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 Dog represents loyalty and has other strong defining characteristics in the Chinese zodiac. Therefore, it is advisable to adopt the positive characteristics of the Dog 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 Dog 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 eleventh sign of the Chinese zodiac represents loyalty and honesty. The Dog years are 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, and 2030.
Dog people are honest, friendly, prudent (wise decision making). Furthermore, the Dog sign is Helpful (generous), honest, trustworthy (dependable), kind, hardworking (diligent).
Good habits to develop
The following are some good habits you can develop based on these distinctive Dog characteristics:
Decision making
Good decision-making is undeniably the most essential habit you can develop. Especially at work.
The choices you make affect your overall health, relationship, safety, and your priorities. As such, it is best to keep in mind the following when you need to make a tough decision.
Know your most productive time
Because mental energy is a finite resource, it is important to recognize when your energy is at its highest. Then, schedule your critical decision-making tasks in that time frame.
This way, your mind is operating at peak efficiency. And you are more likely to make sound decisions.
Remove or limit distractions
Without a doubt, the technology we have today has provided us with enormous benefits and convenience. However, it has also created a barrage of information that we have to process. As a result, our mental energy gets depleted even further.
So, to conserve energy, limit your screen time on social media, streaming services, news, and even emails. You can also turn off your phone when you are working on important tasks.
Stop multitasking
Doing several tasks at the same time is counterproductive. It certainly divides your focus and also the effectiveness of your decision-making.
So when faced with an all-important task that needs a decision, set aside a time block. And concentrate solely on the task at hand.
Pay attention to your emotions
Extreme emotions, such as anger or happiness, have been shown in studies to impair decision-making. Therefore, awareness of your emotional state is essential when faced with a difficult or important decision.
When experiencing uneven emotions, take time to clear your mind. Take a break. Go out for a short walk. Return to your task when you are more focused and level-headed.
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.
Dependability
Without a doubt, dependability is an excellent habit to develop. When you are dependable, you say what mean and follow through with your promises. Also, you take on challenges, accept responsibilities, and own up to your mistakes.
According to author Mike Royer, you get your first job based on your abilities. The rest, however, will be determined by your dependability.
How to develop dependability
Admittedly, it would take time, dedication, and consistency to develop the habit of dependability. But, here are some ways you can do to start.
- Be on time and well-prepared.
- Respond to inquiries or requests as soon as possible.
- Mistakes cannot be avoided. However, make sure to fix them quickly.
- Know your commitments and your deadline.
- Be patient and kind to yourself. Recognize that self-improvement takes time.
Kindness
Kindness is an act of generosity, consideration, or concern for others that is not motivated by praise or reward. It is one of the best habits you can develop because it benefits both the recipient and you as the giver.
Among the numerous advantages of being kind are the following:
- Improves your overall wellbeing
- Reduces your stress levels
- Boosts your self-esteem
- Improves your social connection
- Attracts more kindness
How to develop kindness
To cultivate the habit of kindness, here are things that you can do:
Be sincere
Sincerity is an essential value that helps foster trust. Also, because being sincere is free of affectations, pretense, or deception. Surely, you will not suffer from the effect that these negative feelings will provide.
Start small
An act of kindness, no matter how small, can have a ripple effect. So don’t hesitate to show kindness. A smile, a compliment, or sharing extra food certainly helps to brighten someone else’s day.
Daily act of kindness
Repetition is the key to developing a habit. So consciously make an effort to do at least one act of kindness each day.
Simple acts such as preparing breakfast for your family. Acknowledging the guard’s greetings as you enter an establishment. Recognizing an officemate’s input. Or praising your staff for their efforts. All of these count on the kindness radar.
And they don’t cost you a dime.
Be kind to yourself
You should also be kind to yourself. Stop your negative self-talk. Attempt to find the learning in negative experiences and then let go of the memories.
Being kind to yourself allows you to be kind as well to others.
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.
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 Dog sign of the Chinese zodiac.
- Decision-making
- Generosity
- Dependability
- Kindness, and
- Diligence.
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, Rooster, and Pig.
Outside references:
CHINESE ZODIAC- DOG
6 Reasons We Make Bad Decisions, and What to Do About Them