Life on auto-pilot
Every day our brain allows us to perform functions, actions and decisions. It’s almost as if it’s running the show for us and we’re on auto-pilot! Auto-pilot Sometimes it feels as though life is a treadmill. We lose the joy in our lives and get overwhelmed with responsibilities. We might feel like robots as we…
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Create New Habits with Mindfulness
Every day is filled with repeated behaviours, thoughts and experiences ‘Experience is just showing up even though your mind is elsewhere, Awareness is when you notice you’re there.’ Ruby Wax As Ruby Wax says in ‘Sane New World’, we can all go through the motions, but bringing mindfulness or ‘awareness’ to what we’re doing transforms…
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Negative Thoughts and the Sabre-toothed Tiger
If you were to count up the number of negative thoughts you had in a day, how many would there be? My guess is plenty pop up unbidden! Negative Thoughts The human brain has a negativity bias and we are alive today because of this! Our ancestors were on the alert for danger every second…
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Your superpower: take deep breaths
What happens when you take deep breaths? Why would it be your superpower? Let’s look at how your body has your best interests first and foremost. Your body is brilliantly designed to keep you healthy and well. This is known as ‘homeostasis’. It’s a balancing act that applies to both your physiological state (your body)…
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Don’t believe everything you tell yourself about stress
Do you tell yourself that life would be better if everything was easier and stress-free? Yet what you tell yourself about stress is usually an auto-pilot reaction! Don’t always believe what you tell yourself about stress. Here are 3 ways to shift your view. 1. View your body’s stress response as helpful, not debilitating Your…
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Why Relaxation is Your Superpower
Fear is the most common emotion that underlies most peoples’ days. So how can relaxation be your superpower in dealing with this? Think about what you do on a daily basis: • You are confronted with challenges – things that are outside your daily routine • You anticipate scary experiences that haven’t happened, but might…
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How to Manage your Emotions
Guess what? You and I are very alike. In fact, we share something in common with every single human on the planet. We all experience emotions. So how do you manage your emotions? Sure, happiness, joy and excitement are all great. But how do we deal with everyday emotions that are more challenging – fear,…
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Brainwave activity and how ‘I woke up with this song in my head’
‘Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away …’ Paul McCartney wrote this song exactly 50 years ago and according to the Guinness Book of Records, it’s the most covered song in history. McCartney says that he woke up one morning with the song almost fully formed in his head. He dashed to the piano,…
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How can I be less forgetful and more focussed?
Ok, so you’re a working mum, dad or other human being! Despite all your many qualities and skills, forgetfulness intrudes into the equation more frequently than you care to admit! How can you be less forgetful? The other week I was chatting with a young business-woman who runs her own business (es) and is raising…
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The Power of Quiet
‘Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking’ is Susan Cain‘s best-selling publication from 2012. Cain has sparked a huge amount of interest as she highlights the power of quiet. She focuses on fundamental aspects of all our personalities. Are you introvert or extrovert or somewhere in-between? Introverts & Extroverts at…
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A Stress-free Day with Smiles!
Sometimes you might be experiencing overload at work. You may not always be enjoying your most stress-free of days and smiles may be low on the agenda too. But have a go at this – Try holding a pen in-between your teeth, without lips touching. What do you find yourself doing? Smiling of course! It…
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Relax – you’re in good company!
It’s essential to give ourselves time to relax and replenish. Life can feel overwhelming and tiring. But being able to relax is not just important for your well-being. It’s also the means of being more creative. Relax and be creative! Some of the most inspiring music, fantastic discoveries and creative ideas have happened when their…
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Manage your hormones with meditation!
How can you manage your hormones with meditation? Use mindful breathing: Spend a minimum of 10 minutes just sitting with the breath. Focus solely on your breathing and be compassionate towards yourself. During this time your mindful breathing elicits the brain’s rest-repose response. This fills your body with feel-good hormones (known as endorphins). These include…
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How to train to get Buddha’s Brain
The Buddha began his life with the same brain as any of us. How did he change his brain to become such a role-model for peace and wisdom? And is it possible that you can train to get Buddha’s brain? Buddha’s Brain In his book, ‘The Practical Neuroscience of Buddha’s Brain‘, Rick Hanson draws on…
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