Wyatt Beal September 14, 2021

Disagreements can be positive. When I find myself disagreeing with someone, I try to find out why. What does the other person think? Would knowing that change my perspective? When the two people in disagreement listen to each other, both parties can gain a better understanding. However, when people face disagreements as an argument, the focus often becomes winning rather than growing.

I believe you can win an argument and still lose. Perhaps you lose a friendship or the optimal path forward because you stick with your way rather than learning about all the possibilities. For today, settle for less arguing, so you can hear other's perspectives and take the optimal path forward.

Litter is a choice. Every piece of litter that hits the ground, blows through the air, or travels the sea could have been avoided. Sometimes it's inconvenient to find a garbage can, but it is always a choice. Litter can also be reduced by recycling and reusing materials. Both of these options are better for the environment because they reduce landfills. We all benefit when we settle for less litter, so for today decide not to litter, and if you can pick up someone else's litter.

As someone who believes that face masks help stop the spread of germs like COVID-19, I am someone who has encountered mask hassle. From dropping it to losing it, I have experienced my fair share of mask hassle. I also found that complaining about my mask hassle did absolutely nothing to reduce it. I found relief from the hassle when I turned my focus to fixing the problem which was how I stored my mask when I was not using it.

My solution of wearing my mask on a lanyard, is quite simple. My solution is an example of not settling for hassle - just putting up with something because that is the way it is. Once I believed there was a better way, I was motivated to look for it. I found that way by not being fixed on what lanyards are used for, and focusing on what lanyards could be used for.

Settle for less hassle by objectively looking at what causes the hassle then brainstorming what could reduce that problem. Will all the hassle be relieved? Maybe not, but I believe that improvements lead to future improvements, so start with settling for less hassle.

If you are constantly saying yes, it's likely you are over committing. As a people pleaser I know how difficult it is to say no, but I've found I can make myself and others happier when I'm able to fully commit. Be honest with what you can do and commit to. Not everything can be done today. Personally I get more quality work done when I focus, finish, and then move on. For today I'm settling for less yes, so I can focus on what's important now.

Tis the season to gift and get. I'd just like to share my thought that gifting materialistic goods does not automatically bring happiness to the giver or receiver. We are living in a time of extraordinary need, so I urge everyone to give what is needed. If your friends and family are not in need, consider gifting them notes of what makes them special to you and why you appreciate them. Then use your gift money to help those in need.

I truly believe there is enough for everyone, but the world experiences need because of how things are allocated. We can correct this by sharing what we have. If correction doesn't start now and with you, then when will it start?

Make a choice to settle for less materialism, so you can help people meet basic needs.

Recently I've been challenged to write nature paragraphs. It made me realize how my outdoor time has been reduced since last March. COVID-19 has changed us in so many ways. I never appreciated that going to and from school was actually an opportunity to go outside. Walking between classes and lunch were also opportunities to feel the sun (or occasionally the rain) on my skin.

Experts recommend you take breaks from your screen and look away. I'm recommending we take it a step further and actually go outside for a quick break. Personally I don't have to go far. I even benefit from walking into my yard or out on a balcony. So for today, settle for less indoor time by making a point to go outside and breathe.

I believe in speaking your mind, but I also believe in giving everyone a chance to speak. When I'm focused on proving my point, I can get stuck on talking to keep explaining. When I keep talking, I prevent myself from listening to others. If I'm not listening, I'm stopping myself from learning.

For today, I will settle for less talking, so I can listen more.

For as long as I can remember my mom has quoted Bodhi from the movie Point Break: "Fear causes hesitation and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true." She's told me this to help me get past my fears and take action.

Fear is a problem for me. I have to consciously work past it. When I'm fixated on fear, I don't take action. I literally get stuck in a loop of fear thoughts. While in some cases inaction is the right thing to do, inaction should be a choice not a default. Most times failing to act will lead to missed opportunities.

For today I wish you to live without fear controlling you. When fear grips you, notice it for what it is, a thought that you can respond. Say no to fear and focus on what you can do to safely accomplish your goals.

I've been afraid of COVID-19, but I can't let my fear of possibly catching a disease stop me from venturing outside. I have to take necessary precautions - masks, frequent hand washings, socially distancing, etc. - and then go on living.

In times like this it's easy to start complaining about everything that's wrong. But in my experience, complaining has never solved anything. For today get it out - scream, cry, complain and then let it go and focus on what you have to be grateful for. I really believe focusing on gratitude sets a better mood. So, settle for less complaining to make room for gratitude.

COVID-19 is changing everything. While it is important to be informed and know what you can do to maintain your health, I believe too much news can be harmful to your mental health.

In a world of 24/7 news and multiple sites with varying degrees of reliability, I think it's important to limit what you watch, read, and listen too. Personally I believe that staying home will help flatten the curve/slow the spread of COVID-19, so I'm staying home but I'm not constantly looking for the next news update.

Everything has changed and the routine of going to school or work or both is gone, but we can create new routines. Routines where learning what's new is balanced with doing things that bring us joy.

In a world where we are bombarded by what we should have, it's hard not to be jealous of those who have what we want. Commercials, social media, even main stream press glamorize what's new, trendy, and "must have". But the truth is material items, or looking a certain way, won't bring you lasting happiness.

There's no point in being jealous of what someone else has because even if you got it, you're not guaranteed happiness. Chances are the more you obtain, the more you want, and the more you'll find to be jealous of.

For today be grateful for what you do have. I find that gratitude does bring happiness and that's better than jealousy every time.

It seems that so many things have so much packaging. I had to buy some new pencils for the new school term. They were packaged in so much cardboard and plastic it took scissors to set them free. In addition to the hassle to get them out, there's the waste left behind. The waste is actually a big problem because garbage piles up.

To the individual it might not seem like garbage is piling up because they put it in the trash and the trash can is emptied on schedule. But all that collected trash has to go somewhere after leaving your home, school, or office. I googled to find out more about the municipal landfill in my area.

You can click on the photo to watch the video. The Miramar system seems advanced with many recycling programs; however, I can't stop thinking that if there was less packaging there would be less waste and if there's less waste there's less to recycle or potentially dump in a landfill. I totally believe in recycling, but I think the bigger solution is reduction of waste.

The first step is realizing there's a problem. To me over-packaging is a problem, so I'm going to start by contacting the manufacturers of the products I buy to ask them why there's so much packaging. If no one has made them aware, it's possible they think customers like their packaging or maybe there's a problem the packing resolves, that could be resolved a better way.

I hope to post soon on what I discover. Until then settle for less packaging by telling producers you're not interested in buying over-packaged products.

I'm in full finals swing. It's Wednesday and the test dates are Thursday and Friday. Therefore, it's time to settle for less doubt. When a big exam is coming up, it's easy to start doubting your abilities and your decisions.

Do I know enough? Can I pass? Can I get the grade I want? Will I finish? Do I know what to study? Did I study the right information? Did I study too much for this class and not enough for the others?

The questions in your head can be endless. What all the questions have in common is they are doubt. It's really hard to think when your head is filled with the noise of doubt. What I try to do is realize I'm doubting myself and then take a moment to breath. At first I thought all the talk about stopping and breathing was nonsense, but it's not. At least for me, stopping and breathing stops the doubt. Once the doubt is gone, I can focus on what I need to do.

Good luck to everyone who is or will take finals. Remember settling for less doubt might be the only thing you need to do so you can think clearly and be your best self.

The first reaction I get when I say "settle for less" is often "why that's so negative, I deserve more".

I think that reaction is because many people think settling is a bad thing. I looked up the definition of settle in the Cambridge Dictionary and this is what I found: to reach a decision or an agreement about something, or to end a disagreement; to arrange something; to relax into a comfortable position; to go and live somewhere, especially permanently; to move to a lower level and stay there; to pay, especially money that you owe; to become quiet and calm, or to make something or someone do this; to reach and remain at a certain level or in a certain state.

To me settling is about living in a relaxed comfortable position. Don't we all deserve to be relaxed and comfortable? I think we do!