Healthcare workers across Northern Ireland have spoken of the inspiration and motivation the now weekly Clap for Carers gives them.

hey said the scenes of people coming out to show their appreciation gave them a sense of real pride in being on the frontline of the coronavirus battle.

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A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

A piper plays for NHS staff at the RVH in Belfast as Northern Ireland claps for the NHS on April 23rd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

Now in its fifth week, the national clap for carers sees people line the streets up and down the country to show their support and gratitude for key workers facing down the virus each day.

In Belfast the sound of the shipyard siren was heard for the first time in decades as it joined in the celebration while in Derry the former Ebrington shirt factory horn was heard across the city.

Landmarks and public buildings have also lit up blue across Northern Ireland.

Martina Finn a specialist nurse at the Ulster Hospital said it was "overwhelming" to see so many come out each week to show their support especially in her own neighbourhood.

"It is just amazing," she said, "You feel appreciated, you feel valued, you feel very much part of your community and that you are doing a good job.

"It is lovely."

Caroline Fitzsimmons, deputy ward sister at the Downe Hospital said on the first week she felt embarrassed about the cheer as she was "only doing her job".

"Now I am very grateful to the public for their appreciation and for staying at home," she said.

Dr Cathal Foy has been a doctor for 30 years and said he had never known such support for the NHS.

"You give us the courage to do our jobs, thank you," the consultant geriatrician said.

Joanne Carson lead nurse at the Downe said it was a time to be proud of the contribution of her colleagues and friends.

"Not just in hospital but in primary care, care homes and wider emergency services," she said.

"I personally feel proud not only to be part of wider health service family but to be a nurse and to lead a team of exceptional nurses through this very exceptional time."

Lisa Ross a student nurse at the Downe said it was people staying at home had eased pressures on the health service.

Deputy ward sister Suzanne Madine said for her it was a recognition of staff who had cared for those that had lost their lives.

"We are all aware of how difficult it is for families and we just want to support them," she said.

Social workers Gail Howie and Hayley Jordan said the applause helped give them rmotivation and the positivity to do their work.

Gail said it was humbling to be supporting families and patients at this difficult time.

"Within the Mid Ulster Hospital we are so proud to be part of a great team... thank you all so much for your support" said Hayley.

Belfast Telegraph

More here:
Clap for carers: Health workers speak of motivation and inspiration behind weekly cheer across Northern Ireland - Belfast Telegraph

April 24, 2020Updated: April 24, 2020 10:08p.m.

COVID-19 has left many of us uncertain about our future. President Donald Trump was doing exactly the wrong things while being warned of a killer pandemic by a chorus of scientists and doctors.

But the failings of American medicine can't be blamed on just one person. Both parties are owned by Big Pharma and the insurance lobby. Our profit-driven medical system will excel at only one outcome in this crisis, the piling up of more bodies than any other country in the world.

There are other existential uncertainties lying just below the surface. Our leaders seem obsessed with militarism, with battles being waged in multiple countries. Iran and Venezuela seem to be the next designated targets of the empire's war machine. If that wasn't dangerous enough, the United States has been shredding treaties like the Iran nuclear deal, the nuclear arms control treaties with Russia and the open skies treaty. All of these agreements were put into place to avoid the type of nuclear conflagration that would end life as we know it on earth.

Here, we sit in our houses because there is a raging pandemic outside our front door. Our foolhardy leaders have left us to face this killer alone. What makes us think that these same leaders won't let us stumble into a nuclear winter, too? The American system is run to make huge corporations billions of dollars. Nothing matters beyond this crude profit motive not we the people, nor our sweet land of liberty.

Continue reading here:
Leaders motivated solely by profit in health crisis - Times Union

The string of good outings by the Indian women's hockey team last year has helped keep the entire group motivated as they continue working hard despite COVID-19 lockdown, feels forward Navjot Kaur.

The year gone by was fruitful one for the Indian women, which saw them produce some outstanding performances across tournaments. They won the FIH Women's Series Finals Hiroshima 2019, Olympic Test Event in Japan, and the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Odisha, along with victories in their tours of Spain, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and England.

"I think the kind of performances we produced in 2019, especially at the FIH Women's Series Finals and FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers, has really helped us to stay motivated and continue putting in the hard yards in whatever way we can," Kaur was quoted as saying in a Hockey India press release.

The coronavirus outbreak, that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has forced the sporting world to come to a standstill. The Tokyo Olympics have also been pushed to 2021.

In this testing time, the 25-year-old says the team is focussing on maintaining fitness and staying in touch with the sport as much as possible.

"There's no doubt that it's been difficult for everyone across the globe, but we have to stay positive and continue moving forward. All of us here are working very hard on our fitness and stick-work drills in our rooms."

The forward added that the players have also got a chance to indulge in their hobbies and catch up on a few shows.

"We are utilizing our time to pursue our hobbies as well. Usually, we don't have a lot of time and therefore I am really enjoying drawing, colouring and catching up on a few shows on Netflix.

The the 24-member core probables for the Olympic Games are currently stationed at the SAI Centre here.

"Staying here in Bengaluru has helped me keep busy. I guess if all of us can maintain a fixed routine, we can definitely stay positive and hope for the best," Kaur said.

Last week, the Indian women's hockey team launched a fun fitness challenge to raise funds for the migrant labourers whose families have been affected by the nationwide lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team has raised over Rs 15 lakh and crowd funding will continue till May 3.

"The response to the fun fitness challenge initiative has been absolutely amazing. We have to fight this battle together and it's great to see people around the country accepting our challenges and donating funds."

"People coming together from all walks of life to help the underprivileged during this difficult time raises all our hopes. We just have to take each day as it comes and one day we will be victorious," Kaur said.

Read more from the original source:
Last year's performances have kept us motivated, women's hockey forward Navjot Kaur - Deccan Herald

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Apr. 20, 2020, at 6:32 PM

Over the past week, protests against COVID-19 mitigation measures have popped up in state capitals around the country. In this installment of the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast, the crew discusses whats motivating the protests, as well as President Trumps support for them. The team also weighs the electoral pros and cons of possible vice presidential picks for apparent Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

You can listen to the episode by clicking the play button in the audio player above or by downloading it in iTunes, the ESPN App or your favorite podcast platform. If you are new to podcasts, learn how to listen.

The FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast publishes Mondays and Thursdays. Help new listeners discover the show by leaving us a rating and review on iTunes. Have a comment, question or suggestion for good polling vs. bad polling? Get in touch by email, on Twitter or in the comments.

Galen Druke is FiveThirtyEights podcast producer and reporter.

Micah Cohen is FiveThirtyEights managing editor.

Clare Malone is a senior political writer for FiveThirtyEight.

Nate Silver is the founder and editor in chief of FiveThirtyEight.

Read the original here:
Politics Podcast: What Is Motivating The COVID-19 Protests? - FiveThirtyEight

The London Marathon was due to be held on April 26 before it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the marathon's official coaches, Martin Yelling, explains ways to stay physically fit and mentally positive despite the disappointment.

It's natural to feel a bit disappointed - people that were planning on doing it were hugely excited.

They were going to raise a lot of money for really important charities and have a really amazing day, so it's quite natural to feel a bit deflated ... but it's absolutely the right decision given the context of where we are.

Perspective is really important. The marathon will always be there next year and you'll have your day.

Martin Yelling, Official marathon coach

Why not challenge yourself in a different way? The rearranged October 4 date is a little way off, but setting and completing a more immediate goal may help you to boost motivation.

What you find sometimes when you set yourself a challenge like that, something immediate. That also triggers something in you that says 'well, I want to keep this going, actually I can keep this going - I want to keep this motivated'.

Now could also be the time to reflect on the reason you were running the marathon in the first place - to help others - which may help you get your trainers back on.

Martin Yelling, Official marathon coach

Use your running as a tool to boost both mental and physical wellbeing, getting some time outside and to yourself in these current times can be invaluable.

Physical exercise can also help provide a sense of rhythm and normality in times of uncertainty.

If you don't feel like getting your trainers on one day, don't pressure yourself to do so - don't feel bad for not going out.

Martin Yelling, Official marathon coach

It's up to you, but the marathon's organisers recommend that those who were signed up to run in 2020 should aim to run on October 4.

Martin Yelling, Official marathon coach

It is important not to leap back into something too quickly and risk injuring yourself.

Gradually layer personal fitness and adapt training to continuing public health rules, including working out at home and going on solo runs.

If you were following a training plan back in January, February, March, just pick that up and put it into July, August, September, leading into October.

Martin Yelling, Official marathon coach

It's hard to give generic advice because every runner is different, but the principles of getting yourself ready for a marathon stay the same.

You may need to juggle your regular routine when re-building a structured training plan, but the key thing is to not be over-ambitious - know yourself.

You may find running at a particular time of day suits you, depending on how you respond to the heat, but remember to always stay hydrated.

Martin Yelling, Official marathon coach

A number of 'negotiations' will have to take place and childcare schedules may have to be adjusted - consider running in the mornings if you can bear to get up.

Martin Yelling, Official marathon coach

See original here:
London Marathon blues: How to stay motivated despite the event being postponed - ITV News

Staying motivated can sometimes be challenging and in these chaotic times, even more so. However, here are some tips to ensure you don't get discouraged and get a step closer to achieving your fitness goals. Define the goal: Make an extremely clear note of the goal. Define it as clearly as possible and state exactly what you want to achieve and by when. Understand your why: You may know what you want, you may even have an idea of how to achieve it but what is really important is understanding why you want it. Whatever the reason may be, write it down and be honest. Knowing why you want it and looking at your reason from time to time, will remind you why you started in the first place and help you stay on track. Make a plan: Now that you know your goal and why you want to achieve it, it is time to make a clear, definitive plan. The route should be well understood and realistic. Things you can ask yourself while making the plan include how you are going to achieve it, time you can dedicate each day to achieve your goal, understand your calorie intake and output (in terms of food and exercise), if you are doing this alone or going to get a buddy or trainer to help you through it etc. Break goals into tasks: You might have one massive goal, but a great way to stay on track is to break them up into smaller tasks. Achieving those little tasks along the way will help you stay motivated and guide you towards achieving the ultimate goal. Keep it positive: When you make your plan, and break up your goals you will find things easier to handle. As you achieve each little goal or task, do not forget to be proud of yourself. If for some reason there has been a delay don't beat yourself up on it, work harder, stay positive and catch up. Organise: Ensure everything is well organised from the very beginning. For example, know what you are eating for the next few days, plan ahead and get the right groceries. Another example is making sure you know your workout hour in the day, so nothing can come between you and your workout. Be well prepared so that there are no last minute surprises. Zone: It is important to stay in the zone and focus. One way of doing that is having a regular routine and knowing when you are doing what and what is next. Sometimes listening to motivational music, speeches or even just having a simple task book to tick things off can help. Keep it fun: This is something I find extremely important in order to stay on track. We sometimes forget how important it is to have fun doing the things we are doing and enjoying the journey! If you have fun while working towards your goal there are extremely low chances of you falling off the bandwagon. Find a trainer who motivates you and makes sessions fun, or just try different exercise forms until you find something you enjoy! I assure you you will find something that will keep you on track. Deadlines: It is really important to form deadlines and try to stick to them. Be realistic and set a deadline for each task and the goal as a whole, this will direct your energy towards achieving your goal. Reward yourself: Last but not the least, do not forget to reward yourself. Appreciate yourself and be proud of everything you have achieved. No matter how far you have come, it is definitely more than where you started and that in itself is awesome! And when you do achieve your final goal, reward yourself, you now have officially earned that 'treat meal'. Inputs by Pilates Coach Namrata Purohit

Read more here:
Stay motivated when working out at home - Times of India

Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher thinks there will be hockey this summer.

And that belief comes from what he knows about one of the men in charge.

Speaking on a conference call with reporters Thursday, Gallagher said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is very motivated when it comes to completing the 2019-20 campaign.

The league paused its season March 12 with 189 games left on the regular schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There have been rumours and reports about various scenarios for an eventual return to play, including the league centralizing each of its four divisions in separate cities, sequestering players, games without fans, and the playoffs bleeding into August and September.

Gallagher said if had to wager and its only a guess the puck will indeed be dropped sometime after Canada Day.

A lot depends on the medical professionals, he said. To me, it just really feels like Gary Bettmans going to try and do whatever he can to have hockey. Hes going to have to meet a lot of our needs as players and what were gonna obviously want back. But if I had to guess, I think therell be some form of Stanley Cup playoffs.

Theyre probably going to have to get creative with the format at this point, but if I had to guess Id say at some point the Stanley Cup would get awarded.

But Gallagher, whos been on every NHL Players Association call since the season was halted, said its unlikely there will be unanimity from the league or the players on whatever decision is eventually made.

The Canadiens sat 10 points out of the playoffs with 11 games left on their schedule when the NHL halted proceedings amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, meaning if the regular season had played out as usual, Montreal would already be looking towards training camp in the fall.

It always comes back to the same thing its about winning, said Gallagher, whos close with Canadiens NHLPA representative Paul Byron. If (playing this summers) gonna interfere with our ability to prepare for (2020-21) where we have a chance, Id rather continue my training.

If its a situation where you have a chance to play and they expand the playoff bracket, obviously, then Id be all for it. Every player is going to think selfishly. For us, Id rather be here preparing for next year and get my body ready for whatever you have to do to have a chance to win. And obviously the players that are in contention, theyre gonna want to go play no matter what.

Its definitely not a given that the entire league is going to be on board with one thing.

But Gallagher who referred to himself as a pretty optimistic guy believes theres a way forward.

A lot of its outside our control, he said. A lot of it is what the medical professionals say and what the scientists are saying and what the mayors, the governors are all saying, and if its even allowed.

I will say this: I know Gary Bettman is very motivated to play these games so I think theres probably some form of solution to his problem.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2020.

___

Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

NHL

Excerpt from:
Habs winger Brendan Gallagher: Bettman very motivated to play these games - Lacombe Express

ITS not easy for players to stay fit during the lockdown when you dont have a definite date of when the league will return.

As I wrote in last weeks article, I think its highly unlikely that the League of Ireland will return on the provisional scheduled date of June 19, yet players need to still work towards this date.

From further information I have received in the past few days, it seems more likely that they league will recommence sometime in September and finish in February, thus having a shorter off-season next year and the 2021 season beginning in March.

However, that is speculation and until players get a definitive answer, we have to work of the assumption that we will be back training sometime next month and playing competitive matches on June 19.

Its strange being at the end of April and it feeling like November because Im back training by myself instead of with my teammates.

Its so much more difficult for me training by myself rather than with my teammates. Its the mental side of training by myself that I struggle with.

When Im training with the club, no matter how tired I am, I know I have to keep going because if I dont, the manager wont be long letting me hear about it and it will affect my chances of playing on a Friday night.

Doing my own fitness work, I sometimes find myself stopping when the session gets tough because I know there wont be any real consequences.

I get bored very easily running for a long period of time by myself and just end up making it easy on myself.

Its a totally different mindset training by myself and training with my club.

It doesnt really bother me how long it takes to run the length of a pitch when Im by myself but if Im training with my club, I find it embarrassing being at the back and struggling to bread, so it pushes me to go that extra bit quicker and work on my fitness.

Also, being the oldest outfielder at Waterford by a lot of years, I always feel that I have a point to prove in the runs, to show that there is still some life left in the old dog.

The last time we trained as a team we were given GPS devices to take away with us to make sure we were doing the work that was being asked. At that time, we expected to be back training within two weeks but as we all know, a lot has changed since the beginning of March.

We did have programmes designed for us at the start of this off time but as the weeks have gone by, we have been given the responsibility and trust from the management team to do our own sessions and train as much as we feel we need ourselves.

Im sure when there is a definite date as to when we will be allowed to return to training as a group, we will be given another programme before that date.

Its now about getting the right balance between maintaining fitness but at the same time not overdoing it. If the league does not resume until September then it is pointless doing so much training now but unfortunately, no one knows, so I have to keep training as much as I can in the unlikely event that we do return in June.

I try and stick programme my training to that of a normal week with Waterford: working five days. I focus more on sprint work on a Monday. Tuesday is more of an endurance run, normally five kilometres aiming for under 20 minutes to complete it.

Thursday is short and sharp foot work, nothing much just like the day before a game.

On Friday, because I try and replicate a match, I would do a 10-kilometre run not including warm-up and cool-down - to really build my endurance. On average a centre-back would normally do around 11-kilometres in a match but that would be over 90 minutes whereas I would be doing the 10-kilometre run in less than half that time.

Saturday would be a recovery session. Wednesday and Sunday are rest days.

I also manage to get a few weight sessions in out my back garden, using weights I took from the gym in Waterford when we were last training, predicating that this lockdown would be much longer than anticipated.

Judging from our teams WhatsApp group, some of the players are struggling with boredom.

Its not in a footballers nature to do nothing, players need to be active. Some lads seem to be struggling more than others with so much free time.

Yes, players go out and exercise but that doesnt take long and there are a lot of hours in the day when players have nothing to keep them occupied at home.

Im not a player that falls into that category. Just before the suspension of the league and the lockdown, I became a father for the first time. My days dont involve lying out in the sunshine, more like middle of night feeds and listening to The Wriggles.

After being a stay at home parent these last few weeks, no matter what running I go back to with Waterford when we do return, will be quiet easy in comparison.

See the article here:
'When you're used to training in a team environment, it's tough to stay motivated' - Echo Live

VANCOUVER -- The grandchildren of the 92-year-old man in the convenience store assault police say is racially motivated say their "gramps" is doing fine a month after the attack, and are speaking out against racism.

At the same time, the suspects family has also been making claims in conversations, social media, and private messages that no charges are coming a claim the Vancouver police are quick to debunk.

"We have NOT told anyone they will not be charged," said Const. Tania Visintin of the Vancouver police in a statement to CTV News.

The VPD released a video this week of an attack in March at a 7-11 on Nanaimo Street and 1st Avenue. In the video, a larger man picks up an elderly ethnic Chinese man, pushes him outside and onto the curb.

He then returns outside and picks up the elderly man. CTV News has confirmed the man is Jamie Allen Bezanson.

Now, Bezansons son Lukas is claiming that no charges are coming. When a CTV News reporter approached his family home, a woman refused to answer questions, just saying, "We have no comment. Youve done enough damage," before slamming the door.

At least 11 alleged hate crimes have been reported in March to Vancouver police, five of those with an anti-Asian sentiment.

The Chinese government has been criticized for being slow to act on the pandemic, which began in its Hubei province. But that is half a world away from ethnic Chinese citizens in Vancouver.

Chinese Canadian leaders say its time to stop being divisive and face this pandemic together.

"Its alarming, disturbing and despicable that this type of incident is so upsetting to everyone of us in the community, as well as all Canadians," said Queenie Choo of S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

The same note was struck in a statement by the Kwong family, who told CTV News in a message theyre grateful for the support of people in the community and the speed at which the suspect was identified.

"He is doing well after the incident," the mans grandchildren wrote. "It has been heartwarming to have so many kind words of concern shared, and also to see the community band together to show they will not tolerate such treatment.

"Xenophobia is on the rise and we hope that as a community we can stand together to help protect the next person this may happen to. We cant control the fact that bad things are going to happen, but its how we react to them that really matters. For the many negative incidents that occur we hope there are more acts of kindness as shown by our community."

Continue reading here:
Family of 92-year-old attacked in convenience store speaks out against racism - CTV News

Photo byAllie SmithonUnsplash

If you have ever thought to yourself,I need a life coach,then this article is dedicated to you. I was a life coach without calling myself one before I studied how to become a certified life coach. It was merely in my personality to encourage people to figure out how to make their own lives better.

It seemed as though it was a natural passion for me, and in 2018, I decided I would become a certified life coach and make a living out of it. So, I studied the courses available, watched tons of videos on YouTube (especially Tony Robbins), and calculated how I would pay for the certification process.

I soon realized that most of the life coaching industry focuses upon dolling out simple questions (albeit seemingly elusive to most of us) that inspire us to find our own answers to our problems. Instead of relying upon a life coach to help guide you in finding the answers you seek, learn the techniques they use, and apply them to yourself or your loved ones.

After all, just because the methods are somewhat shallow, it doesnt mean they are entirely ineffective. Incorporating them into your life can have a significant positive impact! Just keep your expectations realistic.

Luck doesnt exist. We might find ourselves thinking someone else has all the success in the world, but that thought process is a fallacy. Richard Wiseman pretty much proved it in the book (free PDF version) The Luck Factorwhen he conducted an experiment that sought to provide evidence of whether a person is lucky or unlucky.

I wont spoil it too much, but the gist of it is that he gathered participants and asked them to classify themselves as lucky or unlucky. He then gave them a newspaper and asked them to find a specific announcement.

However, he secretly placed a second announcement in it that instructed the participants to notify the researchers if they saw it to receive a bonus reward. All of the participants found the requested statement, but only those who self-identified as lucky found the secret announcement and received the bonus reward.

Each participant received the same opportunity to find the extra reward, so, was it luck that helped the lucky ones receive the bonus reward? No. Luck had nothing to do with it. In short, it is their mindset. Those who see themselves as lucky tend to examine life with a broader scope. Even if they unconsciously do so, they continuously scan their surroundings for opportunities.

If you want to improve your luck, you must first learn how to remove the blinders that keep you focused on one direction. Expanding your view will help you better recognize opportunities to improve your life.

Of course, there is a caveat to this logic. Extenuating circumstances that you have no control over can dictate the opportunities that come your way. However, everything that happens in your life is the result ofyourchoices and howyou reactedto other peoples choices. You must learn to recognize the difference between your choice and your reaction to their decisions.

A life coach isnt supposed to give you answers to your most pressing questions. Instead, they use different questions and techniques that help you arrive at your solutions.

During a coaching session, you may layout a lot of scattered information about how you are feeling. The clarification technique is simply rewording your problem to make it more concise and help the coach make sure they understand your challenge.

You can use this technique on yourself by writing out your frustrations, then reviewing it to pick it out the critical information to more clearly define the problem. For example, you may write out something like this:

I feel like I am stuck in a rut every day. My kids arent paying as much attention to me as I would like them to, my spouse and I have been arguing a lot lately, and were just not making enough money to cover the bills and save for our dream vacation.

There is certainly a lot to unpack there. So, lets pick out the fundamental problems and reword them to help us later define our goals. It may look something more like this:

I would like to have a little more adventure in life

I want to communicate better with my children

I want to communicate better with my spouse

I want to figure out ways to make more money or manage my money better

We have clarified the frustrations you are experiencing in more concise statements. From here, we move on to the next technique.

Envisioning the future and the reward realistically is sometimes a difficult task, but it gives you a vision of where you want (and need?) to be to feel more fulfilled. Once you have a clear view of what you want for the future and the reward that lies therein, you can work your way backward to determine the steps you need to take to get there.

Just make sure your vision for one or five years from now is realistic. Dont expect to become a millionaire by next year, but it may be achievable in five or ten years. Now, create the roadmap to achieving that goal by halving the timeframe. For example:

Twelve months:In one year, I want to have $5,000 saved up for my dream vacation.

Six months:I would need to have saved $2,500 by doing this and that. Perhaps I would have a side-hustle to help.

Three months:I will find a side-hustle, cancel these subscriptions, and stop going out to eat.

One month:In the first month, I will research interest-bearing savings accounts, ways to maximize those returns, research side-hustles, and do the math to figure out how much money I can set aside each month.

It may sound counter-intuitive, but as you work your way backward, you will find it easier to figure out the first step. As time goes on, review your plan and tweak it as needed to ensure youre staying on track and as new opportunities and ideas come to mind.

Try to recall similar situations from your past and how you overcame it. If you did not overcome it, reflect onwhyyou didnt. Hindsight is 20/20. We can often look back and think of what we would have done differently to change the outcome.

But, use this technique sparingly as you dont want to get stuck in the past and thinking about mistakes. Just try your best to recall similarities in the problem and the potential solutions at hand to see if they will work in the current situation.

For example, if you want to work out more often, think about why you dont work out now. Then, try to recall if there was a time when you found a way to overcome the block. Perhaps you discovered a relaxed dance class where you made new friends. Your motivation may lie in working out with other people. Therefore, you could look for group activities or classes to join that will motivate you to move.

Our minds find the use of numbers and percentages easier to digest when trying to figure out complex situations. So, dont be afraid of reducing a question down toon a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied am I withto help you prioritize which problems, ideas, and solutions you should focus on:

Once you determine which concepts are higher or lower on the scale, you can arrange them in order of significance to give a clearer picture of which direction to go.

Speaking more positively is a simple concept, but challenging to make into a habit. Stop using terms like trying or I hope when discussing your goals. Instead, use action-affirming words like doing or I will figure this out. Its easier said than done, but it is one massive step toward training your brain to look differently at the world around you and seek out opportunities.

As any writer knows: Passive voice kills a good story. The same goes for your goals. Passive thoughts and words dont inspire the desire to move forward.

In many instances, you probably know exactly what you want or need to do to achieve a goal, but you have some sort of wall or block preventing you from pushing forward. We often seek outside validation for our actions, and if we dont receive it, we think it must not have been a good idea.

Remember that no one can validate you. You must validate yourself. If you want to start a business, you dont need anyone elses approval. Find the reasons deep down why you feel so passionately about it to validate yourself and go for it. If you fail, so what?! You gave it a try and undoubtedly learned a lot of lessons.

Call it a power statement or mantra or whatever you please. Develop a personal statement (or several) to remind yourself of when times are tough. Use powerful, uplifting words. Pick ten positive words that describe you:

I am strong intelligent eager to learn intrepid

Whatever it is, it should feel you with a sense of power and motivation each time you say it. Develop a routine to repeat your power statement to yourself in the mirror after you get out of the shower, during your commute to work, or right before bed, and anytime you need a pick-me-up.

Do your best to choose positivity as often as you can because there is truth in the idea that your thoughts shape your worldview, opportunities, and influence. This doesnt mean you need to ignore all negative thoughts. They serve an essential purpose in life. But, finding a balance between the positive and negative will ultimately lead you to expand your horizons and your worldview.

While there will be roadblocks and circumstances you cant control, you indeed are the designer of your future to an extent most of us fail to realize. Everything in your past has served the purpose of showing who you are or are not, what you deserve or dont deserve, and what you need to do to make yourself stronger.

Own it!

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Only You Can Be Your Life Coach - Thrive Global