For this week’s post, I wanted to do something a little bit different. Being only 31, I am definitely not full of wisdom (especially since I recently had my wisdom teeth removed, lol) but there are a few principles that I really try to live my life by. I have come up with a personal alphabet, as such, which sets out the A-Z of my life. Some of these things I do religiously, and others are things that I really want to do better. I call it my ‘Claire’s-osophy’, lol (only fans of Modern Family will understand that term!). I have also included a few of my favourite philosophical quotes throughout the post, which I think support my views and beliefs……..
Aspire
Aspire is one of my favourite words! I think it is so important to seek the best out of life. In order to achieve this, it is vital to have aspirational goals that both challenge and encourage me.
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade, not because it is easy, but because it is hard” – John F. Kennedy
Banish
Life is far too short to spend it being annoyed or upset. In my life, I make conscious decisions to banish negativity or bad feelings. If something impacts on your life negatively, then there is no room for it! Make space for something more deserving.
Clear Out
I know, I know….. It’s such a cliché, BUT there is a reason for it. Having a clear out / spring clean honestly makes me feel so good! It really is true that a tidy house is a tidy mind. My focus is so much better when I have a clean and tidy space to work in.
Dare
Dare yourself to take a chance on something you are uncertain about. I honestly believe that you can only regret the things that you ‘don’t’ do in life. What’s the worst that can happen? Sure, it may not work out and then you have start again, but what if it does work out……..?
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide
Entertain
I absolutely love spending time with people whose company I enjoy, and I love entertaining people in my home. Spend more time entertaining the people that make you happy.
Forget
Everyone has a bad day now and again. Don’t waste your time stewing over it – move on and forget about it. This is one that I struggle with, but I am working hard to master it!
“You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them. I tie no weights to my ankles.” – C. JoyBell C.
Grow
Something else that I am working hard on is growing my skill set. I am currently trying to make a career change, so I use every single day to try and learn something new! Whether that is through reading a useful book, or teaching yourself how to use new software, or speaking to someone who works in the field in which you are interested, use every opportunity you can to grow and learn!
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Honest
If you can’t be honest with others, then how can you be honest with yourself?! Cut the crap – no one is interested in dishonesty.
“If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people.” – Virgina Woolf
Invest
I truly believe in investing yourself (your time and energy) in things that deserve it. Don’t waste it on those that don’t.
Joke
Anyone who knows me knows that I like to have a joke and a laugh. Laughing honestly makes me feel so good. Everyone should do it more! LOL
“A smile starts on the lips, a grin spreads to the eyes, a chuckle comes from the belly; but a good laugh bursts forth from the soul, overflows, and bubbles all around.” – Carolyn Birmingham
Kind
Just be kind! It’s not difficult. It’s harder and more uncomfortable to be unkind.
“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” – Dalai Lama
Leave
I know it is sometimes easier said than done – but if something makes you unhappy, whether that be a relationship, a job, a conversation or a friendship, then leave it. There is nothing to be gained by prolonging an unhealthy situation.
Music
I never want to imagine life without music! No matter what mood I am in, there is a type of music to go with it. Music also has the ability to improve my mood instantly.
“Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy” – Ludwig van Beethoven
No
Another one that is difficult, but one that I am working hard on, is saying ‘No’. We spend too much of our lives trying to please other people, rather than ourselves. For example, don’t be afraid to turn down an invitation to go somewhere that you don’t want to go. It is very liberating to say no, and spend your time the way you want (and deserve) to spend it.
Optimistic
Something that I have been guilty of in the past is being a little bit negative/pessimistic. In hindsight, this was due to the situation I was in. Having removed myself from the situation that was causing me to be like this, I have been making a conscious effort to be more positive. I know that feelings can be very circumstantial, and it takes a strong mental attitude to think positively (there is no magic switch), but I do believe that this is energy well spent and that a change of mind-set can lead to positive things.
“Optimism doesn’t wait on facts. It deals with prospects. Pessimism is a waste of time” – Norman Cousins
Praise
As nice as it is to be praised myself, I find something so satisfying about giving praise where it is deserved. If someone works hard to achieve something, or if someone has an admirable skill, why not tell them?!
Question
Don’t be afraid to question things in life (including yourself). If something doesn’t feel right, then question it. If you are unsure of something, then question it. If you want to know the answer to something, then ask a question. I do a lot more of this in my adult life, but I wish I had done it more as I was growing up.
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” – Albert Einstein.
Rain
This is more of a statement, but there is nothing cosier in life than lying in bed all tucked up and the rain absolutely belting off the windows! I LOVE THIS!! I am not just saying this because I live in the desert (and sometimes crave rain), I have always loved it!
Sorry
Like I said before, nobody is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. Worse than doing something wrong, is not apologising for it. I have much more respect for someone who does something wrong, but has enough self respect to own up to it and say sorry, than someone who cannot admit that they have made a mistake. People are forgiving – you just need to show that you are worth their forgiveness.
“Never ruin an apology with an excuse” – Benjamin Franklin
Travel
I honestly believe that some of the greatest life lessons are gained through travelling. Learning about new countries, cultures, foods, languages and traditions is invaluable and will stand by you for the rest of your life. If you get the opportunity to travel – DO IT!
“Adventure is worthwhile” – Aesop
Understanding
Patience and understanding go a long way in life. You never know what is going on in someone’s life so it is important to be understanding. They will appreciate it in the long run.
“Respect other people’s feelings. It might mean nothing to you, but it could mean everything to them.” – Roy T Bennett
Variety
Variety really is the spice of life. As much as I like having a basic routine, I absolutely love trying new things, seeing new places and meeting new people. I think it is so important to keep life interesting and exciting by experiencing new things and making new memories.
Write
I might not be very good at it, but one thing I love to do is write. I especially love to write LISTS! Not only because it’s a good excuse for me to buy nice stationary, but I love having a vey defined list of things that I can tick off at the end of the day. I also feel a lot more organised when I write lists, and can temporarily put something out of my mind without the fear of forgetting about it altogether. Of course I also love writing for this blog. There is great satisfaction out of writing about something you love and sharing it.
“And what, you ask, does writing teach us? First and foremost, it reminds us that we are alive and that it is a gift and a privilege, not a right” – Ray Bradbury
Exercise
This one is a bit of a cheat – the word doesn’t begin with ‘X’ but it contains one. I think that is fair enough given the difficulty of the letter. Exercise is one thing that I definitely do not get enough of, but something that always makes me feel better when I do. “I really regret going for that walk this morning”….…… said no one ever!
“Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live” – Jim Rohn
Yearbook
I have mentioned this here on my blog before, but one thing I really enjoy doing is keeping a yearbook. This is not something that I commit to writing in every day, or even every week to be honest, but I like to jot down significant things that happen during the year so I that can look back on them. I don’t just like to look at them nostalgically and reminisce over the good bits, but I like to learn from it too and figure out what I would like to change for the next year and going forward.
Zen
I’m not entirely sure how to use this word in a sentence, but I will go with this……..I try to incorporate some ‘Zen’ in my life. It’s good to take some time out to completely switch off and relax. Whether that is having a nice relaxing bath or listening to some meditation music, but something that can remove your mind from mundane day-to-day activities and thoughts is so refreshing and uplifting. Even in my everyday life (especially my home), I try to surround myself with things that make me feel comfortable and relaxed.
Thats it for my personal A-Z. I would love to know if there are any particular principles that you incorporate into your every day life. Perhaps I can use them to make improvements to my Claire’s-osophy! 🙂
P.s. My sister is coming to visit me in Abu Dhabi tomorrow (yippeeee) so I am going to take some time off from the blog. I will be back again in a couple of weeks with a new post! 🙂