I read this blog recently on Moodscope and it struck a cord. Slowly we are getting better at asking people how they are. The more we ask, the more we support, the better we will all be …… “A few years back I suffered a neck injury - which resulted in 7 months of non-stop intense pain. It wasn't fun; but the thought that kept occurring to me during this time was "It's nowhere near as bad as a bout of depression!" It became so clear to me that whilst physical pain can be acutel

Brené Brown's new book explores how our society can move past shame and hate toward empathy and connection. In "Braving the Wilderness", Brown explores how we can find our sense of belonging in today’s divided political climate. Brown suggests there are four keys to belonging: firstly, make contact with people you disagree with; secondly, share collective joy and pain; thirdly, speak up (nicely) when you disagree; and finally, embrace the paradox Potentially an interesting re

An interesting article in HBR states "Friendship matters. Everything we do to succeed in our careers is improved when we’re supported by a foundation of strong, stable friendships." Friends are critical to our health and wellbeing. By cultivating our friendships we have a support network and people we can turn to as a sounding board for those all important career decisions. However in this time poor world it can be hard to nurture those relationships. Neale Roese suggests th

Research suggests that being curious might be a social glue that strengthens our relationships. Research studies have found that people who are curious can be seen as being as more interesting and engaging, and they are more likely to reach out to a wider variety of people. There also seems to be some evidence that being curious can protect people from negative social experiences, like rejection, which could lead to better connection with others over time. Research carried ou

A recent article in Harvard Business Review by Nicholas Petrie about pressure not having to turn into stress, was useful and informative, it also provided four very practical steps to dealing with stress before it becomes distress: Firstly, being present - so waking up to life rather than passing it by in a waking sleep Secondly, where is your control - dealing with the what is and not the what if Thirdly, perspective - the reality checks of contrasting, questioning and re-fr

Such an important approach - “Smile, breathe, and go slowly.” A quote from Thich Nhat Hanh. This made me reflect on what are the benefits of a Mindfulness practice could be and in particular within professional relationships. I wanted to share an article in which Dr Martyn Newman discusses the impact of the digital age on relationships, EQ and business, with Neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield. The interview was as part of the EQ summit in May 2017. Baroness Greenfield