» Listings for 2015

1. The 20 Second Smile Challenge

   Posted on 11:48am Friday 12th Jun 2015

   Try the 20 second Smile today.

   Have you heard of the 20 second smile?

   It’s a simple idea and concept.

    

   Here’s how it works: when you meet someone for the first time, see if you can get them to smile or even crack a small laugh in the first 20 seconds.   

   This doesn’t mean you have to do magic tricks or crack a hilarious Joke.

   A better way is simply to empathise with the person you meet, thinking about seeing things from their point of view and using that to make them feel good about themselves and what they do.

   The really great thing about this is that it’s something that you can do all of the time and every day. Think about all the people that you meet in your day to day life, the shopkeeper you buy a paper from or the person who sells you a coffee, or the supermarket checkout operator helping you to pack your shopping, even the person you pass walking the dog in the morning.

   ....just see if you can make them smile in 20 seconds...or less !

   Just letting a stranger know they do a great job or a smile of your own about the weather..good or bad can make a real difference to their day, and then to yours too.

   How it helps you too !

   When you practice doing this it can have some real benefits for you too.

   It really helps people to feel at ease with you and it could well be the nicest comment that anyone makes to a hard working waitress, waiter or supermarket worker all day.  This can make their day brighter and happier and then they can pass it on too.

   Everyone benefits.

   Just think about giving it a try and remember that you will feel so much better about yourself too. What have you got to lose?

   :)

2. Round the World Solar Plane Pilot uses hypnosis and mindfulness

   Posted on 11:13am Friday 5th Jun 2015

   Flying with the mind

   The Solar Impulse flight which has been in the news recently after bad weather forced it to turn back is also of great interest because of the fact the the pilot is using self hypnosis and mindfulness techniques because he is unable to sleep properly during the record breaking attempt to fly around the world with solar power alone.

   It's a 35000km journey with over 500 hours of flying time. The pilot must spend 5-6 days in the cockpit and during this time he is unable to sleep properly.

   It's a really test of human endurance, and using his mind as well as his body is the key to success.

    

   "What is really special, is that it is the first and only airplane in the world which has unlimited endurance. We have an airplane which is fully sustainable in terms of energy, and our challenge now is to make the pilot sustainable as well."
   André Borschberg

   Of course, concentration is so important and being vigilant of the surroundings, weather conditions and everything else that a pilot must check take a great deal of work.

   How does it work on board in reality?

   It's all about taking a short nap or time out to meditate and use self hypnosis several times a day. Bertrand Piccard explained that it helps him endure the long hours.

   "When you get into self-hypnosis, you turn your look from the outside to the inside. You don't focus anymore on what happens outside, you focus only on the inside. I am completely relaxed my body is sleeping, but my mind is alert and can still check instruments, talk to mission control, and fly the plane." 

   In the event of him needed to be awakened his suit vibrates alerting him and he can then take control of the plane once more.

   Bertrand taught himself self-hypnosis before taking part in a balloon race across the Atlantic Ocean back in 1992. He shares piloting duties with his co-founder, Swiss businessman Andre Borschberg.

   You can watch the flight for yourself on the Solar Impulse website.  

   If you would like to take just ten minutes out of your own day and experience how it feels for yourself then just try my FREE Ten minute Relaxation MP3