Text fresh start

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text, find equivalents to the following Russian words and expressions:

2. принимать что-либо всерьез

3. полагаться на собственные способности

4. со старыми привычками расставаться нелегко

5. боязнь неудачи

6. помешать кому-то в чем-то

7. попробовать что-то новое

8. это отнимает силы и время

9. образ жизни

10. решить (преодолеть) проблемы

11. общественная жизнь

12. войти в контакт с

13. стоять на пути, мешать

14. трата времени

15. перечислить события

16. каковы последствия

17. ставить/намечать цели

18. сильные и слабые стороны

19. обновить, модернизировать, привести в соответствие

20. откладывать что-либо

21. лови момент

22. дать волю фантазии

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Knowing that we want to make a change in our lives is the easy bit - deciding what to do and how to do it is more difficult. First of all, we must learn to take our dreams seriously and to trust our abilities. Old habits die hard, and fear of failure may prevent us from even trying something new.

1

Making a fresh start takes effort and time. It is important to think carefully before you set off into something new, because it must be right for you and your way of life. You will need determination to overcome the problems that are sure to arise and the crises of confidence that you will face, so be sure that it's something you want to do - not what you think you can do, or what someone else thinks you should do.

2

Before you begin to think of specific projects, let your imagination fly beyond the here and now and think about what, in an ideal world, you would really love to do. This should help you to get in touch with the real you beneath the daily worries that drag you down. Don't let lack of money, time, qualifications or any other negative reasons why you cannot do what you want stand in the way of your fantasies. The time for assessing real possibilities will come later, when the various options can be considered in a systematic way.

Imagining the impossible need not be a waste of time. Such flights of fancy can provide clues as to where you would like to be, or what you might want to work towards. Try the following exercise. Imagine for a time that there are no restrictions for you of time, money, age, status, ties, etc. Then select one of the following –MY FANTASYJOB; MY FANTASY DAY; MY FANTASY LIFE.

3

Think through your chosen topic and write down your version of what would be involved. For example, in your fantasy job identify things such as status, salary, job specification, style of work, the lifestyle, which accompanies it, with whom you would work and in what surroundings. Your fantasy day is an invitation to list the events of what for you would be the 'perfect day'. Where would you be, what would you do, and with whom, if anybody? Your fantasy life offers an opportunity to consider your ideal life as a whole. This picture would include the work pattern, combining work, home and social life, status, income, lifestyle, etc. Whichever topic you choose, put in as many of the particulars as you can so that the fantasy becomes a full picture.

4

When you have written down your fantasy, think carefully through the following:

• What are my reactions to doing the exercise? What does the fantasy indicate about what I want for myself?

• What are the differences between my fantasy and my reality?

• How much of my fantasy is achievable at present or might be in the future? If I can't have it all, can I have some of it?

• What are the barriers to my achieving some of my fantasy and how might these be overcome?

• What would be the consequences of my working to achieve some of the features of my fantasy, for myself and for other people?

• Would the pursuit of my fantasy be worth the possible consequences? What objectives would I like to set myself on the basis of this exercise?

5

You then need to identify your strengths and weaknesses, update old skills or learn new ones. Look at your resources and, perhaps most important, what you enjoy and what you really can't bear doing. Be specific about your goals, and be careful not to try to do too much.

6

When you have decided what your goal is, and all the thinking, planning and preparation has been done, your fresh start can no longer be put off. Ban negative thoughts and seize the moment - fresh starters are determined to see the positive side of things and not to let problems, real or imagined, block their path. Good luck!

Exercise 2. Find in the text synonyms to the following words:

aims/goals

to stand in the way

to rely on

to make a fresh start

to solve the problem

to think something over (through)

fancy

way of life

restrictions

to follow somebody

Exercise 3. Find in the text antonyms to the following words:

enjoy

strengths

fantasy

difficult

negative

careless

real problems

to save time, money

success

to help somebody

Exercise 4. Fill in prepositions:

1. Fear … failure prevented me … even trying something new.

2. To set … … something new takes effort and time, because it must be right for you and your way of life.

3. Are the differences … your fantasy and reality great?

4. How much of your fantasy is achievable … present or might be … the future?

5. What are the barriers … achieving your fantasy?

6. When you have decided what your goal is, don’t put … your fresh start.

Exercise 5. Explain the meaning:

To make a fresh start; a perfect day; an ideal world; old habits die hard; right for you; crises of confidence; let your imagination fly beyond the here and now; the real you beneath the daily worries; to stand in the way; to ban negative thoughts; to seize the moment; status.

Exercise 6. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A-H for each part (1-6) of the article. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).