In fact, looking through the list, number 8 is the only one I haven't tried, although I was thinking about a holiday, maybe I should try it now and report back...
Another interesting article, this time 10 Simple Things You Can Do Today That Will Make You Happier, Backed By Science. I've noticed the difference in myself and others when practising point 9 regularly, even if for just 5 - 10 minutes a few times a week (I'm offering yoga nidra and guided meditation now, ping me if you are interested). Point number 10 is also very relevant, writing a gratitude list, I do this if things go wrong, it helps keep some perspective and really does work when you are feeling a little under par.
In fact, looking through the list, number 8 is the only one I haven't tried, although I was thinking about a holiday, maybe I should try it now and report back...
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I read this interesting article about how yoga is helping people in prisons around the world. Some Oxford University research shows some interesting results between a yoga group and a control group (doing exercise). This must be really rewarding for the yoga teachers and is clearly wonderful work. I can’t help wondering though, if yoga can help transform lives in this way for prisoners, some of whom have had very tough and, let’s face it, unpleasant lives (some of their own doing through poor choices), then what would happen if we dared to teach yoga to children? All children I mean, not just the privileged few. How many of those prisoners could have perhaps made the different choices, despite their environment and situations they found themselves in, that would have enabled them to avoid prison in the first place. Yoga isn’t the answer to everything. We need education, we need to pull people out of poverty, and we need to ensure people have somewhere they can call home, somewhere safe and warm to sleep. And we need to discourage the throwaway, consumerist, selfish behaviours we see across all classes within our society. I’m not suggesting we all walk around in natural fibres, eating beans and stop dreaming of the latest PC games or throw away our mobile phones, but toning down the greed would be good. Developing a self confidence that is based on who we are, not what we have would be good. For us all. Just a thought. I just read "4 Steps to Let go of blame in your relationship" on TinyBuddha.com, an article that really resonated with me, both on a personal and professional level. It isn't just partner type relationships that can benefit from having a rethink around blame, our relationships with our children, family members and colleagues can all benefit too. Of course, you don't want to take responsiblity for any colleagues who shirk, but just consider whether or not your communication (or lack of) is in some way enabling them to shirk and that perhaps they don't see it as shirking. Or your child leaves things lying around and you are constantly 'having to nag' them to put things away, but you've never had a conversation about personal responsibility, or never set times for you to all muck in and do your bit of tidying together. Or just put the stuff away without complaining. Looking back to when my daughter was just a few years old, she was uber tidy. I had a rule, only one box of toys out at a time, clear them away before the next box came out. We'd clear up together (and often make it a game) and the place was always tidy before bathtime. But then I started working long hours and travelling, so childcare moved to about 90% her dad's responsibility. Then I would come home to a mess, toys not put away, dishes in the sink. My resentment (a.k.a. blame) of my partner's untidyness (and his attitude towards it) built up and festered over the years and was no doubt one of the contributing factors as to why the relationship broke down. At some point I hired a cleaner, which lifted the cloud of negative emotions that would previously descend upon me when I arrived home from work, but by then that, and other things, had already seen us on a downward spiral as a couple. I've coached teams with people who instantly blame others when things go wrong. It's hard to break the cycle. It's often caused by poor managers, who don't allow their staff to make mistakes, or by people who think the only way to make themselves look good is by making other people look bad (oh, we've all met at least one of those, surely?). Of course, if you lose a couple of million dollars for the company there needs to be some explanation (and it probably needs to be quite good), but often it is a matter of tweaking plans to ensure things stay on target, or allowing people to take risks and accepting that, sometimes, those risks don't pay off. Of course in a work situation, people are worried they will be fired, especially in the current economic environment. But finger pointing doesn't produce great teams and the best leaders know this. It all comes back to emotional intelligence. This isn't some innate quality, by the way, this can be (and is) learned as part of the coaching journey. Picture from referenced article on Tiny Buddha http://bit.ly/14mrBft |
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I’m a life coach, yoga teacher, communications professional and fitness enthusiast. I’m a closet techie and science boff in my spare time. I’m also part-time slave and taxi driver to a 14 year old.
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