by Lesley Lyle | May, 2016 | Brain chemicals
Neuroplasticity drops after puberty. We can add new leaves to our neural trees after that, but new branches are rare. That’s why we often find ourselves using neural pathways built in youth despite our best intentions. We don’t consciously rely on old pathways, and even avoid them consciously at times. But electricity in the brain flows like water in a storm, finding the paths of least resistance. Electricity flows so easily down the neural pathways built in youth that something feels wrong when we seek alternatives. This is not laziness; it’s nature’s survival mechanism. Before there was language or curriculum design, young brains connected the neurons activated by an experience. That helped electricity flow where it had flown before, wiring a young brain to repeat experiences that felt good and avoid experiences that felt bad. Today, your verbal brain may challenge these impulses, but the flow of electricity through your well-developed pathways gives you the sense that you know what is going on. Departing from them feels not-quite-safe because old pathways built from real experience with rewards and pain. Why Neuroplasticity Is Wasted on the Young Reptiles leave home the instant they’re born, so they survive on the knowledge they’re born with. We mammals are born unfinished. We learn to meet our needs during an early period of dependency in which our needs are met by others. We get to wire in our unique experience instead of being born hard-wired with the experience of our ancestors. We are born with billions of neurons but very few connections between them. This is a highly vulnerable state, so nature rewards accelerated...
by Brent O’Bannon | May, 2016 | Strengths
I could tell within seconds of talking to Andy that his dominant strength was Analytical, a man whose first response was always “prove it.” He wanted proof of any claim. He wanted data, statistics and facts. Yet even more facts often wasn’t enough to settle things once and for all. The analytical StrengthsFinder theme is ranked 20th in frequency out of all 34 themes. It is considered a strategic thinking strength. People who are analytical, they love to search for reasons and causes. They have this ability to think about all of the factors that might affect the situation. They tend to trust facts and discard feelings. They would rather trust their mind over their heart. What’s most likely paired with analytical .35 percent it’s going to be achiever and learner. What is least likely paired with analytical is positivity and WOO which is at .02 percent. The Balcony of Analytical A metaphor to describe analytical is a scientist. They’re data driven, fact finders, and observers. Objective, numbers oriented, skeptical and questioning. Analytical helps us think logically, deeply, and dispassionately. The Power is that you find explanations for why things worked out. The Joy is in having the right explanation. The Beauty is when you have proof supported by data. The Hope is that there is a logical explanation for everything. I was coaching a couple with an Analytical husband and wife with Empathy StrengthsFinder theme. His wife wanted more hugs and more emotional connection. I suggested instead of trying to appeal to him through emotion to connect with you, how about you keep a journal and a log of every time he...
by Marina Barbaro | May, 2016 | A Million Smiles
I’m not a huge fan of online or text slang and will usually cringe at the sight of LOL (call me old fashioned). But, that aside, what’s behind the popular acronym is something really special. Laughing is both heart-warming and nourishing for the body, mind and soul. Benefits Laughter is a physical activity which creates rhythmical contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of our respiratory systems. That’s a lot of good vibrations spreading throughout our bodies. And there are countless articles and studies verifying the powerful impact of laughter on our health. It’s not only a way to relieve physical tension and stress, it’s known to boost our immune system and release endorphins. These days you can even go to ‘Laughter Yoga’ if you want to take your merriment seriously. Gigglefest Laughter comes easier with others. A good show or funny article may get you chuckling but a decent belly laugh usually comes from being with others. Do you have friends and family who are guaranteed to tickle your funny bone? Make time to see them and give yourself the space and freedom to relax, hang out and giggle. Surround yourself with people and situations that are bound to elicit hearty laughter. It’s a great way to bond with others and strengthen relationships. Some activities are more likely to get the funny juices flowing so book yourself a night out to see a comedian, go bowling, dancing or anything that works for you. Laugh at yourself Take the photo in this article as inspiration – a group of women seeing a photo of themselves for the first time....
by Lesley Lyle | April, 2016 | Clarity is . . .
2016 is my year to be on the hunt for joy. I realized just this morning that the leaves are rapidly growing, and I didn’t even notice it until now. They’ve been bursting through their slumber for some time now. It’s my long days, many projects and urgency to make everything fall into place that made me miss their introduction to our world. This, to me, is a crisis. Not of epic proportions certainly. In the quiet subtle, every day checks and balances afforded to us, but certainly not on a grander scale. To be in search of joy means that we sometimes wake up from a long winter’s nap, no matter the time of year to the realization that we have been missing something in our lives for far too long. The sound of a new baby’s cry, the smell of outdoors on our skin or the rhythmic beating of a cool spring rain on our tin roof. I suppose Julie Andrews sang it best. These are a few of my favorite things. When we become so busy making a living that we no longer realize we’re not making a life, it’s time to change our own personal paradigm of how we spend our waking hours. Even now, at 4 pm in the afternoon, I’m rushing through this after working since 3 am this morning. I cram my job into 3 days so that I can afford the time to cram another into 3 other days. I sneak snippets of time with my children. I rest when I need to, but never in a long, luxurious nap way....
by Lesley Lyle | April, 2016 | self-development
Back from Holiday Every year, my partner and I travel to his homeland, Brazil at the beginning of March, for a 2-3 week break. We usually spend most of our time in São Paulo visiting family and friends. We also make sure we get to the coast to enjoy the beautiful Brazilian beaches and waters and sometimes we take a trip to other cities such as Rio and Salvador. We are truly blessed and fortunate enough to take these trips. It is a fantastic way of shortening the British winter. Home Alone This year due to family circumstances, I travelled home on my own; leaving my partner behind for some much needed additional time with his family. Fortunately, my work as cabin crew took me back to São Paulo just 10 days later. Despite this, the PHBs (Post Holiday Blues) really hit me hard this year. Why was this and what could I do to beat them? Levels of PHBs PHBs are normal. Everyone experiences them at least once in their life. For me it’s every time but the depth of them varies from one year to the next. Normally, it takes just a few days for me to get back into the swing of things. For example a block of work such as a trip to somewhere else really helps. Having my partner home to ride through it, allows us to support each other and focus on good times ahead. Normally, due to the time of year of our holiday, spring and summer are on the horizon and the clocks are soon going forward, bringing back the long...
