This week, I want to talk to you about why it's so important to deal with what happens in life, because sometimes things just happen and you cannot do anything about them, so you just have to deal with them as best as you can.

In life, we so often face unpredictable events. Accepting, though, that some situations are beyond our control actually helps us grow and build resilience. Acknowledging that we cannot control everything also encourages acceptance and reduces unnecessary stress.

By embracing challenges, we equip ourselves with an increased capacity to adapt and thrive, despite any setbacks. Confronting problems that we face head-on usually also strengthens our problem-solving skills and emotional maturity and we can then turn obstacles into opportunities.

Facing challenges head-on and not running away also fosters strength in facing adversity. However, it's essential to focus on what we can change and let go of the rest. Unfortunately, we so often try to change things we cannot change or do anything about, but end up thinking we can.

Here are some examples:

- Sometimes our plans to do something at a certain time are delayed. But instead of becoming frustrated, we should allow it to help us develop our patience and flexibility and to appreciate life as it unfolds. - Sometimes, more serious, unexpected things happen —like job losses or relationship breakdowns —that force us to cultivate our adaptability and either discover new paths or learn valuable lessons that help us grow personally. - Also, health issues we face, either directly or indirectly, from time to time, remind us to appreciate life and prioritise our self-care and cherish every moment we have.

However, some people argue that constantly dealing with uncontrollable events can actually be quite overwhelming and lead to feelings of helplessness and frustration, which can erode someone's mental health and motivation over time.

So, this week, remember that while you cannot control everything and sometimes things just happen, you can control your response to challenges and other adversities you face. Try to embrace resilience, adapt to changes and remember that it’s important to deal with things that you cannot change!

This week, I want to talk to you about how important it is for you to ask for what you want and, if you don't ask, you don't get and then simply miss out on opportunities that are otherwise available to you, just because you don't voice your desires or needs.

We often find that expressing wants, desires, or needs can sometimes open doors we never imagined. Whether it's us simply asking for somebody else's help or for something else, always speaking up is so crucial.

It’s really quite amazing how receptive you find people are when you just articulate your wants. Even though you might think that some people may not welcome your request, you may be very surprised at the responses you sometimes receive, as the people you thought would be most reluctant to help you will be more than willing, whereas those who promised to always assist you if you ever needed anything, suddenly make excuses or don't appear when you need them, or reach out to them. Things are not always what they seem, I’m afraid.

I understand that it might feel a bit intimidating to ask for something sometimes, but remember that the worst outcome is usually just a ‘no’. You will never know the possibilities or what the response might be unless you take that first step to make your desires known.

Here are some examples:

- Simply asking for a discount when you buy something can often result in unexpected savings for you. - Sometimes, just expressing interest in something may lead to opportunities you never thought possible before. - Sometimes, just requesting feedback or even honest criticism from someone, whether personally or professionally, can lead to your constructive growth personally in some way.

However, some people argue that asking for something can make people seem pushy or demanding. Therefore, it’s important to always balance any perceived assertiveness, with respect, to ensure that any requests you make are appropriate to the context you are in.

So, this week, please remember to always be prepared to voice your needs, wants and desires confidently and to be prepared to explore the possibilities that may arise from doing so. Remember, if you don't ask, you don’t get!

This week, I want to talk about how you just cannot consume everything. I'm afraid that too many people think they have an endless supply of energy and time, which allows them to do this. But this is not the reality we live in nowadays, so you must be realistic.

There’s so much information available these days, isn't there? It’s so tempting, isn't it, to try to absorb it all? Yet, trying to consume everything, leaves us feeling overwhelmed or distracted, which then hinders any clarity that we may have had from the information anyway. It’s counter-productive!

You therefore have to always prioritise and try to focus on what truly matters. Instead of drowning in endless content, curate everything you read, see and hear very wisely. Choose quality over quantity and engage with material that truly enriches your life and helps you, rather than hinders you.

This approach also fosters deeper understanding and meaningful knowledge within you, rather than you just being superficially aware of something. Always practice mindful consumption wherever you can. In this way, you will always cultivate a more thoughtful and intentional relationship with the world around you.

Here are some examples:

- Imagine you set aside just 30 minutes every day to read a book that inspires you, rather than wading through shallow, endless articles online, which probably serves as an echo chamber for your thoughts already anyway, rather than challenge your thinking in some way. - Or imagine yourself engaging in a deep conversation with a friend and focusing entirely on their words, if you can, without any distractions, which will deepen your connection and understanding. - Or imagine that you prioritise your downtime and let your mind rest and process properly, rather than constantly filling it with new information.

However, please remember that we face societal pressure to constantly consume, which is very strong, so it’s very easy to fall into the trap of consuming as much as you can endlessly, which ultimately leads to your burnout and/or confusion.

So, this week, remember you just cannot consume everything. So pause and consider what aligns with your goals and values and whether the information you are consuming is something that will benefit you in life, or just distract you and waste your time needlessly. Choose quality over quantity in life!