Science and Political Correctness 

Science and Political Correctness 

I just got back from Mexico, where I presented the Spanish translation of my book Habits of a Happy Brain. Here I am on the Mexican equivalent of The Today Show, after furiously working on my Spanish for a few weeks. A few reporters showed up with dog-eared copies of my book full of underlinings and plastic tabs. I was thrilled by the chance to build a community of thought! But one comment was repeated and helped sharpen my focus. People said this was all new to them, and presumed it was because Mexico was late in receiving neuroscience. I said it’s new everywhere because it is not embraced by mainstream neuroscience. I have always been honest about the fact that I do not represent the neuroscience establishment. I am not credentialed in the field, and if I were, I would lose my credentials for what I’m saying. Most people find this hard to believe. They think I am just explaining neuroscience more clearly than the lab guys. They don’t see how scientists could object to what I’m saying because it seems obvious. But they do object. On the bright side, they do not openly criticize me because I do not openly criticize them. But I face a wall of silence. Why? Political correctness. It is not politically correct to say that our brains are wired from life experience. Why not? Don’t ask me. Ask them. Furthermore, it is not politically correct to say that our frustrations are caused by our animal impulses. We are supposed to blame our frustrations on “our society.” You can say it’s some of both, but the currently accepted view is that peace and love are the natural default state, and everything...
The Joy of Text – Bibliotherapy and Positive Psychology

The Joy of Text – Bibliotherapy and Positive Psychology

Ancient wisdom has suggested that books can be therapeutic from Plato’s time through the enlightenment to modern day Bibliotherapy courses.  Literary fiction has been a source of fascination for me since the eighties when my teacher announced that the study of literature was about ‘The Art of Living’.  I believe she had a point and I later spent a stint in my career as a teacher of English Literature trying to persuade teenagers who would ask ‘but is it in the exam Miss’ of the same.  Still on a mission, I am now investigating the value of literature in positive psychology.  I briefly outline just a few of the connections in this blog. Mindfulness The benefits of Mindfulness are well-documented.  Mindfulness can take the form of meditation but it can also involve pursuing activities mindfully; being in the moment, paying close attention and observing.  Reading can most certainly be pursued in this way.  In a lovely article by the writer Tim Parks, ‘Mindful Reading’ he considers the pleasures of reading.  In reading carefully, mindfully, you can feel and observe your own reactions to the world that a writer is creating for you, to the characters that you are being presented with, to the problems and dilemmas and worlds that unfold in the pages of a novel.  “…the excitement of reading is the precarious one of being alive, and reacting from moment to moment, in the most liquid and intimate sphere of the mind, to someone else’s elusive construction of the precarious business of being alive now.”  – Tim Parks In Dr Mark Williams’ ‘Mindfulness’ one of the pieces of...
Noetic Nomad in search of reality

Noetic Nomad in search of reality

This is the first Tuesday I’ve missed in 13 weeks. The reality is, I was busy! I forgot. Which is what happens when we have so much to do, we just can’t get to it. “Busy” is a problem that needs to be fixed. For me, it is. Have you experienced this? Most of us have. I was up at 3 am, on the road for a 4 hour trip to an airport with a 4 hour drive back, just to spend some time with my daughter who is off on an adventure. I got back in time for a 1 hour soccer game for my son, followed by a half of an attempt at dinner and conversation with my family. I was busy. Blessed. But busy. Gratitude for the ability to do any of it at all. Counted all the blessings. Still, tired in the doing.  That was my reality. I was grateful and also tired and also thought about how much I didn’t get done. One does not outweigh the others. There is always that solo parent’s voice reminding me of the to-do list. Always telling me what has to happen next. ‘Always’ can be a battle zone. Always reminds me of the 24×7 juggling act that is the life of a solo parent with very busy children. I do count my blessings. I do carve out meditation time. I master the deep cleansing breath. I am absolutely focused on gratitude, grit and resilience as I also process my reality. In truth, it would be glorious to simply think myself more rested, to wish away the stressors...
The Practice Of Resilience

The Practice Of Resilience

Much research on resilience to date has focused on the notion that there must be some sort of ‘significant adversity’ present before resilience can occur. However, with the constant pressures of the modern age, longer working hours and the added pressure social media puts on our desire to ‘have it all’ there is an increasing need for resilience skills in day-to-day life. But what happens if you know these skills but fail to practice them? And how can you improve your resilience once more? A Personal Story In May I finished the first year of my MSc feeling triumphant. Not only had I managed to pass year one with better grades that I had anticipated, but, despite the demands on my schedule, I was thriving on the challenges I was facing and thoroughly enjoying myself. I don’t remember being more resilient at any other stage of my life, despite much in my future remaining uncertain. Fast forward a few months, however, and that resilience has dwindled with my health, both mental and physical, suffering as a consequence. Despite being on a break from my academic career between May and September, demands in my personal life have slowly been on the rise and with the added pressure of maintaining a full time job I have not been coping as well as one might expect of someone whose most recent academic paper was a report on her own personal experiences with resilience. During this assignment I learned a great deal about resilience and, using ‘The Resilience Factor’ by Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatte, I learned to use Cognitive Behavioural Techniques to...
Disconnect With Difficulty To Connect With Joy

Disconnect With Difficulty To Connect With Joy

When is it time to remove yourself from a group or quit a job? How about when you’re in a volunteer group or an organization you joined for fun? You join a group or organisation for fun then something happens along the way and you get that feeling in your gut that you’re no longer welcomed and you no longer want to be a part of the group. Do you stick it out or try to make it work? If so, at what cost? Do you quit? I was taught not to quit or give up easily but, instead to keep trying harder and to always do your best. I remember what my mom used to say: “Good, better, best. Never let it rest until you make the good better and the better best.” Paying the price What price do you pay for staying in an unsafe situation? And, instead of thinking of surviving, how about thinking of how long will you pay the price with your happiness? Staying in an unhealthy situation…and I don’t necessarily mean an unsafe situation, but rather a situation that causes angst and doesn’t bring you happiness. It actually takes away your happiness. Makes you miserable. Makes you question who you are, what you’re doing, and what your talents are. I recently picked up a book that I’ve had on my bookshelf for 20 years, “Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow” by Marsha Sinetar. Like I often do, I opened the book to a seemingly random page. It often happens that I open to the page that is relevant for me at...