Dare To Dream!

Everybody hates getting a ticket, be it for parking or speeding. My advice is, the best way to avoid getting it in the first place is to just abide by the parking and traffic laws. Yes, I mean put out those coupons. It’s only fair that we pay for the space our vehicle is taking up. It is, after all, only a few bucks (if you compare it to a ticket!).

I know, I know, there ARE times when you just can’t help it. Your cat’s injured and you got to race to the vet, beating the speed limit. You can’t hold your bladder anymore and just didn’t have the time to put out the parking coupons. You really wanted to, but you just happen to run out of coupons. Yada yada yada. It is Not Your Fault, you say.

Well if your reason is honest and valid, by all means do not feel guilty for doing the following:

1. As you get out of your vehicle, briefly close your eyes a couple of seconds.
2. See yourself coming back to it feeling relieved and grateful that it is ’safe and sound’ (you know what I mean )
3. Do this one or two more times as you walk off from your vehicle.
4. That’s it! That is all there is to it.

Note: I figured roughly 70% of the time this worked for me. Twice I did get a ticket though. But they were later waived after my appeals were accepted.

Copyright © Monaliza Amid 2009

You’ve done all your due diligence – researched thoroughly on the company, polish your interview skills, groom yourself from head to toe, and practically followed to the letter everything that you’ve read in THE Best Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers” there is available.

Only step left is to face that person who is going to decide on your destiny in the organization you have so yearned to be a part of. What shall you do now?

Well don’t Hope for the Best. Plan and Visualize for the Best of course!

1. About 15minutes before your appointment, as with visualizing anything, calm your nerves and gently close your eyes.
2. Picture yourself shaking hands confidently with your interviewer(s) just as you are about to leave the room at the end of the interview session. You thank them for their valuable time as you’ve gained tremendously from the discussion and very much look forward to a positive response from them soon.
3. Vividly see the smile on their faces as they respond to you just as favorably.
4. Feel the energy; the vibes are Affirmative, Encouraging and Certain. Savor it.
   
5. Now open your eyes and immediately make your way to the interview room with poise and confidence.
   

Note: Acing the job interview in itself is no guarantee that you will get the job. Nevertheless, it is an extremely valuable experience that will definitely serve you well, either in that very interview or in your subsequent ones.

Copyright © Monaliza Amid 2009

You’re at the beach, trying in vain to snuggle up to that book, get some nice tan you’ve always longed for, or just to wind down, stare at the horizon and simply relax. But alas, after 2hrs, you are still chasing after your buzzing little tyke…as usual.

Fret not. Take refuge in this simple little exercise:

1. Settle your nerves and quickly but calmly shut your eyes. (Let the little kiddo scream and struggle in the pram if you have to, so long he/she is safely strapped up).
2. See in your mind’s eyes, your child playing happily away with another kid her age, and you looking on at them with a smile on your face).
3. Listen to their excited squeals and adorable babbling.
4. Feel their joy, ..and Yours.
5. Now gently open your eyes, pick your baby up and let her free.
   

Let nature take its course and patiently observe. You may just be delighted by what happens next.

Note: The other night I was tired, hungry and going nuts with my 21mth old energizer bunny.  In this state, who would have remembered to Calm Down and Visualize! It took me a good 1hr of being frustrated before I myself remembered to do what I preach. Well anyway, to cut the story short, in less than 5 minutes, a little girl just slightly taller than mine, appeared at our side. She and my Farah briefly checked each other out, and before I knew it, they hugged, held hands, scuttled off and babbled away excitedly together. I was speechless! When I looked to my left, I saw a sweet but frazzled-looking lady, her mouth wide opened. We spent the next hour sharing our stories of sleepless nights and constant toddler-chasing. We still had to watch out for the little girls just to make sure they are safe…But boy, it felt sooo good.

Copyright © Monaliza Amid 2009

Some years ago, I coached several classes of young athletes (aged 10 to 12) on Mental Skills Training. They were from various sports, including Basketball and Track & Field. One of the kids’ favourite activity was the Visualization Exercise. Here’s a very simple one for making the perfect basketball shot:

1. Close your eyes, take a couple of slow, deep breaths and center yourself.
2. Feel the ball within your fingers and the control that your hand has over it.
3. Visualize yourself making a Perfect Shot, straight into the hoop.
4. In your mind’s eye, see and feel yourself smiling at that victorious shot.
5. Use as much of your senses to make it as real as possible.
   

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Practice your shots AND practice your Visualization

Good to note: Before Michael Jordan became the top basketball player ever existed, he would sit quietly in his room and visualize shooting a basketball and scoring each and every time.

Copyright © Monaliza Amid 2009

When you are comfortably in your bed, just before retiring for the night:

1. Close your eyes gently and take a couple of slow, deep breaths.
   
2. Visualize yourself waking up, feeling fresh and energized. The clock or your watch shows exactly *6a.m.*
   
3. Affirm in your mind “It’s *6a.m.* right now. Thank you *Lord* for another beautiful morning.”
   
4. Allow yourself to fall asleep naturally.

Practise this everyday and you’ll be amazed at the results!

Substitute words in the ** above with something more relevant to you.

Copyright © Monaliza Amid 2009