A little more on storytelling

If you get a moment (40 minutes to be precise) have a listen to the BBC broadcast, 'The Pleasures and  Perils of Storytelling'.  (An episode from the series, The Forum').


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03ggdc1


Three experts discuss why storytelling is so powerful as well as its limits.  A few key messages to come from the programme:

• People seek simplicity, but crave empathy more.
• People who read a lot of fiction are more empathic.
• Stories are effective ways of linking facts, meaning and emotion.
• We like stories that we can relate to, emotionally.
• We like stories that put us in a place of awe; that force us to accommodate new learning.
• Leaders should not only be adept at storytelling but also in listening to and gathering the stories that their followers tell.
• We should be wary of over-simplification; the complex problems we face today may not be explainable through narrative.

Gut feel and decision-making

There is a lot of research going on about how leaders can make good quality decisions when facing complex situations.  We've been working with one client who wants their leaders to think with the head, the heart and the gut - using cognition, emotion and intuition to deal with complexity.

A colleague recently sent me this link to Dan Siegel's page, which gives a very good explanation of why sometimes when we want make a 'decision on gut feel' we shouldn't ignore it.

http://www.drdansiegel.com/blog/2016/01/23/science-says-listen-to-your-gut/

Metaphor

The ability of leaders to tell stories that inspire, has often been recommended as a powerful tool.  The use of metaphor, is a way of explaining complex concepts in a simple way which can connect people with the emotional content of a message, while also allowing a story to be re-told and passed across boundaries and generations.

So, it was interesting to read in the December 2015 issue of the Psychologist about how metaphor works, and how it is associated with a particular style of thinking:

Above all... don't take it all too seriously....

Anyone who grew up in the UK in the 60's, 70's or 80's will almost certainly have come into contact with Ladybird Books.  In a stroke of genius, the publishers have recently created some adult versions, using the original artwork from the childrens' books.  These two images are taken from the one on 'Mindfulness'.  

Look after yourself, but have Frazzles once in a while too.  

Do something new.

Want to try a new hobby in 2016?  Have you always yearned to do something, but never had the courage/time/commitment to actually do it?  Why not do it this year?  If you are looking for ideas,  try this website:

http://discoverahobby.com/

Count your blessings (again)

Earlier in the month we published a short post on the value of gratitude.  (See post 17 Jan 2016).

Here is a rather useful website.  Not only does the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence show some of the benefits of practising gratitude, it gives some very useful ideas on how to do it.

http://ei.yale.edu/what-is-gratitude/

Take pride...

Remember Barbara Fredrickson's 10 forms of positivity?  (See post 2 Jan 2016).   We are often taught as young children that pride is a 'sin' or at least something to be discouraged.  However, well-directed pride can aid your sense of well-being.  Take a moment to review the things you have done today that make you feel proud.

A little inspiration, if you want to be kind but don't know how...

I came across this website the other day.  Acts of kindness don't need to be big.  Here are a few ideas to inspire.

http://justsomething.co/25-random-acts-of-kindness-that-will-restore-your-faith-in-humanity/

The NHS's five steps to wellbeing.

This is an extract from the NHS website on well-being, 'Five steps to mental well-being':

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/improve-mental-wellbeing.aspx

Evidence suggests there are five steps we can all take to improve our mental well-being.

If you approach them with an open mind and try them out, you can judge the results yourself.

• connect – connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships. 
• be active – you don't have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find the activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life. 
• keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike? 
• give to others – even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. 
• be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your feelings and thoughts, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness "mindfulness", and it can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. 

Be awesome.

Time, Heart & Behaviour

Logging your awesome year

The opportunity called life

Life is love

Note to self

Choose your attitude

'Truth is, I'll never know all there is to know about you just as you will never know all there is to know about me. Humans are by nature too complicated to be understood fully. So, we can choose either to approach our fellow human beings with suspicion or to approach them with an open mind, a dash of optimism and a great deal of candour.'

Tom Hanks

Smile

Here's one that might sound a bit bizarre, but amazingly it's true!  It will already be obvious to you that if you are happy you will smile.  But did you know that the converse is also true?  If you move the muscles in your face to the same position that they are when you smile, you will actually begin to experience the same emotional state of happiness that causes you to smile in the first place.  It can feel a bit weird at first; it does take a bit of practise, but the effects are cumulative.  The more you do it, the easier it becomes.  Try it, what's to lose?

Count your blessings

'A grateful heart is  the beginning of greatness.  It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love and well-being.'  James E Faust.

At the end of every day, take a few minutes to reflect on all the things you are grateful for.  They can be big or small; they can be tangible or intangible, they can be things you consciously chose to do, or things that happened by chance.  Whatever, they might be, make sure that as you list them, re-connect with that feeling of gratitude.  Aim for at least 10 different things that have occurred that day.  Make it a habit.

Love the one you're with...

There is now a growing body of evidence to suggest that the quality and extent of our relationships with others can have positive effects on our well-being.  Conversely, being alone is known to have detrimental effects on health and mental well-being.  

Here are some ideas for aiding your well-being through relationships:

• Seek out ways to extend your network - for example, at have lunch with a different person every day.
• Think of someone you love and care for.  When was the last time you really spent time with that person?  Call them and arrange to meet, with no other purpose than to re-connect.
• Learn to assert yourself in relationships.  Be clear what you stand for, while also respecting their right to do the same.  Negotiate.
• If there is person in your life with whom you have an unresolved disagreement, start the new year by aiming to work through it and put it behind you.  You may not be able to reach a mutually agreeable solution, but the fact that you both tried can allow you to let go.

5 Steps to stay mentally healthy at work