Awareness and mindfulness Archives

Self-fulfilling cycles

February 23, 2025 by Zero Dean

Whether directly or indirectly, what we choose to pay attention to can have a dramatic impact on not just how we feel, but on our life experience as well.

Expecting negative things to happen is not just more likely to draw our attention to their existence, it’s more likely to prolong it as well. This, in turn, can create a self-fulfilling cycle of negativity.

Energy is contagious. We tend to absorb and proliferate the type of energy we consistently pay attention to. Therefore it is imperative that we be intentional about where we place our attention and be conscious of how it makes us feel.

Rather than monitoring and confirming to ourselves how bad things can get before they get better, making positive changes efficiently is much more likely to involve focusing on the actions one can take to initiate positive change and then performing those actions as effectively as possible.

Don’t wait to appreciate

March 30, 2021 by Zero Dean

It is perfectly acceptable to be proud of your progress on the way to your goal. You can enjoy your journey before you reach your destination. And you can be grateful your life as it is, plot twists and all.

Don’t wait to appreciate.

Related:

Appreciate every day

March 25, 2021 by Zero Dean

Appreciate every day as it happens.

You never know what tomorrow will bring.

The magic is in the moment

March 21, 2021 by Zero Dean

Destinations provide direction, but it’s the journey that’s the reward.

As it is in travel, so it is also in life.

Don’t get so caught up in trying to get somewhere that you fail to see the magic in the moments along the way.

Related:

The journey is the reward

Right, wrong, and progress

March 20, 2021 by Zero Dean

You’re not always right. And those who oppose you are not always wrong.

The world isn’t black & white. Sometimes both parties can be “right” (even if they share different views). And sometimes both parties can be wrong.

It’s frequently far more valuable to consider where you want things to go — and the problems you want to solve — than it is trying to prove who’s right and who’s wrong.

Riding the waves of life

March 18, 2021 by Zero Dean

So many things in life come and go in waves. Knowing this can be particularly useful when dealing with difficult times. By recognizing that, in many cases, all you need to do is ride out a challenging time before things will begin to get better can make it easier to bear.

Related:

There is a lesson in this

Making life changes manageable

December 31, 2020December 30, 2020 by Zero Dean

Feeling inspired to make some healthy changes?

Remember to start small to keep things manageable. The commitment necessary to consistently making the time to do something new can be just as important as what you choose to do with that time.

People often attempt to do too much before they’re capable of sustaining it or before their body or mental state is ready.

If it’s been a while since you’ve done something physical, it’s likely that doing far less of that activity than you can physically do will leave you sorer than you imagine.

Too many people make the mistake of testing their physical limits on day one of their new workout routine and then put themselves out of commission for several days because they’re too sore to continue. If you don’t want to immediately set yourself back, consider doing less than you feel capable of and then ramping up based on how you feel the next day.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a large part of physical health is dependent on a person’s diet.
And while it’s important to consider both physical and dietary changes, the same concept applies — attempting to do too much, too soon can be unsustainable.

Keep this in mind as you move forward with your intentions to make life-altering changes.

And when it comes to your mental and physical health, be sure to consult a paid professional when necessary.

Where’s your respect?

December 28, 2020 by Zero Dean

One of the most significant aspects of living a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life comes down to respect.

Respect for yourself, your body, and your goals. Respect for other people, their property, and their beliefs. Respect for your time and other people’s time. Respect for your relationships, your community, and your environment. And countless other things.

Nearly every important aspect of life deteriorates without respect.

Where is your respect (or lack thereof) reflected in your life?

You’re not here to live someone else’s life

December 27, 2020December 9, 2020 by Zero Dean

For what it’s worth, when you go about your day without comparing your life to how other people are living theirs, there’s a good chance that you’ll be happier for it.

Be kind & do what you feel is right, but also be mindful of the fact that you’re not here to live someone else’s life, you’re here to live your own.

And, most certainly, don’t let how other people are living their lives dictate how you feel about your own.

Define the problem

December 27, 2020November 16, 2020 by Zero Dean

People have a nasty tendency to live with problems that they don’t take the time to define. It’s almost as if by refusing to acknowledge the source of a problem, they believe they can get away with not doing anything about it. And that’s how small issues often become big problems.

If you’re unhappy, unhealthy, unfulfilled, or unsatisfied — and it isn’t clear why — stop avoiding the problem by refusing to define it.

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