12 Feb
Evelyn COACHING, LEADERSHIP, Neuroscience

One-of-a-Kind Brilliance

One-of-a-Kind Brilliance

The Power of Individuality in the Team Success

“What each must seek in his life never was on land or sea. It is something out of his own unique potentiality for experience, something that never has been and never could have been experienced by anyone else.” – Joseph Campbell

Whether you’re running a sales team, or opening your own business, you’re bound to collaborate with some pretty diverse individuals. Each of us has our own collection of work stories, “once I worked with a woman who…” or, “can you believe my team member said…”. The big secret is: you’ll never stop being surprised.

We’re all strange, mysterious, and whacky in our own unique ways. Sometimes, let alone surprising others, we surprise ourselves with our thoughts and behaviour, tastes and tendencies. And while each person’s individuality can be a challenge; our uniqueness is at the very core of team success.

Think of a team as a choir; there are sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses – and it’s everyone bringing their voice to the mix that makes that rich, incredible sound. Look at your team, not just as a strong group unit, but as a collection of brilliant individuals; each with their own challenges, strengths, and potential. Then – and only then – will you bring out the complex, interwoven, exciting results you’ve been hoping for.

Start by:

  1. Helping each individual set their own, personal goals
  2. Always listen and hear each individuals needs, questions, and concerns
  3. Coach on an individual basis; make every member of your team feel integral to success

By understanding themselves and their own journey, your team members will more easily understand and work with their colleagues.

Uncover the unique brilliance in each of your team members, encourage them to take their own journey of discovery, and watch as those individual discoveries launch your team to success. As the great pioneer of modern dance, Martha Graham once said, “You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost.”

Join us at the upcoming Wellness Retreat and explore you.

11 Feb
Evelyn COACHING, WELLNESS

PILATES EXERCISES: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE

Pilates Exercises – A Beginners Guide

If you’ve just decided to engage in Pilates Exercises, you’re welcome to the party. You’re not a moment too late because, with Pilates, any moment is the right moment. This article contains the basic information you need to get started.

One of the first pieces of information you’ll learn about Pilates Exercises here is that your age, size, or gender is of no consequence. Pilates is for everyone. There’s more, but first a little about what Pilates is and its origin.

Pilates is a low-impact but challenging mind-body exercise that’s used to achieve body balance, increase strength and flexibility, improve awareness, and strengthen core muscles, among other things. It is named after Joseph Hubertus Pilates, who first created the method in the 1920s. He called it “Contrology.”

The types of Pilates Exercises number in the hundreds, and the benefits are almost as numerous. Some of the most common benefits of Pilates Exercises, backed by research, include:

  • Increase in the strength and endurance of core muscles
  • Improvement in posture and flexibility
  • Pain relief and improvement in quality of life for non-specific low back pain patients
  • Stress management
  • Immune system boosting

Other benefits may well include injury prevention, body awareness enhancement, increased motivation, etc. Considering its many benefits, it’s no wonder that doctors recommend it for rehabilitation and general health purposes.

Getting Started – What You Need To Know

Many beginners think they need to have specialized equipment to start engaging in Pilates. Sure, there are many options in Pilates, such as the Reformer, Trapeze Table, Pilates Chair, etc. But they are not a necessity. All you need to begin with Pilates is your body and a soft mat.

Now that you know your basic equipment, you could decide to register with a Pilates instructor. Their knowledge is immense and will most certainly make your journey easier. But again, it’s not a necessity. There are a plethora of online resources including videos and mobile applications that can get you up and running.

That said, some of the primary principles you must learn as a Pilates newbie are control, precision, and breath. Mindfulness is a big deal in Pilates. You have to consciously direct every movement, exercise proper muscle control, and ensure every part of your body is involved in the process. You also have to be sure that the exercises are executed correctly. In Pilates, it is more important to do one exercise precisely than to do many imprecisely.

Breathing is the most essential part of Pilates exercises. You must master the art. It has to be deep and controlled, engaging your entire core. To achieve this kind of breathing, you can think of your lungs as huge balloons, fill them with air and release it in the same way.

Again, you don’t have to worry about the duration and frequency of your exercises- at least, not at first. Ultimately, what matters the most is consistency. Set up a workout plan. It could be as little as twice a week or as much as daily. Just make sure you stick to the routine and you’ll do great.

Some Final Words of Advice

You might already be feeling overwhelmed by some of the things you’ve learned over time. Don’t be. It’s really not some Herculean task, not even for the over 50’s. Think of it as new grounds. Explore and savor it every moment as you go.

Also, it is often the case that beginners want to jump straight to the difficult stuff. But like most life-changing endeavors, engaging in Pilates exercises is a journey. Start simple and go from there until you get a better grasp of the required concepts.

Finally, approach Pilates with a positive mindset. In the words of Jessica Sepel, “remember that your body listens to your thoughts. Make them good ones.”

John us at the Wellness Retreat and revitalize the mind, body and soul

REFERENCES

09 Feb
Evelyn COACHING, Neuroscience, WELLNESS

10 Questions to Transform your Life

I want to share with you a radical idea on the questions you ask… Your results in life are largely determined by the questions you ask yourself everyday.

It’s not your IQ, or the size of your database, or EI or even your experience that determines your success and happiness in relationships, work, money and life. Yes they all play a significant role in your success. But none more important than asking yourself the right questions.

Sound crazy? Maybe. But try this exercise and see …

Pick one question from the list of ten below.

Which question jumps out at you as the one you most want to answer in your life if you could?

If more than one resonates, that’s fine, but pick one to start with… the ONE that would feel really great to resolve right now:

  1. I wonder how I could improve myself today?
  2. I wonder what my body really needs right now?
  3. I wonder how I could have more fun doing what I’m doing right now?
  4. I wonder how I can have all the money I need for everything I want right now?
  5. I wonder how I can be closer to God, or my spiritual self?
  6. I wonder what I should do next that will bring me great joy?
  7. I wonder how I am best contributing to this situation?
  8. I wonder how I can be more creative today?
  9. I wonder how I can best fulfill my mission?
  10. I wonder how I can best serve today?

Have you picked a question? Please pick one before proceeding. You can choose one of your own if you prefer, but, do pick a question to get you moving forward.

Great.

Now take a deep breath… Exhale… Let go.

Next, sincerely and with a sense of genuine wonderment, ask yourself this question, but this time, wait and listen for a few moments for an inner response.

What did you experience? It might be some words or even instructions; it might be a positive emotion, a physical feeling, a hunch, or a new insight.

Why are questions so powerful?

Most if us tend to accept answers to life’s challenges and mysteries (with a little searching and questioning mixed in) from an array of expert sources, including parents, teachers, authors, doctors, gurus, consultants, family, friends, philosophies and religions of all kinds.

In my own quest for answers, I’ve dived into more expert resources than I can count. And while I pick up incredible nuggets of learning, wisdom and tools along the way, I also realise that it’s so much more than that. Here’s why. When you ask yourself a question, especially the right question, some really incredible things start to happen.

Firstly, forming a question causes you to focus your attention on an outcome.

“I wonder how I can get Jack to take me dancing ” or, “How am I going to pay the bills this month”? Or, “I wonder what I need to do to lose weight and be fit again? Whatever your question might be it may seem obvious, or not. But what is an absolute certainty is that “YOU GET WHAT YOU FOCUS ON… CONSISTENTLY”!

By asking questions, what is it you want (not what you don’t want) you naturally place your attention on your desired outcome.

Remember that funny little guy called “Einstein”… yeah the genius, that’s him he was into time and space, and the speed of light and all that stuff. And he was also one of the greatest philosophers that ever lived. He said, “if you ask yourself a question consistently enough, you’ll find the solution”.

Here are a few more treasures from Einstein:-

“Imagination is more important than knowledge”

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”

Secondly, asking questions causes your awareness to expand and become open to greater possibilities. Feel the difference between the statement “ Jack will never go dancing with me” and the question “I wonder how I can get Jack to take me dancing ”.

The statement creates negative feelings of anguish and pain. Right?  It keeps you closed and stuck.

A positive statement can also be an affirmation, such as “Jack and I will go dancing” .

A positive question can create the space for new possibilities and accesses your greater talents and intuition to produce a superior outcome.

Thirdly, the answer to every problem lies inside you and the process of asking questions challenges you to be more independent and skilled at finding and making the right decisions for yourself

When you ask the right questions, you train yourself to overcome different kinds of problems in the future. And when you achieve your desired outcome, you have the inner wisdom to ask even greater questions and reach even greater levels of success… You have the Power to Transform Your Life!

Here’s a little something for you to think about…

“One who asks a question is a fool for five minutes;

one who does not ask a question remain a fool forever” – Chinese proverb

If you’d like to chat… You know how to find me. Join us at the Wellness Retreat

07 Feb
Evelyn COACHING, LEADERSHIP, Neuroscience

Neuroscience and Change

Neuroscience and Change

Whаt саn Nеurоѕсіеnсе tell us?

Pаrt оf thе reason whу change іѕ so uncomfortable lіеѕ іn our brаіnѕ. In 2004 Nеurоѕсіеnсе rеѕеаrсh ѕhоwеd uѕ thаt оur brains make the decision based оn bias аnd bеlіеf. In ѕhоrt, we ignore fасtѕ thаt contradict whаt we bеlіеvе. Wе believe, not ѕо muсh what wе wаnt to bеlіеvе, but whаt wе expect tо bеlіеvе. Althоugh wе see оurѕеlvеѕ аѕ lоgісаl and оbjесtіvе іn ѕоrtіng thrоugh dаtа, wе асtuаllу іgnоrе facts and іdеаѕ thаt соntrаdісt our bеlіеfѕ. Fаmіlіаr еxреrіеnсеѕ travel аlоng well-established neuronal pathways in рrеdісtаblе nеurаl networks. Our rеасtіоnѕ bесоmе automatic. A соmfоrt zone is a mаttеr оf both mіnd and brаіn аnd tо еlісіt роwеrful rеѕultѕ fоr our соасhіng clients wе need tо knоw hоw tо аddrеѕѕ both.

Nеurоѕсіеnсе Breakthroughs

Advаnсеѕ іn brаіn іmаgіng аnd scanning tесhnіԛuеѕ еnаblе nеurоѕсіеntіѕtѕ tо monitor the brain durіng lеаrnіng procedures аnd to ѕее whісh аrеаѕ become mоѕt асtіvе with dіffеrеnt ѕtіmulі. Hоw thіѕ thеn trаnѕlаtеѕ іntо thе рrосеѕѕіng оf thе information аnd, ultіmаtеlу, іntо bеhаvіоr, саn thеn bе interpreted.

In ѕіmрlе lаnguаgе, аn undеrѕtаndіng of thіѕ knоwlеdgе helps lеаdеrs to undеrѕtаnd their реорlе better, whоеvеr thеу are; еvеrуоnе is unіԛuе, оf соurѕе, but if wе knоw thе basics of what is gоіng оn in the brаіn whеn we give аnd receive іnfоrmаtіоn, thеrе is аlrеаdу a deeper undеrѕtаndіng оf a реrѕоn.

Thе information wіll раѕѕ through аn іndіvіduаl’ѕ series оf “lеnѕеѕ”,  or “filters” dереndіng on their сulturаl background, upbringing, еduсаtіоn, ѕосіаl position, beliefs and ѕо on; ѕо thе lеаrnіng рrосеѕѕ іѕ сеrtаіnlу nоt thе ѕаmе for еvеrуоnе, but we can draw ѕоmе gеnеrаl соnсluѕіоnѕ frоm what the nеurоѕсіеntіѕtѕ hаvе fоund.

A Few Neuroscience Bаѕісѕ fоr Lеаdеrѕ

Some important discoveries frоm nеurоѕсіеnсе ѕhоw thаt:

  • The neural раthwауѕ іn оur brain аrе not fіxеd; thеу саn bе “rеwіrеd” bу repeat асtіоnѕ and саn literally сhаngе thе shape оf our brаіn аѕ new hаbіtѕ tаkе hоld.
  • In fасt, every tіmе wе lеаrn ѕоmеthіng nеw іt сhаngеѕ thе brаіn. Actually uѕіng thеѕе skills will mаkе thе сhаngеѕ mоrе реrmаnеnt, ѕо ѕtаff mеmbеrѕ need thе opportunities tо аррlу what’s lеаrnеd аѕ muсh аѕ possible.
  • Trуіng tо tаkе thе еmоtіоn out of thе lеаrnіng рrосеѕѕ wіll nоt gеt thе bеѕt rеѕultѕ. Emоtіоnѕ аrе іmроrtаnt to learning, аѕ Plаtо recognized over twо mіllеnnіа ago whеn he said: “All lеаrnіng hаѕ an еmоtіоnаl bаѕе.” Humаnѕ tend tо respond better tоwаrdѕ еxреrіеnсеѕ that рrоmоtе a роѕіtіvе emotional reward аnd vееr аwау frоm the negative.
  • Thе аbіlіtу to train the mіnd to focus attention (thrоugh tурісаl meditation tесhnіԛuеѕ) еnhаnсеѕ the аbіlіtу for lеаrnіng аnd creative thіnkіng.
  • Mеmоrу аnd rесаll аbіlіtу іѕ best ѕеrvеd bу uѕіng a variety оf stimuli – the spoken wоrd саn bе mаdе mоrе еffесtіvе bу writing, іmаgеѕ, video, dіgіtаl lеаrnіng techniques еtс. Thіѕ rеаllу juѕt соnfіrmѕ what wаѕ ѕuѕресtеd before: thаt thе сlаѕѕrооm-ѕtуlе approach іѕ not necessarily thе mоѕt еffесtіvе.
  • Wе аrе nоt gооd multі-tаѕkеrѕ – оur brains рrеfеr focusing on оnе tаѕk аt a time, dеѕріtе whаt some оf us may think.
  • Our аbіlіtу tо thіnk аnd make good dесіѕіоnѕ іѕ not juѕt dереndеnt on our knowledge оr skill levels. Wellness fасtоrѕ lіkе exercise, ѕlеер, аnd nutrition аll рlау an important role, аѕ dо emotional fасtоrѕ lіkе ѕеnѕе оf bеlоngіng аnd inclusion.

It іѕ іmроrtаnt for lеаdеrѕhір to be able to make sense оf аll the rеѕеаrсh аnd data оut thеrе аnd rесеіvе guіdаnсе frоm trаіnеd рrоfеѕѕіоnаlѕ whо undеrѕtаnd thе nеurоѕсіеnсе and hоw bеѕt tо соmmunісаtе іt.

05 Feb
Evelyn COACHING, Neuroscience, WELLNESS

The Fear of Being Found Out

The Fear of Being Found Out

And the Hidden Secret to Getting Over It…

“If you want to conquer fear, don’t sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

  • Dale Carnegie

For most of us, fear is a part of everyday life. If you’re in sales or customer service, that’s even more true.

To be in the sales arena it takes courage. Courage to make sales, courage to stand up at presentations courage to develop relationships with clients, courage to compete, and courage to take rejection. Every day, there are fears to overcome. Small fears, and big fears.

But one fear is universal … no matter what career path you choose.

It is…

The fear of being found out.

We all fear that – however successful we become – people will see through the façade. And it’s not just those beginning in the profession. This fear haunts those at the pinnacle of success, those at the height of their careers.

And so, how can we effectively deal with this feeling?

There is one powerful way to deal with – if not completely vanish – your fear of being found out.

Action.

Action turns your focus away from this fear and back to productivity. Action proves your fear wrong. Action feeds the part of you that is conquering the fear. While – on the other hand – remaining passive feeds the fear itself.

“High achievers, regardless of occupation, understand that taking risks and massive action is a vital part in getting from where you are to where you want to go. And that goes for in life – and in business.” https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/236465

Whether you’re nervous when making a presentation, anxious about reaching your budget, or fearful about closing a sale – you’re not alone. Everyone holds that deep-seated fear that somehow they will be outed. That somehow, they are inadequate for the job.

And of course, there is only one person that can show you how truly great you are. How much potential you have. How you are the very best person for the job. And how you can overcome your fears.

Who is that person?

You.

Get out there and act. Every step forward you take, every decision, every phone call – each of those actions make your fear vanish into the past.

Explore your fears and working strategies at the upcoming Wellness Retreat

03 Feb
Evelyn COACHING, Neuroscience, Relationships

Which of the 10 questions is more important…

Which of the 10 questions is more important…

I want to share with you a radical idea on the questions you ask… Your results in life are largely determined by the questions you ask yourself everyday.

It’s not your IQ, or the size of your database, or Emotional Intelligence or even your experience that determines your success and happiness in relationships, work, money and life. Yes they all play a significant role in your success. But none more important than asking yourself the right questions.

Sound crazy? Maybe. But try this exercise and see …

Pick one question from the list of ten below.

Which question jumps out at you as the one you most want to answer in your life if you could?

If more than one resonates, that’s fine, but pick one to start with… the ONE that would feel really great to resolve right now:

  1. I wonder how I could improve myself today?
  2. I wonder what my body really needs right now?
  3. I wonder how I could have more fun doing what I’m doing right now?
  4. I wonder how I can have all the money I need for everything I want right now?
  5. I wonder how I can be closer to God, or my spiritual self?
  6. I wonder what I should do next that will bring me great joy?
  7. I wonder how I am best contributing to this situation?
  8. I wonder how I can be more creative today?
  9. I wonder how I can best fulfill my mission?
  10. I wonder how I can best serve today?

Have you picked a question? Please pick one before proceeding. You can choose one of your own if you prefer, but, do pick a question to get you moving forward.

Great.

Now take a deep breath… Exhale… Let go.

Next, sincerely and with a sense of genuine wonderment, ask yourself this question, but this time, wait and listen for a few moments for an inner response.

What did you experience? It might be some words or even instructions; it might be a positive emotion, a physical feeling, a hunch, or a new insight.

Why are questions so powerful?

Most if us tend to accept answers to life’s challenges and mysteries (with a little searching and questioning mixed in) from an array of expert sources, including parents, teachers, authors, doctors, gurus, consultants, family, friends, philosophies and religions of all kinds.

In my own quest for answers, I’ve dived into more expert resources than I can count. And while I pick up incredible nuggets of learning, wisdom and tools along the way, I also realise that it’s so much more than that. Here’s why. When you ask yourself a question, especially the right question, some really incredible things start to happen.

Firstly, forming a question causes you to focus your attention on an outcome.

“I wonder how I can get Sam to take me dancing ” or, “How am I going to pay the bills this month”? Or, “I wonder what I need to do to lose weight and be fit again? Whatever your question might be it may seem obvious, or not. But what is an absolute certainty is that “YOU GET WHAT YOU FOCUS ON… CONSISTENTLY”!

By asking questions, what is it you want (not what you don’t want) you naturally place your attention on your desired outcome.

Remember that funny little guy called “Einstein”… yeah the genius, that’s him he was into time and space, and the speed of light and all that stuff. And he was also one of the greatest philosophers that ever lived. He said, “if you ask yourself a question consistently enough, you’ll find the solution”.

Here are a few more treasures from Einstein:-

“Imagination is more important than knowledge”

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”

Secondly, asking questions causes your awareness to expand and become open to greater possibilities. Feel the difference between the statement “ Sam will never go dancing with me” and the question “I wonder how I can get Sam to take me dancing ”.

The statement creates negative feelings of anguish and pain. Right?  It keeps you closed and stuck.

A positive statement can also be an affirmation, such as “Sam and I will go dancing” .

A positive question can create the space for new possibilities and accesses your greater talents and intuition to produce a superior outcome.

Thirdly, the answer to every problem lies inside you and the process of asking questions challenges you to be more independent and skilled at finding and making the right decisions for yourself

When you ask the right questions, you train yourself to overcome different kinds of problems in the future. And when you achieve your desired outcome, you have the inner wisdom to ask even greater questions and reach even greater levels of success… You have the Power to Transform Your Life!

Here’s a little something for you to think about…

“One who asks a question is a fool for five minutes;

one who does not ask a question remain a fool forever” – Chinese proverb If you’d like to chat… You know how to find me.

02 Feb
Evelyn COACHING, LEADERSHIP, Relationships, WELLNESS

I want to be healthy and Happy

I want to be healthy and happy

Many people count their successes in life by attaining health, happiness and being financially stable. Each one of these affects each other in one way or another. There will be no satisfaction if you are successful in business and you are not healthy or happy and you know there are many people that may be healthy but not happy enough because they are not financially successful.

Opportunity in this world is laid out equally for each one of us. Literally it may not seem so because other people are born into wealth through inheritance, other people had the chance to have parents that gave everything so you could have the best education, while others are just biz-smart and could succeed after doing anything in this world. What most do not know is that our mindset limits the height for possibility of our achievements.

How can I be Healthy, Happy and have Success in my Career/Business at the Same Time?

You’re not alone if you want more from life…Everyone wants more from life and from their career – more results, more certainty, more meaning, more fulfillment, more love and connection with others.

It starts by loving yourself, believing in yourself, doing something about your current self. Digging  deep and unleashing your Personal Power. How? By allowing yourself the opportunity to grow. If you’re not willing to learn more and stay open to what’s possible, to understanding more about positive thinking, acquiring like-minded friends, being surrounded by a positive environment you will start noticing that your life is turning out to be positive.

Before you begin loving yourself, you need to accept who you are, physically, socially, and also spiritually. If you think you are not good enough, don’t belong or unlovable, then that’s what you create and attract in your life. Psychological characteristics and beliefs become physical outcomes, so exercise your mind as well as your body because that’s the core solution. Physical exercise will help to improve you in a more holistic way, more than you have ever imagined possible.

When you engage in exercise, you will realize that you will start to feel rejuvenated and your mind becomes so clear. Exercise lightens your body, mind and spirit, and when you go there, do that, you will be more focused on whatever else you would love to bring into your life.

Working out will help you attain health and happiness. People who engage in fitness are always focused because the exercise keeps the mind alert and you are able to strive harder on your career or business. Happiness is not achievable if you are not happy with yourself, start by loving yourself.

Loving yourself is what will make you want to get the best things in life. And, you already know it, “you can never have that feeling of being truly loved, being adored and totally fulfilled by someone else, without first loving self”. Determination should not be initiated by someone else’s need of happiness, it should be yours. With this, definitely you shall achieve your success in your anticipated business. 

Join us at the upcoming Wellness Retreat

31 Jan
Evelyn COACHING, Neuroscience, WELLNESS

Meditation for Wellbeing

MEDITATION FOR WELLBEING

If you’ve ever heard that meditation reduces stress levels, then you heard right. But that’s not the half of it. Meditation can do much more than that, including combating anxiety, depression, and a whole lot of disorders. Although it does not replace conventional medications, meditation can contribute to your well-being.

Meditation has been in use for centuries. The objective was to unify the mind and body, resulting in a deeper understanding of the spiritual realm. It has since evolved into a technique used for achieving a tranquil mind and relaxation.

TYPES OF MEDITATION

There are many types of meditation, although the results are the same. Each of them employs different techniques ranging from visualization to focus on a specific object. Here are some of the most common types of meditation.

1.     GUIDED MEDITATION

This type of meditation focuses on achieving calm, peace, and relaxation through the use of mental images. It involves imagining a specific scene, such as a place where you are happy and at peace. To get the most out of this meditation technique, you need to involve all your 5 senses. Say you are visualizing a beach-side scene, do you hear the lapping waves? Do you see the clear horizon seemingly terminating somewhere at sea? Can you feel the warm beach sand with the sole of your feet? What does the air smell like? Are you eating or drinking something? What does it taste like? You may need a teacher to guide you on this.

2.     MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

This meditation technique is used to increase awareness of the present time. It helps you focus on you and your environment, right now, right here. To practice it, you need to focus on a singular object, such as your breath. As you inhale and exhale, watch your thoughts and feelings pass through like a third party, without being judgmental. You can practice this technique entirely on your own.

3.     MANTRA MEDITATION

Where it is difficult to focus on your breath as is usually the case with mindfulness, you might find Mantra meditation an easier alternative. It uses repetitive sounds from a calming word or phrase (the most common being “OM”) to help you achieve a deeper level of awareness. This technique is popular among Hindus and Buddhists.

4.     MOVEMENT MEDITATION

This is an active form of meditation. It uses the physical movement of the body, sometimes combined with breathing exercises, to achieve a calm and relaxed mind. The movements can be as spontaneous as walking or as deliberate as changing postures slowly and gracefully. Some examples of the latter include Tai Chi, Qi gong, Yoga and Pilates.

BENEFITS OF MEDITATION

The benefits of meditation are numerous. Some of them have been confirmed by research. They include:

  • Weight loss. One research published by the National Library of Medicine showed that meditation is effective in weight reduction. It also improves obesity-related eating behaviors among obese or overweight individuals.
  • Anxiety and Stress reduction. Out of a pool of 40 studies examined by the Educational Research Review, 22 out of 24 studies indicated that mindfulness meditation is effective in reducing stress and anxiety.
  •  Pain Reduction. A study involving 88 Chronic Low Back Pain patients found that meditation reduced their pain. It also improved their “physical and mental” quality of life.

Some other benefits of meditation include:

  • Reduction of high blood pressure
  • Improved quality of sleep
  • Help with drug abuse
  • Improvement of the body’s immune system
  • Higher cognitive abilities etc.
GETTING STARTED

If you are new to meditation, choosing a technique and determining how long to spend on it can be a daunting task. But don’t stress over it. You can try as many as you can until you find one that works for you or you could contact an expert for help. As for duration, it could be as long as an hour or as short as 5 minutes, it’s entirely up to you. What really matters is that you establish a daily routine.

It’s normal for your mind to wander when you are just starting out with meditation. When it happens, consciously drag your mind back to the object of focus. As time goes on, you’ll be able to maintain focus much longer. Eventually, you will see the positive impact of meditation on your overall well-being.

John us at the upcoming Wellness Retreat and immerse yourself in the revitalization of the body, mind and spirit.

References

31 Jan
Evelyn COACHING, LEADERSHIP, Neuroscience

5 Reasons Why Self-Awareness is Important to Your Development

5 Reasons Why Self-Awareness is Important to Your Development

John is an intelligent young man with many skills, including computer programming. However, it was writing content that really lit up his world. Recently, he was offered a job at one of the biggest tech companies based in San Francisco. He turned it down and took up freelance writing instead. His parents and friends couldn’t understand why he had made such a crazy decision. But John wasn’t crazy. He knew that the tech industry wasn’t for him. He knew he wouldn’t be happy there. John was self-aware.

Self-awareness is one of the essential elements in our development. It is the ability to point the torch inwards to see and understand personal emotions, abilities, thought-process, and values. It also gives you an idea of how people see you and why. 

If you are self-aware, you can manage your emotions objectively, align your actions with your standards, and build healthy relationships. Here are 5 more reasons why self-awareness is important to your development.

1.     HELPS IDENTIFY YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES 

In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear advises: “You should build habits that work for your personality… pick the right habit, and progress is easy. Pick the wrong habit, and life is a struggle.”

Self-awareness is really about understanding your personality, which includes your strengths and weaknesses, among other things. Identifying them will help you know where you’ll naturally do well and where you won’t do so well. It will help you choose the right things for yourself, whether a job or any other activity. Progress and development in your chosen endeavor will come easy. And needless to say, you will find satisfaction in it too.

2.     IMPROVES DECISION-MAKING

Decisions based on emotions can be pretty irrational at best and harmful at worst. For instance, anger could cause you to say or do things you’ll later regret; sadness could make you lower your standards and expectations; anxiety over one area of your life could affect other areas.

Does that mean you should ignore your emotions while making important decisions? Not at all. Research has shown that used properly; emotions can improve decision-making performances. Those who understood and regulated their feelings (i.e. are self-aware) while making decisions made better ones. 

Therefore, instead of ignoring your emotions when making decisions, observe them objectively, regulate them, and you’ll be sure to make better decisions personally and professionally.

3.     ENHANCES CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

A person who is low on self-awareness is prone to hasty conclusions. Their judgment is often subjective, based on visceral feelings, assumptions, or hunches.

On the other hand, by practicing self-awareness, you invariably train your mind to be objective. It’s like leaving your skin and seeing yourself from higher ground, without judgment or bias. This way, you’re better equipped to examine the evidence and determine what is valid based on verifiable facts. These are the very traits of a critical thinker. It, therefore, follows that the more self-aware you are, the more enhanced your critical thinking skills will be.

4.     MAKES BETTER LEADERS

Growing evidence indicates that people with a high level of self-awareness usually make better leaders. And the reason is simple. The skills we learn from self-awareness, some of which we have mentioned throughout this article, are crucial to becoming a better leader.

For instance, a leader with high self-awareness will also possess emotional intelligence. They will think critically, ask for feedback, make decisions without bias, and treat others kindly. The result is that business is positively affected. In fact, one research published by the Korn Ferry Institute confirms that leaders can improve performance by becoming more self-aware.

It is a given; self-awareness is a must-have for you if you want to be a better leader.

5.     YOU’LL BE HAPPIER

I believe happiness comes from within. It is independent of your achievements or other external things people think will make them happy. Someone with self-awareness, like John, mentioned at the outset of this article, knows this.

When you are self-aware, you focus on what you consider most important- such as your values and beliefs. You know what will work for you and what won’t. As a result, you would refrain from engaging in anything that doesn’t align with your internal compass. And therein lies happiness.

The benefits of self-awareness are numerous. My advice? Cultivate it. Try introspective meditation. Ask your friends about whom they think you are. Write down your beliefs, values, and priorities and question them. Try to be as objective as possible. If you take care to do all these, you will surely improve your self-awareness, and you will be better for it.

Join us at the upcoming Wellness Retreat and upskill your leadership skills and emotional intelligence

References

30 Jan
Evelyn COACHING, Neuroscience, WELLNESS

Chi energy animates all living things

Chi energy animates all living things

Do you have the motivation and energy to finish what you start?

Perhaps you do, but know someone close to you that is lacking in this area.

Do you beat yourself up whenever you seem to have no energy to get you through the day?

Find it hard to drag yourself out of bed in the morning, or feel tired after lunch and exhausted as you rush through the traffic to get to your next destination?

When things are not going our way we often get a little depressed and begin eating comfort or “fattening” food, go shopping or just drink our sorrows away?

Sound familiar?

If this is you… or is happening to someone close to you then the good news is, you’re not alone and there’s a solution. This has been happening for thousands of years and ancient healers using Traditional Chinese Medicine practice reprogramming of Chi energy to create change in your life.

The ancient eastern disciplines state that good health and wellbeing come from the inside. Our inner organs need energy or Chi (Qi) and space to function at their optimum.

Chi energy animates all living things. And although invisible to the naked eye, we feel it every day. How?

Well let’s say you’re very excited and can’t wait to do something? Your chi energy is probably strong.

Conversely, if you’re feeling lethargic and just can’t seem to get out of bed in the morning, your chi energy is probably weak.

Perhaps you’re angry, frustrated or feeling depressed? Your Chi is probably stuck or blocked

And, a weakened or blocked flow of this vital essence is considered the beginning of all disease. Conversely when you consciously cultivate and build your chi, you build your health and your personal power.

An example of strong personal power is dealing with an irate individual while having enough chi energy to remain calm in the midst of the storm.

Such mastery brings in valuable coping skills to one’s life and can be achieved through the practice of yoga, many marshall arts discipline including Chi Gong Aikido and kung fu as well as Tai Chi and Pilates.

Meditation is well known for creating a sense of relaxation as well as focus. And, it helps greatly with motivation and power. Whilst you’re in the meditative state, things become more clear and less jumbled. You can see more clearly what the issues of motivation are and act on them more consciously.

If you’d like to know more about how to build your chi energy and the natural living lifestyle you can come along to the upcoming Wellness Retreat to revitalise your mind, body and soul

1 2 3 4 5 6

Copyright © 2022 Evelyn Olivares, All Rights Reserved.