When we marvel at nature, science, technology and history we often forget that we are part of everything we see. Every day we are surrounded by other people, which conditions us to feel “normal”. A David Attenborough from outer space would marvel at us more than anything else on this planet. Don’t settle for normality. What could you do with your life if you started to fully realise the gift that you are to this world? Don’t underestimate your own magnificence.
Archive for the ‘Mark's Daily Inspiration’ Category
Don’t underestimate your own magnificence
Monday, February 16th, 2009Snow Business
Monday, February 2nd, 2009Lost business for the UK economy today: £1.2 billion
Having a snowball fight with your kids: Priceless
I look forward to the day when the media don’t focus on everything a nation loses when everything grinds to a halt due to the white stuff. Today is a day when people will have a well-earned rest. Today, millions of unforgettable memories are being created right now as kids take out pristine sleighs that have never seen the light of day. Even today, some of my fondest childhood memories are of school Snow Days.
There is something really magical about a snow-filled neighborhood. Walking the street, it’s almost deafening how peaceful it is. It’s like someone has pressed a mute button. The snow creates this lovely cotton-wool acoustic, and the nearby dual carriageway is almost silent. It helps remind us that there is another way, a million miles away from the hustle, bustle and rushing of “every day life”. In a way, the snow temporarily covers over the grayness we’ve created in our industrial lives in the same way we use correction fluid like Tipp-ex or Snopake to cover up over our mistakes. Maybe snow is trying to tell us something?
Just Another Day?
Friday, January 30th, 2009Every day miracles happen all around us. You only start to see them when you choose to believe that your life is not ordinary. There is no such thing as an ordinary life, an average person. To just be born you defied the odds, in a race of six hundred million! Any child needs to be reminded of that when they come last on Sports day, and more importantly we all need to remind ourselves that being here is too much of a privilege to waste on thinking we are ordinary. Everyone of us has unique talents, something to offer the world, so that on our deathbed we can all look back and say “I did the best I could”. The question is, what will you do differently today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life when you know that you are a living miracle.
An Attitude of Gratitude
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009Tonight I did a show about Gratitude on BBC Radio. It struck me that during these difficult times gratitude can really turn our attitudes and lives around. Here are my Top 5 Tips you can do every day to foster an attitude of gratitude in your life:
1) Every morning when you wake up, simply say to yourself “Thank you for another day”. I always remind myself that just getting out of bed is a privilege and everything else that follows is a bonus.
2) When you have any emotions that derive from fear (including worry, stress, anxiety, frustration, guilt) stop yourself in your tracks and think of three things you are grateful for, then notice how different you suddenly feel. I learnt quickly that fear and gratitude cannot co-exist in the same moment. This is one of the most powerful tools you can use.
3) If you feel it, say it! William Arthur Ward said “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a Christmas present and not giving it”. (By the way, thank you for reading my blog 
)
4) Do something to serve someone else. Often when we don’t have enough gratitude in our life and are wrapped up in our own little world of problems, it’s because we don’t spent enough time with other less fortunate than ourselves. They have so much to teach us.
5) Keep a Gratitude Journal by your bedside. Before you go to sleep write down five things you are grateful for in your life. Why before bed? I’ve found one bonus is your quality of sleep improves, especially as scientists say you dream about the last thing you think about before nodding off.
(As an experiment, every now and again flick back through the pages of your journal and notice how few entries are linked to material things you have!)
Thank you and sleep well!
Choosing Hope over Fear
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009We’ve seen what fear can do to our world, the economy and our wellbeing and this week we’ve felt what optimism and hope can create in our hearts. Why would we ever choose the former? We live in a world created by our emotions. Look for the good in everything that happens today.
What Shall I Do Today?
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009Every morning before we start our day we need to ask ourselves the question “What can I do today that will make a difference in the world tomorrow?”
The simple things in life
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008We are often told that it’s the simple things in life that bring the most pleasure. There has been a trend for us to make our lives too fast and complicated. Maybe we are now at a new dawn, a dawn of getting back to basics.
Eye of the storm
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008At times of change, especially whilst caught in the eye of a storm, rather than put your energy on the devastation around you, try to focus on the better future ahead after the clean up.
Cheer up!
Monday, October 27th, 2008As a parent I’ve rapidly learnt that we are not here to teach our children but learn from them. This is none more apparent when discovering that children laugh on average 146 times a day, whilst adults laugh just four times. Does this point to the serious business of growing up or us simply taking life too seriously? Draw your own conclusions but whilst doing so let’s all try to bring up the average for our team by doubling our laughter count, starting today.
Our Greatest Teachers
Friday, October 24th, 2008The financial crisis is one of the most profound teachers of our time. Whether in America, Iceland, the UK, the rest of Europe, Asia or beyond it is showing us that everything in this world is interconnected and we cannot survive without considering each other and pulling together. Boundaries, flags and the “me culture” ultimately count for nothing. The more important lesson is that greed created the problems, fear magnified it but neither play a part in the solution. Although we are just students, as guardians of our planet, we should be inspired to know that we finally ready to learn from these lessons.
