STOP, PAUSE AND BREATHE. Who hasn’t got a moment in their days to do this when it reaps such replenishing rewards. It can help us gently shift from ‘fight or flight’ to ‘rest and digest’, triggering the relaxation response and calming the body down. As Nicole Mahabir says in CBC Life: “ Long, deep breaths can also manage our stress responses to help … Read More
Nature As a Mental Health and Social Justice issue as well as an Environmental one.
Rescued this little baby recently in a wood, enlisted the amazing help of Steve Godz from GoringGapWildlifewalks and now this tiny, tawny owl is kindly being cared for at the Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue Recent Mental Health Foundation Research suggests that an appreciation and active engagement with Nature can both prevent mental health problems and promote and improve people’s wellbeing, and … Read More
A Top, Bite-Sized Tip for Mental Health Awareness Week and National Walking Month
In Mental Health Awareness Week it is no surprise that the Mental Health Foundation have chosen Nature as their theme. In order to help combat the stress and anxiety created not only by the pandemic in the last year but also to help the one in four people who experience a mental health problem at any one time, their choice … Read More
Stress Awareness Month and the Mindfulness Antidote to Stress
Stress places huge demands on people’s physical and mental wellbeing and effects behaviour, performance, and interpersonal relationships both at work and home. This knock-on effect means that employers need to play a role in helping their employees balance their work and personal responsibilities building resilience to life’s many challenges so that they can perform at their very best both individually … Read More
Does success = happiness or does happiness = success?
Does Success bring Happiness or Happiness bring Success? In this week leading up to the International Day of Happiness on 20th March, it would be good to know what you think? We all seem to have a tendency to chase success hoping it might make us happy. For example, perhaps we will be happy when we lose weight, or get a promotion, … Read More
Building Resilience in Tough Times
In an interview by Dan Snow with Andy Macnab of the SAS and Bravo Two Zero fame – Andy tells an extraordinary life story of resilience, from being abandoned as a baby outside Guy’s Hospital in London, through Borstal, to the Green Jackets, to the SAS and now an author who has sold over 33 million books. Dan asked Andy a number … Read More
Gratitude and Resilience Go Hand in Hand
‘Gratitude and Resilience go hand in hand’. Being grateful for these wondrous Autumnal colours can sometimes appear difficult when the world is currently faced with so much negativity and rapid change. Many businesses are experiencing significant cuts in profitability, possible closure; many individuals are losing jobs, livelihoods and security. It is not an easy thing to build a sense of … Read More
‘Stop Trying to Calm The Storm, and Learn to Surf the Waves’ (Adapted from “Wherever You Go, There You Are by J K-Zinn)
‘Stop Trying to Calm the Storm, and Learn to Surf the Waves’. Wise advice about how to live our lives in a constantly changing world. That is, when the ‘shit hits the fan’ (as the saying goes!), learn to accept what is, bring awareness to the present and move forward more skilfully into the next moment. As my daughter’s partner, … Read More
How To Reduce Workplace Stress & Improve Team Resilience
Stress in the workplace is a growing concern for individuals and businesses alike. The causes and impact of stress do not happen in isolation, which means that workplace stress can affect more than just the few. As Confucius wisely suggested: The Ripple Effect If an individual is stressed at work, it could be that the source of stress is completely … Read More
How Mindfulness Can Help You Thrive in Today’s Frenetic Workplace?
The recurring theme in many businesses is more for less. We live in a society where we have grown to expect instant gratification, the best price and customer service that goes above and beyond. However, these expectations mean that somewhere there are people under increasing pressure to deliver all this – quite possibly you or your team. Add to that … Read More