Becoming an optimist

I’m a glass half full person, seeing the positive in most situations. A friend of mine takes the opposite view. Expect the worst and you won’t be disappointed could be his motto. Can I change him? Should I want to? What about you, could you be more optimistic? Research suggests that optimists have better relationships and even live […]

Stepping outside our comfort zone

We feel comfortable within our comfort zone. It is a good pace to be, we aren’t stretching ourselves and it feels comfortable!  Moving on we must go through a period of uncertainty and there is fear and a lacking confidence that makes us want to go back to where we do feel safe and secure. […]

Thinking Topic: How to converse

Most times people don’t have a conversation, they talk at people. Don’t really listen (as they are planning what to say next). As part of the Meaningful Discussions project I host, we discussed the topic – The Lost Art of Conversation. We watch a number of videos, and I diligently took notes. Here are some […]

It’s good to be quiet and take time for yourself

I’ve been on a group holiday. Fine if you like being social, but I like a lot of time to myself, and with a room mate who loved to talk it was tiring. We are different, and we need to respect differences. We can be quiet in the way we communicate. We can also be […]

We should act from compassion

There is something about spending time with Buddhist teachers; they radiate calmness and happiness.  I always feel more at peace. At a recent talk by the Venerable Joan from Kopan Monastery much of what she said resonated with my work.  I like that religion is downplayed and the focus is on personal or spiritual development. […]

Demonstrating empathy at interview

Most people think we are recruited for our skills, but these can be learned. What’s essential are well developed social skills.  Empathy is an important. Empathy is the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. You can demonstrate this at interview when […]

Stay Calm to be more effective

This morning I travelled to Heathrow, leaving for Nepal. I’ve allowed plenty of time – getting the earlier train to allow for any delay. I’m generally calm except for the recurring slight anxiety I get when flying. Once I’m at my destination I’m fine. But other people … On the linked air/bus from Reading to […]

The importance of self care

Selfcare is important. We can’t help others if we don’t look after ourselves first. On a plane we are told to put on our own oxygen mask before helping others. We need to do the same in life. We know this. But we forget this. I’m mindful of this as I’ve been busy of late […]

Be you …

Talking with a friend yesterday about how easy it is to be true to ourselves and how much we need to adapt to fit in with others’ expectations. We talked about work. Trying to be the sort of person you think an employer wants is hard. We must hold back on authenticity and present an […]

A vision for your life

I’m happy that I’ve got the reality of my vision for my life. I’m more focused on having a balanced life, but not just between work and my personal life. I want to give back to the community too. Work-Life Balance Since my transition to living alone last year this has been an easy one […]