How you treat yourself will always have a massive bearing on what you do and how you do it. It will also begin to affect others because of how it has affected you.

It is essential to realise that this treatment doesn’t need to be severe. But once you add two, three or more ways you don’t treat yourself properly together, you are suddenly somewhere you don’t need to be and, likely, somewhere you don’t want to be.

The remedy to this situation is not big; you don’t need a tertiary degree to remedy the situation. The solution
is quite simple and one that we have discussed many times.

The answer is awareness. Plain and simple. Just be aware of some things you might be doing that are, in some small way, moving you closer to a place you don’t want to be.

Now, so you can understand what these small but relevant types of behaviours or attitudes might be, I will outline a few examples for you.

So here we go. Do you recognise any of these?

1. The daily question
   Usually somewhere, sometime during the day, you will be asked: “How you going?” or “How you doing?” or something similar.

The problem is not in the question but could lie in the answer.
“Not bad for a Monday.”
“Surviving”
“I’ll be better tomorrow.”

As I said, nothing, nothing major, but when you hear those answers, they don’t really exude a positive attitude towards life,

Yes, I know it is just a throwaway line, but my point is this. The throwaway line added in with a couple more situations and where are you?

What about if you looked at it this way?
“Fantastic”
“Wouldn’t be dead for quids.”
“Could not be better.”

These answers, even though they might not exactly represent how you are feeling, now have the ability to start moving you to where you want to be.

2. How do I look today?
   Now, this is coming from a man who is not renowned for his fashion excellence. And it is not fashion that I am talking about. It is just when you are getting ready to tackle the day ahead, regardless of what you will be involved in. Take the time to look after yourself.

How you look after yourself in your preparation for the day ahead says a lot about your self-esteem levels. It is essential to do the right thing by yourself at this time.

3. How good does the ground look?
   I often ask people this question, and they think I have lost the plot. I ask this question of people when they are walking towards me, head down, so they don’t have to acknowledge me, or they don’t have to make eye contact, or they don’t have to say, “How you doing”.

For some, I know this isn’t easy. But start walking with your head upright, acknowledge people, and smile at them. Raise your eyebrows. A simple nod of the head. “G’day”, “Hi”, How you doing?”. What you say doesn’t have to be much, but it can make someone else’s day and help you be an active participant in your own.

4. Don’t isolate yourself
   In this day and age, communication comes in a thousand and one forms. Some help life be easier, but at the same time, it takes away from the day-to-day ability to communicate and spend time with people.

Now, before I get a thousand and one replies telling me about wasted time and efficiency in the workplace, etc. What I am talking about here is in line with efficiency as well as getting the best out of a situation and out of yourself.

Instead of operating in isolation from your little part of the world by sending a text or an email, get up, walk around to where you could be and have a conversation with someone.

At the very least, use your phone. My point is simple: “Don’t live your day in isolation”.

Well, there you have it: four quick points highlighting how a few little everyday situations can put you in a place where life is not all it can be. Take the time to recognise if you are falling into these or other similar behaviours. If so, make the changes, and you will soon find yourself in a place you enjoy being and at the same time ensuring that…

The Journey Continues!