Habits define our personalities. And the Chinese zodiac says that our personalities reflect the traits of the animal sign we were born in. So why not combine these two and develop good habits based on the positive characteristics of the Chinese zodiac?
Accordingly, the Rooster represents fidelity and has other strong defining characteristics in the Chinese zodiac. Therefore, it is advisable to adopt the positive characteristics of the Rooster sign and make them a habit.
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What are habits
Habits are the thoughts and actions you perform on a daily basis without much thought. And experts say habits account for 40% of your daily actions.
With this fact, it is important to note that habits play an essential role in your life. Because your habits can make or break you.
The Rooster personality
The Chinese zodiac is based on animals chosen for their unique traits. And their significance in terms of a person’s personality, fortune, and birth year.
The tenth sign of the Chinese zodiac represents fidelity and punctuality. The Rooster years are 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, and 2029.
Rooster people are observant, hardworking (diligent), courageous. Furthermore, the Rooster signs are adventurous, charitable (generosity), funny, loyal, self-care, Outspoken (assertive)
Good habits to develop
The following are some good habits you can develop based on these distinctive Rooster characteristics:
Diligence
Diligence is the behavior of being hardworking, paying attention to detail, and persisting despite difficulty or delay. It is a trait required in all aspects of life because it is a necessary ingredient for success.
It not only helps you achieve your goals, but it also makes people take note of you. In addition, you can benefit from the many advantages of diligence, such as:
- Commitment to your career, relationships, faith, ventures, or ideas.
- Ability to quickly adapt to changing situations, revise techniques, or seek solutions.
- Being able to learn from and improve on mistakes.
- Increased confidence as a result of experience.
- Character improvement.
- Being accountable for your actions.
- Developing the ability to initiate projects or ideas with a clear goal in mind from start to finish.
How to develop diligence
And, because diligence is one of the Seven Capital Virtues, it is a good habit that we should all develop. Here are the steps we need to take to develop diligence.
Ditch motivation
We frequently use motivation as an excuse to avoid doing something. “I don’t feel like exercising today,” for example. or “I’m just not feeling inspired to write today; maybe tomorrow.”
Newsflash! Do not succumb to the devilish voice inside your head. Regardless of how you feel, get up and do what you need to do. Allow your actions to dictate the motivation you require.
Start small
Of course, developing diligence, like any other habit, is a gradual process. So make a plan to start small so that your mind and body do not resist.
Calendar your activities in such a way that they do not overburden you today. To the point where you will refuse to work on them again tomorrow.
Also, plan your tasks so that you can take breaks, have some entertainment. And get enough sleep.
Have a strategy to keep you going
As you go about your daily tasks, something will take longer, annoy you more. Or be more difficult than you anticipated. You’ll definitely be tempted to call it a day, but resist the urge.
For such situations, have a few lines to repeat to yourself. Telling yourself things like, “You’re doing great!” or “One more task, then I’ll take a short break.” should help keep you going.
Another way is to put on some good music to pump you up. To refresh yourself, drink some water. Alternatively, a few jumping jacks should suffice to get the blood flowing.
Work smart
Although one key ingredient to diligence is working hard, keep in mind to also work smart. Do away with multitasking. Consequently, group similar tasks. And prioritize your most important tasks for when you have more mental energy.
Again, do not overwork yourself. Remember to take small breaks.
Seek help or delegate
Diligence does not imply that you must do everything yourself. When you’re stuck on a problem, know when to ask for help.
Alternatively, learn how to delegate tasks that aren’t critical to your current project.
Courage
The mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty, according to the dictionary. This description is consistent with Napoleon Bonaparte’s definition of courage:
“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have strength.”
― Napoleon Bonaparte
It is therefore important to develop the habit of courage in our lives. As it enables us to take the first steps despite fear and trepidation.
How to develop courage
Again it is fortunate that researchers believe that courage is a skill. Because it is a skill, it can then be learned. It can also be applied repeatedly, through small actions, until it becomes a habit.
So, here are steps you can take to develop the habit of courage.
Identify your fear triggers
According to Kate Swoboda, author of the courage habit, fear manifests itself in our lives primarily through perfectionism, people-pleasing, self-sabotage. And pessimism in the form of behavioral patterns.
Fear is detrimental to health
Remind yourself that being paralyzed by fear can be detrimental to your overall health. So take a deep breath and relax. Calm down and figure out the smallest step you can take to get moving.
Take chances
Recognize that fear is a natural part of being human. So take it in stride and get started on that project, business, or venture you’ve been wanting to start.
Use fear to your advantage
You can use your fear to your advantage if you take it in stride. Allow a healthy dose of fear to motivate you and compel you to critically examine the quality of your output. Or consider the consequences of an action you are about to take.
Reframe your story
Reframe your narrative. Another point made by Kate Swoboda is that how you tell a story influences how you see yourself and the world. Whether you are a victim or a survivor. To counteract this, you must reframe your story.
There are, thankfully, ways to retell a limiting story. One approach is to question these negative perceptions of our abilities.
Another option is to look at a difficult situation through the eyes of an outsider. These things help us deal with the stress that fear and worry can cause.
Generosity
Generosity is a quality that should be developed into a habit. Because it is beneficial not only to the recipient but also to the giver.
Being generous with your time, talent, or resources without expecting anything in return improves your overall health.
In addition, you become more fulfilled, happy, and peaceful, not to mention more productive at home and at work.
How to develop generosity
Here are some practical ways you can develop generosity as a habit.
- Be kind. Always. It doesn’t take much to be nice. A smile, genuine appreciation, or running an errand for an elderly person all go a long way.
- Give a compliment to someone. It feels good to be complimented. So send out some positive vibes.
- Listen to others and avoid making it about yourself. Feel what they’re going through instead.
- Recognize and appreciate the abilities of others.
- Donate to your favorite charity or organization.
- Train or coach another person.
- Support a small business.
- Volunteer.
Self-care
Certainly, self-care is not vanity. It is about taking care of yourself so that you can perform at your best and face life’s challenges with determination, focus, and clarity.
Other benefits of self-care include:
- improvement of your immune system
- better physical health
- maintain your mental health
- better sleep, and
- better relationships, among others
Here are some ways to practice self-care in order to reap the benefits of said habit.
- Engage in healthy eating. Eat whole foods. Avoid processed and sugary foods.
- Drink lots of water. Keep your body hydrated
- Get enough sleep. Don’t treat lack of sleep as a sign of productivity.
- Go out for a walk. Do some yoga stretches. Or a few minutes of cardio exercises.
- Engage your senses as a Taurean would. Indulge in a long bath, light a scented candle, listen to calming music, or drink a cup of hot chocolate.
- Schedule a good massage. This would surely work wonders.
- Schedule get-togethers. Spending time with friends and family is always good for your mental health.
- Nourish your skin. A generous slathering of rich cream will leave your skin smelling divine and feeling oh-so-smooth.
- Practice meditation. Meditation has been shown to improve focus and concentration, increase self-awareness and self-esteem, reduce stress and anxiety. And foster kindness.
- Discover something new. Yes, it is a form of self-care. Feed your mind with new information to build mental muscle. As well as to keep it from deteriorating.
You can read a book or listen to an audiobook. Listen to podcasts. Or, sign up for an interesting online class.
As a side note, Skillshare is a great place to start. They’re also offering a one-month free trial of Skillshare premium, you might want to check it out.
All of these examples are excellent ways to keep your mind active.
Assertiveness
The ability to express yourself clearly and concisely is referred to as assertiveness. It is the ability to express your thoughts, beliefs, desires, or feelings clearly, even if they differ from those of others.
Also, the ability to say ‘no.’
Therefore, assertiveness is a good habit you should develop in order to succeed. Developing an assertive personality is important as it puts value in yourself. It also improves your confidence and self-esteem.
When interacting with others, there is less confusion, anxiety, and conflict. Because you assert your desires and interests clearly. Other benefits of being assertive include effective communication, better relationships, and a better understanding of your own feelings, among others.
How to develop assertiveness
Here are some things you can do to develop the habit of assertiveness:
Start small
If you’re having trouble being assertive, it’s best to start small. Start by practicing your new skills in low-risk situations.
For example, before you approach a difficult situation at work, try being assertive with a partner or friend. Then assess how you handled yourself and make necessary adjustments.
Use ‘I’ instead of ‘You’
To express what you think or feel without putting the other person on the defensive, use the word “I” in your statements.
For example, instead of saying, “You’re wrong,” say, “I disagree.” If you have a request, instead of saying, “You must do this,” say, “I would like you to assist me with this.”
Say no
Granted, saying no is a difficult thing to do. Especially if you are a people pleaser. However, keep in mind that saying yes to things you can’t do or attend to will only complicate your life. So just say no.
No need for an explanation. But if you must explain, keep it short and simple.
Summary
According to the Chinese zodiac, your animal sign can have an impact on your personality. And, as the New Year approaches, here are some good habits to develop from the Rooster sign of the Chinese zodiac.
- Diligence
- Courage
- Generosity
- Self-care, and
- Assertiveness.
Please share your thoughts about this article in the comments below. You can also read 12 Good Habits From The Animal Signs (Chinese Zodiac), 12 Good Habits From The Zodiac, and Building Good Habits For Your To Be.
Additionally, you may like the habits you can develop from the other animal signs of the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Dog, and Pig.
Outside references:
CHINESE ZODIAC- ROOSTER
7 Effective Ways To Boost Your Courage
