Be mindful of the fire rooster: 7 tips for the year

 

 

Good riddance to the Monkey!

That’s what many people might be saying on Saturday as we bid farewell to the year of the Monkey and ring in the Chinese year of the Fire Rooster.

Rooster years are sometimes called “years of awakening”. Maybe that’s because the rooster with his bold cock-a-doodle-doo awakens the barnyard, and anybody else in earshot, to the new day. Symbolically roosters are considered to be hard-working, punctual and confident. With this being a Fire year in the Chinese calendar roosters get an extra layer of passion and boldness.

Of course the rooster can sometimes come with more negative qualities like being vain or overly ambitious, and on a bad day can seem impatient, critical, inflexible and selfish.

Here are some ways you use the energy of the Fire Rooster this year:

Look for the light

Muhammad Ali once said

“A rooster crows only when it sees the light. Put him in the dark and he’ll never crow. I have seen the light and I’m crowing.”

We all need a little light – an a-ha moment – that gives us clarity about who we are and the choices we are making. If we are not paying attention, we often miss these lightbulb moments or we skip over them and don’t apply the life lesson starring us in the face. Look for the light and feel free to crow about it when you see it.

We all need a little light – an a-ha moment – that gives us clarity about who we are and the choices we are making. Click To Tweet

Get up early.

While the snooze button might be appealing, studies show that early risers tend to be more proactive and productive which can translate into greater success. Getting up earlier means that you have more usable time in your day that can be used for quiet reflection, planning and organizing and for positive habits like exercising.

Start fresh each day

Each morning is a new beginning. If yesterday went well, build on your success. If it didn’t, let it go and focus on what you can do today to move yourself forward toward your goals. A lot time can be wasted on worrying about past choices. Put your energy into today’s choices instead.

Be on time

Chronically being late is a bad habit and more importantly a sign of disrespect. When we don’t show up on time we send a loud signal that our needs outweigh the needs of everyone else. Being on time demonstrate respect for other people’s time, which is a valuable commodity in our busy world.

Be bold

Deep down we all want everyone to like us so sometimes we choose to hide parts of ourselves that we believe others might not fancy. Your authentic self is a gift so be bold and share it with the world. Sure they may be some people who aren’t attracted to you but the rest of us are thrilled to have you show up with all your unique skills and talents.

Watch for cockiness

Especially this year when people seem to have wildly opposing opinions on a wide variety of topics, it’s easy to slide into a mindset of “I’m right and you’re wrong”. Notice when you are impatient with other people and are inflexible in your viewpoint. Be willing to listen for understanding and common ground. You don’t have to agree with someone else but you can be respectful in the dialogue.

Be responsible

If would be nice if we all had a magic wand to wave around and make our lives the way we want them. The truth is anything worthwhile takes hard work, especially in the beginning. Creating new habits takes time and focus. Be responsible for your choices and put in the effort that is required for the outcome you desire.

Maybe this will be a year of awakening for the world. Sure feels like something is stirring globally.

What would need to happen for this to be a year of awakening for you?

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