Most of us have probably wished at some point in time in our life to have had the wisdom of hindsight, experience or discipline to make a decision or choice. There have even been times, if we are honest, where we have wished for some kind of divine intervention to guide and help us because we really were uncertain as to which path to follow and whichever one we did follow - was it the right one?

Og Mandino has written many books. An amazing and inspirational man - I had the wonderful opportunity to meet him five years ago before he died. One of his books I have read (and still do to refresh) and love is "A Better Way to Live". I share with you 5 of the Rules that he suggests we should live by if we choose to have a better life.

RULE 1: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

Appreciate your assets - the fact you have a job, your freedom, your home, your health, your sense of humour...whatever it may be.

A powerful collection of writings, poems and sayings from some of the greatest thinkers of the past 25 centuries on a variety of subjects from solitude and time to leadership, passion, meditation and forgiveness.

A book in which Mandino reveals for us the most precious commodity of all - the freedom of choice - the key to a freer and richer future.

We spend far too much time comparing ourselves to others, wishing that we had what they had. Each of us has so much and yet we so often don't seem to realise, accept and appreciate this.

RULE 2: BUILD YOUR DAY ON A FOUNDATION OF POSITIVE THOUGHTS

Focus on the positive not the negative - look for reasons why you can do something rather than trying to find all the reasons why you can't. Good thoughts bear good fruit and bad thoughts bad fruit.

RULE 3: LAUGH AT YOURSELF AND AT LIFE

Not in the spirit of derision or self pity but as a remedy, a cure, a stress release. Never take yourself too seriously. The ability of being able to laugh at oneself shows confidence and often helps to free the mind to think more clearly. Laughter is healing. An ancient Oriental proverb reminds us that time spent laughing is time spent with the Gods.

RULE 4: NEVER ALLOW ANYONE TO RAIN ON YOUR PARADE

Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Time is too precious to waste on feelings of hate, anger, jealousy and pity. We are fragile and there will always be detractors, critics and cynics who are envious of us - ignore them! You control your life. If anyone rains on your parade and ruins your day it's because you allowed them too!

RULE 5: SEARCH FOR THE SEED OF GOOD IN EVERY ADVERSITY

We can, if we look, always find a seed of good in difficult times or challenging situations. When a door shuts in your face there will always be an open window! In fact we very often learn more from our failures than our successes.

These rules contain some wise words and are certainly valuable food for thought...