Exercise 1
Win the day
When you feel your strength waning, your courage must be firmer, your heart must be bolder, and your spirit must be greater.
These are the words of an Anglo-Saxon warrior, found on a fragment of poetry from over 1000 years ago. It was thought to be written on the eve of defending against an invading Viking force. They are words that echo out of the centuries and remind us that bad things show up.
Like many of us, I'm trying to make sense of where we are and where we're heading, yet one mantra offers a powerful mental route-map through these uncertain times – Win the Day. When you have an unknown situation, and you have very little or no control, then anxiety and fear can flourish. By reminding yourself of the mantra, Win the Day, it reminds us that no matter what happens in the outside world, our inside world will be nurtured and strengthened through staying positive, proactive, and purposeful in everything we do. From here, we can be best placed to notice new opportunities and move forward when the time arises.
Top tip
Reinforce this mantra by reflecting on the day and recalling your mini-successes, no matter how small. Amazingly, we can learn from our children who do this naturally as they fall asleep. You may sometimes hear them talking through their day out loud – something which really seems to benefit our brains.