Having the ability to be prepared is not something that is always possible. In a way, we should think of being prepared as a blessing. Life is unpredictable and sometimes cannot be prepared for everything that is to come in the future.

“I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.”- Benjamin Disraeli

I think sometimes people get caught up in being prepared for things in the far future. I believe we should think of being prepared for what is ahead in our short term future. For example, the office meeting you have next week would be short term future and being prepared for the possible death of a Grandma continues to get older. You can only mentally take on so much. After you do your best, you can just hope you did enough for the situation that lies ahead.

“We are prepared for insults, but compliments leave us baffled.”-Mason Cooley

Negative events are what people naturally fear the most, and try to always be the most prepared for. Ironically, when positive things come along, sometimes we are so caught up in being prepared for the worst we are caught off guard by positive things.

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Being selfless is something that tends to come up as we grow up and mature. When we are younger, we tend to have a one track mind. We learn to share in grade school, but we learn the desire to want also. It is a nature human and instinct to want what we don’t have. We all have been there when we saw a friend playing with a toy that we didn’t have, but just had to have it too. As children, we do not fully grasp the concept of not getting everything you want.

“It’s that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. This was the whole ethic by which I was brought up. Others matter more than you do, so ‘don’t fuss, dear; get on with it’.”- Audrey Hepburn

Our society focuses on independence and survival of the fittest. We learn to see the world as competitive, and rightfully so because it is. Some countries just put more focus on group accomplishment and less on independent success. I think this concept of focusing on others to now yourself has changed over the past decades, but the economy and world around us has also changed.

“Almost every sinful action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive. It is a trait we hate in other people but justify in ourselves. ”- Stephen Kendrick

We all can be selfish and have been. We say that is a negative trait, yet is something we all possess. So, in many ways we are all our own hypocrite. The good news is recognizing this allows us to change and be more selfless. Try to think of others more, and also realize the reward for your good act of kindness. You feel a sense of wellness, wholeness, and that you made a difference in one person’s life that day. Now, image if everyone did that to just one person every day? Wouldn’t the world be a different place?

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The way the rest of the world sees you is not usually something I say you should think a great deal about. Appearance and first impressions are important in the business world and meeting people in your everyday life, but some of that has no reflection of your appearance. Your nonverbal communication, how you speak, your tone, and smiling can all play a role in being approachable.

“As we grow older in life, years somehow seem to shorten and New Year’s Day approaches with an ever increasing tempo. The more mature we get, the more we realize that time is only relative; how we live means more than how long we live. Haply also we do not live by years, but by days. In His wisdom God does not show us all that lies ahead. So we enter a new year to live it day by day. What is past is past. Today we start anew, and what we do today will make our life for tomorrow. Chin up, shoulders straight, eyes agleam, let us salute the New Year, and each day let us follow more faithfully, more courageously, more daringly the lead of our great Captain who bids us follow Him.”- William Thomson Hanzsche

Aside from how to be approachable to others, there is also the concept of seeing approachable opportunities in life and the future. It has almost been a month into the new year. How we approach the new year and the way we live our life is something not everyone things about. Strategizing how to take on new tasks for your new year’s goals is something that could be helpful. Getting advice from others can be helpful, but remember not everyone approaches new tasks or goals the same way.

“When one approach is not working to reach the desired goal, that’s not a reason to abandon the goal. Instead, it is time to devise another approach.”- Ralph Marston quotes

The first idea we have to approach something is always a great one to begin with because it reflects our gut instinct. Unfortunately, the one is not always the best fitting one for the situation. Do not feel like it is not possible. Instead, step back from the situation and try to see a different possible approach even it is not the one that seemed easiest. We all know that sometimes the best way is also the harder way.

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Originality is what makes us who we are. Copying what adults around us did when we were children was important to growing up, but now there is no need to copy others. Forge your own path and have your own thoughts or ideas. It would be incredibly boring if we were all the same. The only reason I say that is because there would be nothing new or different to talk about. Our differences are what makes us interesting.

“I stay true to myself and my style, and I am always pushing myself to be aware of that and be original.”-Aaliyah

Knowing that you do not want to be like everyone else is something we should keep in mind. But, do not obsess over it. When there is too much emphasis on being different, the result could be trying too hard to be something other than you.

“Even if you think you are being original you probably are being unoriginal.”-Unknown

There is something to be said about wanting to be original, but it can be seen as trying to be so different that it ends up not being you. Recognizing you start acting like someone else or picking up habits is good and you can make changes. Do not go out of your way to be original. Simply be you. No one else is like you. Therefore, you are already original.

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Do you feel others trust you? Do you trust those close to you in your life? Do you trust your friends? Co-workers?

“The soul, fortunately, has an interpreter – often an unconscious, but still a truthful interpreter – in the eye.”-Charlotte Bronte

No one wants to get hurt by another person. We all have feared being hurt a little bit sometime in our life. Allowing yourself to embrace someone else and count on them is hard because no one wants to be disappointed. Also, we tend to hope the relationships we but effort in will work out and be successful in the long run.

“Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.”- Lao Tzu

When you trust someone, you believe what they say is true. Unfortunately, the truth is not always easy to say or hear. This quote expresses the many truths about expressing ourselves. It is saying the truth hurts; beautiful adjectives are used to avoid the truth; good words and the truth are not always what will change people’s mind; to change one’s mind words that are not good or untruthful are used. I am not saying go lie to people or tell them what they want to hear. This quote is sad because for some it is true. But, we do not have to let this quote stay true. Defy what some have generalized about the truth and people.

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