#19

Welcome to Weekly Whispers #19

What whisper did you hear from #18?

How many of the 110 Ways To Communicate Better do you use on a regular basis?

Did you count your friends?

Have you considered where your unhappiness comes from? Or indeed your happiness?

What did yesterday bring you that’s worth savouring?

Here's what's struck me this week?

1. "I'll start on Monday"

Katy Milkman (Professor of Behaviour Change at Wharton School) suggests that might be a good strategy to initiate change.

If you’re looking to change something in your life she suggests that successful changes are often initiated from a ‘fresh start’.

Remember the occasions when you’ve recommitted to a goal after a significant moment or event – NY resolutions, a big birthday, a health scare, the 1st of the month, etc. Thinking of that moment as a fresh start can often spur us into action. At least it creates the initial momentum.

Check this link out for a deeper understanding of her research.

2. Do you talk to yourself? Do it in the 2nd person for perspective

Psychologist Ethan Kross suggests 2nd/3rd person self-talk can help put things into mental perspective.

We all talk to ourselves but how we do it can make a difference to whether it’s a blessing or a curse.

Another technique he suggests to overcome stress and overwhelm is temporal distancing. This involves visualising yourself in the future and how you might feel about your current stress. This psychological hack appears to dilute the stress by gaining some imagined future perspective.

Check out these links for some further reading:

The Guardian

Ethan Kross

Finding Mastery

3. Quote of the week: "You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts” Kahil Gibran, The Prophet

I found this in the weekly email from Tim Ferriss and wondered how often we might be talking ourselves either into or out of a new way of thinking.

Do we talk because we aren’t sure of our thoughts or to influence and share with another? And in sharing do our thoughts become clearer? And do we change them next time? Lots to ponder…maybe 😊

4. Question of the Week: Do you live in your head or live in your body?

I heard this question on a podcast I was listening to and thought it was such a simple yet thought-provoking question. Why? Because I’m sure – like me – many of you went into your heads to answer the question!

The mind-body connection is well documented and the question forced me to consider the balance with which I perceive the world. Too often I’m in my head and I think I’d benefit from paying attention to what my body is telling me as well.

How about you? Can you hear what your body is whispering to you?

5. Freedom Fridays - My weekly experiment with time and focus

My intention is to openly share a change I’m making within my life. I’m hoping you can take the lessons learnt and apply them to any change you want to make.

This week is the first of a number of interviews with special guests. These are ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things. It was lovely to sit down with Alex Moffat for a chat.

Check out Episode #17.

*Alex Moffat photos courtesy of Simon Ross

SPOTIFY

APPLE PODCAST

That's all for this week and I hope you enjoyed Weekly Whisper #19.

Feedback is my fuel so if you have any comments please hit reply and let me know your thoughts.

Cheers

Pete