by Lesley Lyle | October, 2023 | Ecology
In 1970, Joni Mitchell recorded the song “Big Yellow Taxi,” which contained the immortal words, “don’t it always seem to go, that we don’t know what we’ve got ’til it’s gone.” I think the lyrics referred to the breakdown of a relationship but recent events made me think of them. On September 27th, 2023, it was announced that the famous Sycamore Gap Tree had been felled in what appeared to be an act of vandalism. The tree had been an iconic feature in the landscape for more than 200 years. While it is undeniably sad and shocking, it’s also quite intriguing how the event has resonated with people all over the world. Many individuals in both the UK and abroad probably weren’t aware of the tree’s existence until it no longer existed. Within a few days, there was a need to appeal to the public to stop visiting the site, now referred to as “the former Sycamore Gap.” It might seem like a strange phenomenon, but a similar occurrence took place in 1911 when Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting of the Mona Lisa was stolen. If you’re wondering how one of the world’s most well-known paintings could have been so unprotected, one of the reasons was that it wasn’t particularly famous until the theft occurred and was reported in the world press. As a result, throngs of people flocked to the Louvre simply to observe the empty spot on the wall. Is there a lesson to be learned here? Is it that we sometimes or maybe often, fail to truly appreciate what we have until it’s no longer there. Please...
by Lesley Lyle | June, 2023 | Mental Health, Nature, Spirituality
Here are 10 reasons why you might choose to enrol in MA in Spirituality, Ecology & Mental Health at Buckinghamshire New University. 1. Academic Excellence The program is offered by Buckinghamshire New University, renowned for its Centre for Positive Psychology and international reputation. With expert lecturers, visiting experts, and practitioners, the course provides academic excellence in the field of spirituality, ecology, and mental health. 2. Take a Transformative Journey The program presents a unique opportunity for you to embark on a transformative journey that will profoundly reshape your perspective on life, the world, and most importantly, yourself. By exploring spirituality and adopting practical approaches to living a healthy and fulfilling life, you will not only experience personal growth but also gain a sense of empowerment that will enable you to thrive in all aspects of your life. 3. Make a Meaningful Difference The program strongly encourages active participation in community projects or initiatives, empowering you to make a meaningful difference. By applying the knowledge and skills gained, you have the opportunity to actively contribute to positive change in your community or even on a global scale. Whether it’s initiating your own projects or joining existing ones, you can leverage your newfound understanding and abilities to create a positive impact in the world around you. 4. Find New Career Opportunities The program opens up diverse career opportunities for individuals from various professional backgrounds. It provides avenues for career advancement and prospects in fields such as complementary and alternative medicine, healthcare, education, counselling, coaching, leadership, social work, journalism, and more. The interdisciplinary nature of the program makes...
by Lesley Lyle | May, 2023 | Lesley Lyle
I’m really excited to share some information about a fabulous new Masters’s degree course that starts this September at Buckinghamshire New University. Headed by my friend and colleague Lee Newitt, this will be the first ever MA in Spirituality, Ecology & Mental Health. This unique course aims to redefine your connection with Yourself, your Life, the World, and the Sacred. It will guide you through a personal journey to uncover your own spirituality while fostering a research-based, spiritually attuned approach to achieving wellness and a balanced life. The course will be of interest to anyone interested in personal and professional development or to quote a good friend of mine, ‘anyone with a pulse!’. It’s an opportunity to make positive change and foster transformations at both an individual level and far wider horizons. The course welcomes individuals from various backgrounds, not just academic. The unique experiences and viewpoints that each participant brings will contribute to the richness of the discussions, and exploration of the topics of spirituality, ecology, and mental health. Whether you are interested or involved in healthcare, education, counselling, ecological sustainability, economics, business, civil rights, social justice, community work, training, coaching, journalism, policing, human resources, arts, or legal work; whether you’re a parent, engaged in politics, retired, unemployed, considering a career shift, or just embarking on your own life journey – this trailblazing course holds relevance for you. The course begins this September and is accessible from anywhere in the world. Find full details and enrolment information HERE and please share this post. ...
by Lesley Lyle | May, 2023 | Positive Psychology, Positive Psychology Courses
The Master of Applied Positive Psychology course, MAPP, is of interest to a wide range of individuals of all ages who are looking to learn more about positive self-development as well as professionals working in the fields of coaching, education, healthcare, and therapy. Whilst most degree courses teach the theory of the subject, positive psychology is different in that students are encouraged to explore topics by applying them to their daily lives. This provides them with a unique insight into what the theory looks like in practical terms when applied in the real world in their own personal circumstances. It could be called learning from the inside out. Positive psychology is based upon evidence-based interventions which have been shown to work well for most of the people most of the time, and MAP students have ample opportunity to try them on for size. From the outset, they are able to develop new practical skills and knowledge that can improve their own lives at home, at work and in their relationships. Positive psychology topics include the science of hope, resilience, happiness, well-being, mindset, flourishing, positive emotions, gratitude, and the journey of change, amongst others, and also includes applied research skills and positive psychology and practice. More universities around the world are adding this degree course to their syllabus, although there are still only a handful of MAPP courses available. However, the provision of online learning makes the programme accessible to students worldwide. Applications can be accepted from people without a first degree if they have relevant work or life experience. One of these universities, Buckinghamshire New University UK, introduced the...
by Lesley Lyle | April, 2023 | Inspiration, Lesley Lyle
So here is my second episode of Inspired by Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett and this time I’m giving Steven’s podcast the full and correct title. Steven starts his second episode by announcing that his first episode went to number one in the podcast chart. He was very surprised I wasn’t. It was informative and entertaining, an equal measure and a very well-deserved accolade in my opinion. A positive influencer There are a lot of themes in this second episode, but I focus on just a couple of them, as I suspect the other topics will come up again in future episodes. Steven says he wants to give useful advice to people who wish to use social media to tell their story to the world, and he encourages them to be authentic and honest because as he says, real stuff resonates. Which is sort of ironic as the majority of content on social media is crafted to be the antithesis of. I’m so glad he points it out and calls it out for being the highly edited, filtered, and unrealistic portrayal of real life, that it is. His podcast, by comparison, is a breadth of fresh air, and I hope he inspires others to follow his lead and set a trend for being honest and authentic. Social Media and Social Comparison There is a natural tendency for people to compare themselves with others but it can be a highly negative pursuit, especially on social media when we can easily compare our lives with people and lifestyles that don’t really exist. Many of the followers of these apparently...
