Careless Listener

You may have wondered about the effectiveness of your way of communicating with others. You may have experienced the unpleasant feeling of not being able to make your interlocutor really get what you are saying. For example, you are sure you expressed your preference on something very clearly, yet such preference is ignored. Why? There can be several explanations. Your interlocutor 1.doesn't pay attention to what you say; 2.they don't give importance to what you say; 3.they don't care about what you say; 4.they forget what you say; 5.they choose to do what they like regardless of what you say. It's quite a list! What conclusion can you reach? If you are not particularly connected to such careless person, you can avoid communicating with them as much as possible. If you care or if you must keep in touch, be patient and bravely accept... There is no other way. They won't change!        

Cornerstone

Very well, you want to be happy. That’s only fair because it is your birthright. So, in your pursuit of happiness, you have a plan all clearly displayed in front of your eyes. 'I must…Do this. Do that. Say this. Buy that.’ Wonderful resolutions. Just one comment: are you sure that, while you are planning your path towards happiness, you aren’t forgetting one basic thing? Something that is actually the cornerstone for your metaphorical building. What is it? What do you have to do? Just pause. Start by being totally present in the here and now, pay attention to the blessings you have been given, that you should be enjoying this very moment, and the next. Be thankful. Once you feel you are fully aware of your steady and confident starting point, from such base you can resume your run, and start making things even better. 

Inattention

You take time for granted. You spend your day in the usual way. Now focus on today. You may think that nothing particularly exciting is happening, so you tend to just do what you have to do, what you are expected to do, and move on, without paying attention to the fact that time is passing and you may be missing out on something interesting. ‘What?’, you may ask, ‘I always perform the same actions’. But in performing the same actions, and doing the same things, there are little hidden ‘surprises’ that can be discovered. If you take the time to observe the sky, or a tree, a beautiful lamp in your living room, if you focus on the music you are listening to, or savor your coffee or meal, that is if you present, you may appreciate your capability to choose what to do, and the pleasure that things can give you.

 

Missing the Solution

Imagine this scenario. You have traveled for a long time and, all of a sudden, you realize that you have been going in the wrong direction. You don’t know what to do. You start thinking of all the time you lost, the gas you used up, the money you spent. Consequently, you feel upset. In your grim wonderings, you miss glimpsing at the solution of your problem. You can simply turn around, and go back. You can retrace your steps. Similarly, you can forget about what you did wrong. It’s done and you can’t change it. But you can start again. It’s not easy to turn one’s life around, change stuff you had grown used to, all you are familiar with. But once you open your eyes and realize that all ‘this’ (people, habits , environment etc.) is not good for you, just give it a cut and start anew. Whoever is motivated enough can do it. So, if you feel you need it, you can, too.

Contemporary Shows

Consider the majority of cinematic productions, nowadays, whose subjects are 'negative' (violence, crime, horror etc.). Even if the evil character gets caught (although not always) and punished, most of the story is about violence and crime, which is what will stick in the viewers' memory. The aim of such programs is just to make money by attracting the audience's morbid interests. The few shows portraying positive feelings and good actions, although the aim is the same (making money), at least the focus is  constructive. And they leave your eyes filled with pleasant images and your heart filled with uplifting feelings. But, sadly, they are an almost a negligible amount.

     

No 'Tomorrow' Granted

When you are tempted to overlook an opportunity that is presented to you because you are doubtful, shy, indecisive, self-conscious, or because you think you still have plenty of time to carry out that project or to show someone that you care...be very, very careful! Whatever you are missing on today, may be lost forever. The tomorrow you are so sure about, is not sure at all. You were never promised that tomorrow you will have another opportunity, another intuition, another useful advice, another good person in your life. You just cannot 'know'. Therefore, try to be alert to what the Universe presents to you, take into consideration whatever is worth it and then act - right away. Don't procrastinate to a tomorrow that may be totally different from what you expected and planned for. It may even...never come. 

It Makes a Difference

At times you might be tempted to consider some words you utter, some actions you carry out as insignificant, almost meaningless. But none are. Everything that is ‘done’ affects yourself, others, the whole surrounding. They may be small things, yet they do have an effect. If you endeavor to stay alert as often as possible, you realize that it is true. Such realization will encourage you to speak and act in the best way possible. A kinder word, a helpful action, no matter how small, will be appreciated. Besides, they will also make you feel better. Not many people pay attention to how much their usual behavior affects their own mood. Furthermore, they are unaware that their uncaring attitude has become a deep-rooted, comfortable habit, so they don't deem it necessary to consider the feelings of others, thus jeopardizing also their own.