A
principle is “a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation
for a system of beliefs or behaviours or for a chain of reasoning. To live by a
principle is to adopt a way of life that governs your every thought, word and
deed, regardless of your circumstance or emotional state. It is one of the
hardest things to do because it takes time and discipline; it takes constant
practice and the resolution to commit. But principles are necessary and once
you get over the initial discomfort of sticking to a routine, unlearning bad
habits and learning the good ones, they become second nature.
Just
ask any successful person you know, they’ll tell you it’s not an easy ride but,
it is worth it. Some principles are embedded in the values and teachings from
our immediate environment: the things we are so familiar with and yet sometimes
take advantage of. In our daily life experiences however, there are significant
lessons that if we are truly observant, would not elude us without us learning
and growing from them. One of these significant lessons is deeply rooted in our
‘culture of celebrations’.
Have
you ever attended a gala or received an invitation to attend an exclusive party
with the who’s who of society? Do you remember that feeling of excitement and
air of importance that made you sit up just a little bit straighter and stand
just a little bit taller? Do you remember how self-confident you were and the
extra care you took to make sure you didn’t put your foot in your mouth and
embarrass yourself or your host or friends? Do you remember being in high
spirits and looking forward to meeting new people? And do you remember ignoring
the butterflies in your tummy when you were invited to hit the dancefloor? You
were applying the GALA Principle, only you just didn’t know it.
GALA
is an acronym for Grace, Attitudes, Language and Accountability. The GALA
principle draws from this range of experiences described above to suggest that
we should conduct our daily lives with GRACE, with a sophistication and
polish that exudes quiet confidence; ATTITUDES that are positive and
guide you to attain altitude; LANGUAGE that is courteous, and, the
presence and maturity of mind to be personally ACCOUNTABLE for our actions.
If we
are conscious of this principle, we will stand out from the crowd and always
put our best foot forward, knowing that first impressions always leave lasting
footprints.
People often think of Mondays with so much trepidation and angst. Why? Because for some people, nothing goes right on Mondays. Traffic is abominable; progress meetings are tedious; new sales targets are set., etc. Whatever the reason, many people just don’t like Mondays.
But I like to get MAD about Mondays. Asides from the fact that it is the start of a new week, I also get excited about making the right MOVES. If you’re a chess player or know anything about the game, you’d understand the heady and intoxicating feeling you get when your carefully calculated move pays off. Well, that’s how I feel about Mondays.
What else gets me MAD about Mondays? The Challenge! Yes, the challenge to APPLY myself and to put good use, the lessons learnt from the previous week. If you think because of your age, years of experience and exposure, you can’t or don’t need to learn anything new, then you might be leaning towards what I call a 21st century illiterate – one who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn! Of course, you can apply yourself any day of the week- learning is a continuum – but there’s something about Mondays that gets me going…
But all of this – strategy, application, and quest for knowledge – comes from an intrinsic DRIVE. Many years ago, I realised that if I was ever going to amount to anything or get anywhere, I not only needed to stay focused but i needed to drive myself there. There is so much to discourage and hinder you from reaching your goal. If you lose your drive, you lose momentum and slow down you journey of success. Don’t get me wrong, I love TGIFs, but Mondays give me such a boost and puts a pep in my step!
So don’t sit and mope about the coming Monday. Shake off the mood and get MAD about Monday!
Welcome to a new week and the first day of a new dawn. Are you one of those that gets moody about Mondays? If you are, then you’ve got what I call the moodday syndrome. The symptoms kick in on a Saturday night, when you know you are only one day away from Monday. That TGIF dance that had you hip-hopping and quick-stepping at 80 mph becomes a rather slow and lethargic waltz dance.
Well, I have a different attitude that helps me look forward to Mondays. Instead of being moody, get MAD about Mondays. Let me explain. Be Motivated to face the day and chase your dreams; Activate your mind to create positive energy that fuels your progress; Dedicate yourself to applying the right strategies to achieve your goals. If you start Monday right.
So don’t be moody… be MAD!
#energy #wellness #mindfulness #fuel #madaboutmondays #motivation
