals must be planned and executed separately. By keeping our minds in the now moment, once a plan has been drawn up, we ensure each element is completed to the best of our abilities. Spending too much time, envisioning how things will look at the end of the term, can be disheartening and counterproductive.

    Personal development can be seen as an important first element to any plan

    Be it improvements needed in our personal lives or our business lives, understanding how best to use our time and attention means greater success all round. Ultimately, the clearer the plan and the time span decided for it, the more efficiently we use our valuable time.   

  • A Peaceful Journey Now

    “Those who know don’t talk, those who talk don’t know. Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity. Be like the Tao. It can’t be approached or withdrawn from, benefited or harmed, honoured or brought into disgrace. it gives itself up continually. That is why it endures.” – Lao Tzu

    Take some time to read and digest my analysis of this ancient wisdom. Later, the text in the headings, is to be learnt by heart. In this way, you’ll create a sense of safety and security, as you return to it, each time, you meditate.

    Those who know don’t talk . . .

    We become silent once we understand how forming and expressing opinions trap us. The beliefs our opinions are based on may be outdated and incorrect. If we form and verbalize them we compound them. Silence starts the process of freeing the mind.

    Those who talk don’t know . . .

    Actions speak louder than words. Our behaviour sets example and this will always be the most effective means of influencing others. Commanding the ear is one of the most challenging things we can attempt. It is rare that we are heard. We talk until we understand.

    Close your mouth . . .

    Become accustomed to silence.

    Block off your senses . . .

    Close your senses to those things and people that disrupt your peaceful state of mind. This includes the ramblings of the media; their judgmental and childish opinions on all things. The world begins to change according to your state of mind alone. Filling it with the opinions, hatred, propaganda, fear and willful mind games of the media, has no value and serves no purpose.

    Blunt your sharpness . . .

    A sharp knife is useful when preparing a meal. A mind that is overly excited or overstressed is running beyond it’s design capabilities. Let the knife do the cutting. Calm yourself, learn patience, breathe deeply and approach everything in a relaxed, mindful manner.

    Untie your knots . . .

    Consider the amount of conflict in your life. A knot is a sticking point. If you’re uncertain about something, cease thinking about it. Better still, remove it from your life, entirely. Worry and repetitive thinking is pointless. You didn’t ask to be born and yet you are here. It was the pleasure of others that created you. Therefore, it is right and proper that you should seek to enjoy every moment of your life, free from knots and confusion.

    Soften your glare . . .

    Your eyes are beautiful. Avert your eyes from what upsets you. Gently look upon those things that make you smile and bring you pleasure. Never look upon things in judgment. You have no right to make a judgement with a harsh look, just as no other, has the right to judge you. Looking harshly, we fail to see the beauty, that surrounds us.

    Settle your dust . . .

    Walk slowly and calmly among the people. Never raise a storm, always speak in soft and gentle tones. Anger and frustration, at those things we have no control over, only unsettles us from our peaceful path.

    This is the primal identity . . .

    All of the above resides within us. Imagine what happens to us when we start to believe that love is what we are.

    Be like the Tao . . .

    Adopt and follow beautiful, useful philosophies, and beliefs.

    It can’t be approached or withdrawn from . . .

    There is no need for us to seek something we already possess, all we need do, is raise our awareness to our true nature. Once we find this, it becomes impossible, to ignore.

    Benefited or harmed . . .

    Nothing can be added to an ingredient that is already perfect. It is impossible to harm something untouchable. You either know it or you don’t. It is what you are.

    Honoured or brought into disgrace . . .

    Again something that is untouchable has this neutrality. We cannot honour or disgrace something that is free of want. It just is.

    It gives itself up continually . . .

    We only know what we have once we give it away. When we recognise something there is a continuation. A river must keep flowing, because without this flow, it becomes a stagnant pool. We must accept that the things we give away become self-perpetuating.

    That is why it endures . . .

    What remains after we are gone are the things we freely gave away. Never the physical, but the kind words, the gentle consideration to others, the love and compassion. Generation after generation, will be affected by your actions and words, forever. As the Tao, Love endures.

  • Easy Self-Discipline

    Sometimes it can seem like the hardest thing in the world

    There are days, or is it just moments, where we think: what exactly is the point? What is it, this feeling, of not wanting people to bother with us? We don’t want them to talk to us or try to communicate with us on any level. We want to sleep, but can’t.

    Is this just a down day? Of course it is, and yet, when there’s a part of us that felt so alive and enthusiastic for life yesterday, we can’t help wondering, what the hell has happened for all this to change?

    The energy within each trigger

    Beliefs are very much dependent on triggers. Events that occur throughout the course of the day influence the flow of electrochemical energy flowing through our brains. When we think of the interconnected nature of the neurons within our brains, it’s easy to understand how this flow can influence our thinking.

    In terms of how long they’re being fueled, by this electrochemical energy, beliefs can be relatively short-lived. As each belief is triggered and then replaced by one that has a greater energetic trigger (emotion), we feel our moods shifting and changing.

    Our mood and mental health change from day to day

    And so, as we can see, our mental health changes from moment to moment. It can take the slightest thing to change how we feel; for our beliefs to shift. This could be something a person has said or not said, for that matter. It could be the company we keep. Is it the influence of others deciding our mental stability? Perhaps it’s simply the tiring effect.

    It doesn’t matter how impervious to the influence of others that we feel we’ve trained ourselves to become. People can still affect our moods and mindset. The alternative to this is being alone. It can be time alone that’s altering our mood. We can become withdrawn and inwardly focused, feeling like we’ve lost our motivation. How strange the mind is that it can alter, or be altered, so simply and inexplicably.

    So here we come the issue of self-discipline

    How can we keep ourselves on track and motivated when it seems our mind has different plans? This has a lot to do with understanding how we’re allowing ourselves to be distracted. What is it we’re doing to alter mood and mindset? What are we doing to alter our mental health?

    When we look deeper, we will see that to a greater extent than we realise, it is actually us that’s doing the changing. It is us that’s responsible for these seemingly inexplicable shifts.

    Put yourself in the place of someone you believe to have immense stability, self-discipline, and determination

    Take the racing driver, Lewis Hamilton, as an example. What does this person have that enables him to be so consistently good? What does he have that makes him such an achiever? What is the secret to his consistency? It’s more than a good car, that’s for sure. A winning car is only this way when driven by a passionate and winning driver. Not to mention his team; the people around him.

    Self-discipline involves the matter of consistency and stability coming from within

    In other words, we must keep ourselves aware of any inconsistencies within our patterns of thought and behaviour. Take diet as a simple yet powerful example. We might think it okay to eat well and healthy one day, and the next, just pig-out on sugary and fatty junk foods. This might be a pattern of behaviour. It could well be a pattern that’s been allowed to build in strength for years and years; as such, it’s something we’re no longer fully conscious of.

    If this type of eating were a followed pattern, it would be a prime example of how we change moods from the inside out. We might now think that this is a chicken and the egg situation: that it’s the mood prompting the day of junk food or whatever. It is more likely, though, that it’s simply a pattern – established many years ago – being acted out, over and over again. It’s this that’s changing mind. We are what we eat.

    Take a moment now to think back to the consistency of our racing driver

    During the racing season, you can be sure Lewis Hamilton will be following strict routines. His patterns of thought and behaviour will be stable and consistently beneficial to winning races. He will have an awareness of this. So when it comes to self-discipline, it’s far easier to have this when we’re aware of what we might be doing to alter our mindset from within. On a daily basis, we must ask ourselves:

    How am I making this harder for myself?

    What am I doing that is in direct conflict with being consistent and stable?

    Diet, thoughts, and behaviour have a lot more to do with conflict than we might first realise. If we’re to find stability and consistency, self-discipline must extend to all aspects of our lives .

    Important ingredients to success

    Take a few more moments to imagine what kind of mindset our racing driver possesses. Actually, close your eyes and imagine. Imagine his exercise regime; his diet, and the people around him. Consider his general lifestyle. With this, think about his moods, mindset, and mental health. What place is he in psychologically? 

    Apply this to yourself

    Think of what changes and improvements to lifestyle, diet, thoughts, and behaviour you must now make. The outcome will be consistency and stability that begins from the inside out.

    Along with thinking skills, one very important aspect of routine and self-discipline is the ability to stop thought and just act. In other words, it’s our self-talk; our internal chatter, which can sometimes be the problem. By ceasing internal chatter – and just doing things routinely – we increase good habits and patterns of behaviour.

    Often, all we need to do is simply stop thinking about it and act. As Ralph Waldo Emerson put it: “Do the thing, and you will have the power.” Discipline yourself and just do it.