Theresa Cheung - The Element Encyclopedia of Birthdays

The way forward:is to place more emphasis on who you are than on what you do.

Luck maker:Spend more time listening and networking.

January 12-born are utterly unique in that they somehow manage to be both confident and elusive, occasionally at the same time. Either way, they don’t do anything half-heartedly. Once they have settled on a goal, they pursue it with single-minded dedication. Whatever their calling in life, whether it be raising a family, running a newspaper or campaigning for a cause, it becomes their single purpose. They are forever on the lookout for opportunities that can help them achieve their goals, and their sharp wit and uncanny good fortune often mark them out as success stories.

Work is everything and they run the risk of losing themselves to it, so choosing their career wisely is a big deal. Born winners, those born on this day are likely to succeed in any career, but their biggest struggle is choosing what career to pursue. Independent-minded, they can work in teams, often excelling in business, entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, politics, sports, journalism, negotiation, the media and all forms of art. January 12-born have high energy levels, but their intense focus can mean they neglect the most important thing in their life: their health. Self-care and regular exercise are essential, and they would also benefit from meditation to encourage self-awareness. For self-care, every morning when you wake up, reflect for a few moments on this question: If you had one year to live, what would your priorities be?

These people often put their emotional life on hold in pursuit of their goals in life. Sometimes they can be so driven that they lose touch not only with loved ones but also with themselves. They are quirky, attention-seeking and critical of others, and being ignored plunges them into a low mood. Carving out a personal life separate from work helps them get their sense of self-worth from within rather than externally. Typically, from around the age of 39 (though hopefully sooner), they place more emphasis on reflecting on what truly matters and inner growth, and this is the key to their happiness. Once they know how to balance their work and their personal life, their destiny is to dedicate themselves to a worthy cause or purpose.

Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors:The Hanged Man, 3, 4, Saturday, Thursday, black, purple

Born today:Jack London (author); Jeff Bezos (entrepreneur); Christiane Amanpour (journalist)

Potential:Dedicated, inspirational

Dark side:Workaholic, attention-seeking

“I can and will reach my potential”

The life lesson:is not feeling frustrated when others don’t live up to expectations.

The way forward:is to accept others for who they are right now and not for who they could be.

Luck maker:Focus on what you can change about yourself, not what you can change about others.

People born on January 13 rarely pause. Self-improvement, often combined with social or global improvement, is their focus. They are always moving forward, whatever their circumstances. Their ability to adapt to change and overcome obstacles, making even the most difficult tasks seem easy, and keep their cool when all around are losing theirs, gives them a natural charisma. When setbacks occur, they pick themselves up, learn from mistakes and do all it takes to reach their goals—and reach them they will.

People born on this day particularly enjoy initiating new projects and ideas, and they work steadily and in a disciplined way until they have attained what they desire. Born advisors, their calm intelligence suits them to many careers, but they can excel in acting, education, medicine, the military, emergency services, personal relations, counseling, personal transformation, life-coaching, writing and social and humanitarian reform. Instinctively understanding that a healthy body is a healthy mind, these people prioritize self-care. There is a danger of becoming too obsessive about their health. Moderation is important. Spending more time in nature will help keep them balanced and grounded. For self-care, every evening set aside a minimum of ten minutes to read a good book, preferably hard copy rather than digital.

These charming people attract admirers, but they want to admire their loved ones in return and this can put intense pressure on their close relationships. They progress faster if they can understand that not everyone has the same drive or need for achievement as they have, and that sometimes the price for always giving 100 percent means they have to stand alone. Of course, they feel disappointment and disillusion at times but, typically after the age of 38 and more often than not sooner, they understand that feelings can help them learn and grow as much as thoughts and logic can. Their destiny is to inspire others to move out of their comfort zone, help resolve disagreements and, in the process, make the world a more harmonious place.

Tarot card, lucky numbers, days, colors:Death, 4, 5, Saturday, Sunday, black, green

Born today:George Gurdjieff (philosopher); Ruth Wilson, Patrick Dempsey, Liam Hemsworth and Orlando Bloom (actors); Shonda Rhimes (producer)

Potential:Charismatic, high-achieving

Dark side:Bossy, unemotional

“I see how the dots connect to create the bigger picture”

The life lesson:is to establish real emotional connection with others.

The way forward:is to apply the same level of commitment to your relationships as you do to your work.

Luck maker:Make sure there is a balance between giving and taking in your relationships.

January 14-born are a unique combination of discipline and instinct. They can take in vast amounts of information, weigh it all up, see the vision connecting everything and then work steadily toward their end goals. They are inquisitive and shrewd judges of people and situations. Their panoramic view and strong sense of right and wrong, which they present with absolute conviction, makes them sought-after peacemakers. Once settled on a course of action, they rarely lose sight of the end goal. Even if that means they alone must stubbornly see things through to completion.