The decisions you make and conscious directions you choose for yourself now will form a part of your future. You don't want to find yourself asleep at the wheel, driving on auto pilot. Being awake and aware of every moment and everyone around you will help you pick up subtle clues and signals as to new opportunities that are on the way. Don't just go through the motions. Stay alert to everything going on today.

As you adjust to the needs and attitude of new friends and associates, you will be learning more about yourself. Any decent, wise and practical person can achieve their goals without causing upset or offence to anyone. A pleasing combination of unity and helpfulness makes the transition into new social or business worlds a little easier. Sharing interests with those you see professionally makes all the difference too as this creates variety in your discourse and more importantly, variety is the spice of life!

A sense of humour is essential, even for a pragmatist; you will find it easier to get through the day if you can see the funny side. Don't join friends and colleagues who are currently taking life too seriously. To make others laugh in a difficult situation is a deluxe gift that makes you stand out from the crowd. In a practical way you will assess the situation and find a way to solve problems. This won't stop you from keeping the atmosphere informal.

You might use the lack of events at the start of the day to your advantage; it's an ideal time for sorting out your thoughts. Going through mechanical motions on automatic pilot gives you the chance to sort out a few things in your head. Have you recently noticed the harmful affect of someone's negative attitude on others? Mixing with upbeat people is more inspirational. You should be focused on the pros and cons of continuing with certain associations and dropping others.

Someone somewhere has your interests at heart and today, they will prove this to you in no uncertain terms. Your mental faculties are high and this will help you maintain meetings and conversations with intelligent and quick witted people. Sustaining this sparkling pattern will be easier than you think. Offers and suggestions coming your way will turn your thoughts and actions to outlets which interest you, rather than tackling routine and mundane chores.

Professional and social relationships require mutuality and common interest if they are to thrive. Knowing someone without actually taking the time to understand them could be a big mistake. Communication is the most important factor in all your dealings today. Speak, listen, swap thoughts and feelings. While some people are good at putting on an act to get them through, your role will be more than surface deep.

The bathroom scales, a TV program or magazine article might trigger off a desire to get in shape! If you make an effort to keep fit, you should lose weight in the process. Avoid crash diets, freak menus and similar regimes and take a sensible view of your health. Evening finds you assessing your strengths, checking your assets and isolating those more likely to be of help in the not too distant future.

You can't possibly allow someone to act as if whatever they do has no impact on anyone else; how can they be so blind? Your imagination and creative powers are second to none. It shouldn't be hard to think of a way to get others to see things through your eyes. As the day closes, you will prefer to spend quality moments with a loved one: enjoy an evening meal and indulge yourselves in whichever way you fancy!

There is something you are trying to stop or prevent because you don't feel happy about it. You aren't the only one to feel this way and if you're patient, more support will come your way. You're hoping to avoid future problems or misfortune by considering possible consequences and trying to prevent the negative ones from happening. This is a natural reaction, it is commendable but know too when to give up and walk out on a lost cause or you could harm yourself by continuing.

It is normal to feel nervous about future events especially if you're about to do something you've never done before. Telling yourself you haven't got what it takes or that it's pointless continuing, is being defeatist before you start. To give life more meaning, you can steer it in your own direction. Believe in yourself and in what you are doing. A positive attitude will work wonders. Try it and see.

It might take some time to break the ice when a bunch of strangers come together. Getting people to talk is what matters. Even if this is a professional gathering, find something neutral to chat about such as the weather, traffic, the location of the meeting. From that point questions and answers will start to be shared, generating lengthy and interesting conversations. You will enjoy getting to know a male associate you've felt drawn to in the past.

What is missing most out of a team effort in which you're taking part is a sense of personal responsibility. A lack of control, a need to do more, to have more choice and make decisions could stop you from getting the satisfaction from this endeavour you expected. Maybe you've not got as much as you can out of some situations and it's time to pull out and be more independent. Where there is more freedom there will also be a greater sense of fulfilment.