I wish you a good morning. Now turn your good morning into a good day. Grab some paper and spend a few minutes writing down the reasons why you should have a productive day. How will it benefit you? Other people? What are the drawbacks of not being productive? Also, think about how you know you will feel after a productive day.

Given much thought to the town you live in lately? Whether you chose it or not, this place is your home. So take the time to reflect on what’s good about it. Why do you like living there?  What does it have to offer? If somebody was visiting – where would you tell them to go? One weekend you could even get out and about with your camera and take snaps of all the good things.

I enjoy a good laugh. I also am happy to laugh at myself when I say something silly or do something daft. Far better than getting grumpy I think. I also don’t have a problem with others laughing along with me. However, I do have a rule. If you are going to laugh at me, then you have to be willing to let me laugh at you.  There’s no point getting upset or defensive, these are rules I’m afraid. I figure if you don’t like it, then don’t laugh at …

In my book, you have an opportunity to review and reflect on your past successes and achievements. Towards the end, I ask: “what one thing are you most proud of?”. The reason I mention this is because on the day the proof copy of my book arrived, I opened it up to read this very question. My answer had to be that very moment. Standing there with a book I had written – with my name on it! I could not recall feeling prouder of something I had achieved.
Interestingly, from …

Gratitude is about having an awareness of and appreciation for the good things in your life and not taking them for granted. It is about acknowledging the of others.  As such, it helps us recognise that we are not solitary creatures and that others have helped and supported us along the way.  Gratitude is an important character strength that is strongly correlated with happiness. It is a very positive emotion; after all it is hardly likely that a person can feel bitter, angry and resentful at the same time …

“People only see what they are prepared to see.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
In this article I provide some reflections on Emerson’s quote and offer a number of tips you can use in your own life. The overall theme is about our individual awareness and perception of the world.
This quote, to me, is about perception and how people see the world around them. Essentially, people only see what they are ready and willing to. As such, people are sometimes prepared only to see the worst – whether it is in regards to …

“Anything you’re good at contributes to happiness.” Bertrand Russell
This article provides some of my thoughts and reflections on Russell’s quote and offers you tips to use in your own life. The theme of this article is about enhancing happiness through using your skills and talents.
What you are good at
This quote is quite self-explanatory. Quite simply, all those things you do well in will increase your happiness. It’s not hard to see why. We all feel happiest when we are doing the things we love. It’s not just about your practical …

This week, take the time to ask yourself, ‘what does happiness mean to me?’. You could begin by defining your own version of happiness. Then, using your definition, reflect on the things you do in your life that bring you closer to happiness. Perhaps also think about the things you would like to do more of, to increase your chances of reaching your definition of happiness. Having reflected, get on and do them!

One moment this week, stop what you are doing and engage in the present. What are you doing? How are you feeling? What can you see, hear, smell, taste and touch? Forget about the past and don’t worry about the future. Just enjoy the here and now.

Write a list of 10 people who have had an influence on the life you have today. They do not necessarily have to be people you know, simply people you admire. Then think about how they have influenced your life. Don’t forget, keep it positive!