As we approach another year end there can be much anxiety around assessing the goals we achieved or did not achieve (as the case may be) during the past year. Anxiety surrounding imminent job loss or fear of what might happen can cloud our vision and prevent us making positive plans towards our future.

Rain, recession, fear of job loss – how do we keep ourselves in a positive mind frame? Coping strategies can include, distracting ourselves from our stresses or “changing the channel”.

The difference between somebody who reaches their goals and somebody who does not, is usually down to focus. The ability to stay focused on a goal rather than getting sidetracked is, perhaps, the greatest skill you can develop.

Now is that time of year that a good spring-clean will prove beneficial to not just your home, but also to yourself. A good spring clean, whatever time of the year, is healthy both mentally and physically.

Positive attitude comes with a smile. Optimists identify stresses and then take a problem-solving approach to deal with them. They tend to blame failure only on factors temporary to a specific instance. There are however, people who have a “learnt mindset” of negativity. Don’t you just long for them to express joy, laughter and a smile even now and then!

You can only breathe in the NOW. You can’t breathe in the past and you can’t breathe in the future. If only we could learn this truth! How much of our headspace is taken up by delving back into our past or going too far forward into the future?

We all know the stories of many successful businesses in Ireland and further afield. They had to go out and put themselves on the line and take many set-backs time after time.