MOTIVATION - Becoming More Conscious

MOTIVATION – Becoming More Conscious


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

You know, I grew up on a farm in the late 50’s and 60’s and for the people of my generation, using the “K” word was pretty much the norm. Was that right? Of course not! My point though is that nowadays when I hear that word (although it is very rare to hear it these days, thank goodness), apart from the fact I find it offensive, I am also reminded how things were.

So how did we get from there to here? How did a whole nation of people go from using words that were the ‘norm’ for that period of time – to something that now, the majority of us find absolutely reprehensible?

Well I think it is because we have become more conscious about what we say. It’s like the ‘volume’ control on kids – as they grow, so they become more aware of what they sound like and then instead of every word being said as loud as they possibly can, it becomes softer and more manageable.

Now here’s the thing – if we become more aware of what we say to ourselves softly and quietly, on a daily basis and stop all the negative thoughts that run wild in our heads, chances are that those negative thoughts will become positive thoughts and pretty soon instead of a sad, depressed and frightened individual, we’ll be a happy, upbeat confident person.

So how do we go about this? Well as with most things in life, it would be one word at a time, one day at a time. Be aware of what your thoughts are – each time something negative pops into you mind, mentally shake it loose – get rid of it and then replace it with a word with the opposite meaning. Actively think of the good things around you, be aware of your surroundings, take time out of your day to enjoy the simple things in life, the magnificent sunrise, the glorious sunset, the smell of freshly brewed coffee or freshly baked bread.

Allow your mind to wonder back to the memories of child hood where you were responsible for nothing more than being a kid and having a good time. Remember the laughter and the sunshine.

Watch children at play, see the delight upon a child’s face as they see their first butterfly or soapy bubbles as they float in the air and remember the thoughts that you had when you first experienced things. It will lighten the load in your heart and put a spring in your step.

Fill your head with pleasant positive thoughts and the burdens of your day will melt away.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za