by Kay Cooke | Mar 31, 2022 | be well
In 1988 Professor Fritz Strack experimented with the perceived happiness of people when reading a cartoon.
Two groups read the same cartoon – one group had each to hold a pencil in their teeth without lips touching, the other group had to hold a pencil between their lips with no teeth contact.
Guess which group ‘felt’ happier?
Have you tried it yet?
Research shows that smiling releases feel-good neurochemicals and it triggers our social-emotional brain to respond positively. Smiles are contagious.
Enjoy this poem by Spike Milligan
Smiling Is Infectious
Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner, and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realised,
I’d passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile, then I realised its worth.
A single smile, just like mine,
could travel round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin, don’t leave it undetected.
Let’s start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!
by Kay Cooke | Feb 28, 2022 | be well
When you’re talking to someone and they have a different opinion to you, what is your go-to response?
- Do you REJECT their beliefs and try to change their opinion to match yours?
- Do you ABSORB their beliefs and try to change your opinion to match theirs?
Or do you LEARN from that space between two evolving humans?
by Kay Cooke | Jan 31, 2022 | be well
Balance Body and Mind – how to do it!
Take ONE minute to bring yourself into physiological balance by sitting or standing as straight and tall as you can.
Straighten up through your mid-line and let your attention start at the top of your head and gently melt down through your spine to your tailbone. Are both shoulders as level as they can be? Look in a mirror to check the symmetry across your shoulders and collarbones.
Shift your body a little to bring balance to either side of your spine. Notice how it feels to tilt one shoulder or hip, and then re-balance.
Scan through your body for areas of softness and comfort, and rest in there for some moments.
Now shift attention to each of the following body parts in this order: head, shoulders, arms, hands, ribcage, spine, hips, thighs, knees, lower legs, ankles, feet.
Once balanced, your whole body and mind will work better.
Balancing your body helps you improve your emotional state, learning capability, and energy levels.
by Kay Cooke | Nov 29, 2021 | be well
According to a social media thread, a high school in America was faced with an unusual problem after a particular trend had formed amongst teenage girls. Each day a group of girls would visit the bathroom and decorate the large mirror with ‘kiss marks’ after putting on strong coloured lipstick and then pressing their lips to the mirror. It is said that every night, the janitor would remove the lipstick marks, only to find them replaced the next day!
The teachers tried all manner of interventions to stop the behaviour, to no avail. The girls were cautioned and scolded, pleaded with, and politely asked to stop. Nothing changed their behaviour.
Finally, the principal decided that something had to be done.
She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the janitor. She explained that the lip prints were causing a major problem for the poor guy who had to clean the mirrors every night, and to illustrate how difficult the mirror cleaning task was for him, she asked the janitor to demonstrate his efforts.
He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror!
It just goes to show that learning is expedited when the same language is spoken, and that behavioural change can happen in a heartbeat.
Top Tip! When you hear someone say change is hard/takes a long time/is difficult, share this story!
by Kay Cooke | Sep 27, 2021 | be well
Humans have forever found ways to take time-out to travel inwards, inviting altered states of consciousness for calm mind-body restoration.
Meditation is one way of doing this – it is healthful (don’t just take my word for it – the research is abundant). Not everyone can do this easily and for many being ‘guided’ is best.
Here’s a free guided meditation for you to nourish your mind as you travel on a journey of imagining an inner world that strengthens you. Recorded live during a group session on the full moon 21.09.21.
Simplicity Tip: If you like this, why not join our weekly group on Tuesday evenings.
by Kay Cooke | Oct 7, 2020 | be well
When I was growing up, I knew, that I was.
Now I’m grown up, I don’t know, if I am.
I grew taller, up.
Now I’m shorter, down.
I chased fame and fortune.
Now, I trace flow, form.
And sound.
When I was growing up, I grew a mask and a suit.
I grew loud expressions.
To catch my reflection.
And fight or flee.
From lonely me.
Now, in naked standing.
I forget who I was, when I was growing up.
When I was growing up, I grew wounds, as I collided.
I prized a head that was ahead.
Ignored my heart that grew apart.
How now, is the dwelling.
Of simple healing pieces, of peace.
Alchemising in delight.
As new melodies ignite.
When I was growing up, I knew everything back then.
Now, I know nothing about everything.
Yet I yearned for something.
Perhaps to achieve?
Little did I know.
I achieved everything I experienced.
And many seeds were sown.
When I do become a grown up, how will I know?
What will I be up to?
To where, will I have grown?
Who will I be?
And what might I chase?
Will my roots be strong and stable?
And my leaves whisper their grace.
Kay Cooke 2020
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