2009 sticky mental resolutions

Now that 2008 is over, I've been musing on how I approached the year and what I want to change in 2009 to make the year even better. I've read recently an uplifting report called 'Sticky resolutions', which really stroke a chord with me. Why sticky? Because 'we can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough' (Helen Keller).

So here are 7 sticky mental resolutions to implement this year:

1. Whenever you feel down, think of something that you can honestly be grateful for. Just take a minute of your time and appreciate the good things in your life.
   
   
2. Take the decision. If you're thinking for a long time to do something, don't put it off any longer. Just Do it (like Nike says). You never know until you made the decision whether it was right or wrong, but if you never do it, you'll always wonder 'what if'.
   
   
3. Make a habit to say 'thank you', don't take people for granted. Thank your waiter for bringing your meal. Thank your kids for anything trivial that they did for you, thank your taxi driver for bringing you home. Thank your postman for bringing your letter.
   
   
4. Never assume things. Never assume that you know what the next person is thinking about you, as you don't. If you see that your friend, or your boss is in a bad mood, don't automatically assume it is about you. Most of the times, it isn't. And if it is, let it go. You can't make everyone happy, it would be foolish to even try.
   
   
5. When you notice you have negative thoughts, change them immediately. Think of a song you like, look out the window and see the trees with the branches swinging with the wind, smile at your colleague at work, and your attitude will change.
   
   
6. Don't worry needlessly about tomorrow. Don't try to make several negative outcomes of the upcoming job interview, meeting or presentation. You don't know in advance how it will be, so don't assume it will be bad. And never say 'it will never work out', because usually things have a way of working out for the best for you. Even if at the time it doesn't seem so.
   
   
7. Don't worry about the last choice you made. It was the right one. How do I know that? It's because you took it, you are here. You are always on the right path for you. It took me a while to absorb this particular one, but if I leave out the 'what if's' it's quite easy actually. We are always where we are supposed to be at the time. This doesn't mean that we cannot change where we will go tomorrow. But for today, we are here, exactly where we should be.