Dear Counsellor:

I am a young adult who is concerned about making myself a success in life. Please give me some tips.

- Monica

Dear Monica:

Success is a different concept for many persons. Though some individuals are born in poor families, they often work hard to achieve something in life.

We usually look at other people and compare ourselves. People have different ideals. For many people, having a prestigious job with a popular multinational and a home in Cherry Gardens is the best. Having a spouse and three children with the pedigree pets is considered success. For others, merely having a job and being able to pay the bills is success.

You need to set goals for yourself. You need to plan for one year, five years or 10 years. Usually, young people want the job, the car and the house all at once. To acquire personal possessions, one needs to work hard to buy stuff and you need to work even harder to maintain them. Having a sound savings plan and maintaining a personal budget is one thing you need to work on.

You are unlikely to get everything all at once, so you need to prioritise and save aggressively. Reward yourself whenever you achieve something. Small successes have to be celebrated, so you can remain motivated and focused.

Many people will open doors for you and will give you opportunities to achieve. Always be thankful and show appreciation for what is done for you. Remember that the people you meet on your way up will be the same ones you'll meet on the way down.

Keep God in the forefront, as your spirituality is important. Share with others and be a blessing to others.

Be great at networking with persons whose life experiences can improve your standing. Folks tend to do things for people they like or admire. Be pleasant and wear a winning smile. You will cheer up others without even realising it.

Have annual check-ups, monitor your nutrients, and exercise, which will produce both physiological and psychological benefits. Persevere in the face of adversity. Remember your manners and social graces.

Suffering from boredom

Dear Counsellor:

I am retired and find myself bored. How can I occupy myself?

- Margaret

Dear Margaret:

Retirement is just another phase in life. It doesn't signal a dead end or uselessness. As long as we have our faculties intact, we can be a blessing to others. Maybe you need a hobby or another career. These days, we are living longer, so we need to be able to be flexible, cross-trained or cross-trainable. Some of the skills learnt when you were younger will come in handy as you grow older. A home business might be a good idea. Volunteer at a children's home or at your community centre and enrol in a mentorship programme. Each one can teach one, so older or more experienced persons can mentor upcoming talent.

There are many jobs which involve the use of a computer. People who use the Internet to research topics would be happy to have an expert doing the research for them. Helping people to write books can be quite handy. People are very busy and need assistance to shop for food or clothes or books. Many jobs can be done from home.

Are you a member of a church? Churches have lots of social programmes, so get going and get involved.

Having personal or family problems? Email questions to Dr Yvonnie Bailey-Davidson at yvonniebd @hotmail.com or call her at 978-8602.