Mind Training Adventures: Recent Episodes
John Danias
Under "Linking" I summarise the mind training techniques mentioned in the previous episodes and the relationship between them.
Part 2 covers The Six Minute Diary, Skilful Appreciation, Mindfulness.
Under "Linking" I summarise the mind training techniques mentioned in the previous episodes and the relationship between them.
Part 1 covers Accountability, Coaching, Wim Hof, Hypnotherapy.
Appreciating the good things in life is valuable in that it makes one feel more positive, engaged and connected. Being a 'mind-process', the more skilful the appreciation can be the greater the benefit.
I notice that my 'mindscape' always infuences my actions, and even subtle changes can have a significant impact in my day-to-day. I am frequently out of my comfort zone these days, so doing a mindfulness course is particularly timely.
Whilst succeeding in goal is great, struggling and possibly failing, is quite painful.
Here I explore some ways to handle with this double-edged sword, as I am currently dealing with such a situation.
Isn’t it interesting how viewing things from a slightly different perspective can be helpful?
I noticed this recently with personal relationships and goals: rather than “I will achieve this,” saying "The [world] will benefit from this”, feels more sturdy and wholesome.
For me it seems like a very subtle but impactful shift so I though I’d share.
The Six Minute Diary, by Dominik Spenst, is a simple diary template that I find easy to commit to and very helpful.
If you like starting and ending the day with a wholesome reflection, but are struggling to make it a habit, I highly recommend it.
Just bear in mind I was feeling low when recording this episode which, in fact, is what enticed me to do so.
Did you know that before the discovery of pain killers, hypnotherapy was an established practice?
Increasingly, it is coming back to the mainstream as a powerful mind training technique for achieving optimal states.
Part 1 of 2, focused on my experience of a hypnotherapy session with Richard Lepper (www.themiltonpractice.co.uk) and Part 2 focuses on Richard's very insightful take on the workings and power of the mind.
Did you know that before the discovery of pain killers, hypnotherapy was an established practice?
Increasingly, it is coming back to the mainstream as a powerful mind training technique for achieving optimal states.
This episode, Part 1 of 2, focuses on my experience of a hypnotherapy session with Richard Lepper (www.themiltonpractice.co.uk) and Part 2 focuses on Richard's very insightful take on the workings and power of the mind.
I love the way different mind-training techniques can be fused together in the context of personal development.
Here I describe the link between Series 2 Episodes to-date.
“Rather than working on becoming confident to do the uncomfortable, do the uncomfortable to become confident.”
What do you think of this concept? The mind’s response system is very rapid, and left unchecked will direct us to avoiding the uncomfortable. Here I articulate how this hack works, so that I increase my understanding and feel more inspired to walk the walk. I hope it does the same for you.
Going through a particularly busy period, I find myself getting distracted far more than I would like to. But how can I manage distractions better when they are so alluring and happen so quickly?
I go to a targeted practice called Mindfulness of Breath, which is like doing reps at the gym, only developing the 'attention muscle'.
In preparation for my planning to speak to at least one company, by the end of Jan 2022, about the amazing mind training techniques I am exploring, I realise that my energy level is important.
Being very busy with my 'normal' job and family life, I turn to the Wim Hof Method as a quick and effective way to feel alive and energised during the oncoming winter in the UK.
In preparation for my planning to speak to at least one company, by the end of Jan 2022, about the amazing mind training techniques I am exploring, I realise that my energy level is important.
Being very busy with my 'normal' job and family life, I turn to the Wim Hof Method as a quick and effective way to feel alive and energised during the oncoming winter in the UK.
Having set myself a deadline, the reality has kicked in. Excitement has turned into stress. There is too much to do and I am struggling to keep my head above the water. In this episode I use a coaching session to help me get back on track.
Being somebody who struggles with self-discipline I find that creating deadlines for myself can be super helpful.
Last week I set myself a deadline on something I have been procrastinating for years: "I will speak about mind training to at least one company by 31 Jan 22". Simply voicing it has given me a sense of urgency, which is making me see opportunities that I was previously blind to. The landscape is the same, just the perspective has changed.
Mind Training Adventures is a podcast on mindfulness and other mind training techniques with a focus on peoples' real-life experiences.
In Series 2 I will also be proactively trying them out to help with my own personal growth.
"We teach what we need to learn"
In Part 2 of my conversation with Ntathu Allen (www.yogainspires.co.uk), we talk about becoming mindfulness teachers and I give feedback on committing to do "Random Acts of Kindness" for 21 days.
The mindfulness community we refer to is www.shamashalidina.com
Whilst I know that life’s pleasant and unpleasant go hand in hand, subconsciously I still want the unpleasant to go away.
Chatting with Ntathu Allen (www.yogainspires.co.uk), helped dissolve my ‘want’ and made me more relaxed about the ‘micro-unpleasants’ that show up and steer my everyday decisions.
If you are aware that changing one’s relationship to difficulty must also happen subconsciously you may find this 10min episode a good dose.
Part 2 published on 10 Oct 21.
This episode describes what 'Street Wisdom' is about. It is a very interesting 'active mindful' activity, that one can do in the streets, at home, anywhere.
For more information go to www.streetwisdom.org.
Colin D Smith is an executive coach who has become known as the Listener, for his ability to bring out deep and meaningful conversations.
This interview, which is in two parts, addresses what quality listening is about, together with some personal experiences and tips.
Here, in Part 2, I give feedback on my testing it out at home. I have learnt that it takes preparation, patience, letting go my personal agenda and surprisingly, at least for me, serious practice.
Colin's work can be found at https://dexteritysolutions.co.uk/
Colin D Smith is an executive coach who has become known as the Listener, for his ability to bring out deep and meaningful conversations.
The episode, which is in two parts, addresses what quality listening is about, together with some personal experiences and tips.
In Part 2 (publication date 29 Aug 21) I give feedback on my trying out 'quality listening' at home.
Colin's work can be found at https://dexteritysolutions.co.uk/
In Feb 2013 I had a breakdown which was quite a strange, difficult, and eye-opening experience.
If you are curious have a listen to this podcast. It is in two parts: the first is about the build-up and coming out the other side. The second (publication date 1 Aug 21) is the growth thereafter.
The book that is referenced is Mindfulness for Transformation by Shamash Alidina, which has real-life stories from 27 people.
In Feb 2013 I had a breakdown which was quite a strange, difficult, and eye-opening experience.
If you are curious have a listen to this podcast. It is in two parts: the first is about the build-up and coming out the other side. The second (publication date 1 Aug 21) is the growth thereafter.
The book that is referenced is Mindfulness for Transformation by Shamash Alidina, which has real-life stories from 27 people.
Growing up, Lucas Day has been obsessed with movement, immersing himself in disciplines including contemporary dance, calisthenics, Systema (martial art) and Olympic weightlifting. Here, we talk about understanding the relationship between physical and emotional stress through personal experience.
Find Lucas on Instagram @lucas.day.98.
Often, understanding comes from lived experiences, rather than just 'thinking about it'. My friend Joerg Kuehn, an executive coach, talks about his experience of the Camino de Santiago, a 500 mile walk in the north of Spain. In particular he learned the power of skilful 'embodied' visualisation and decluttering the mind.
My friend David Love and I begin to expore the relationship between Mindfuless and Freestyle