Did you know that when you develop your intuition your body energy is affected? Enabling you to focus on your energy. Become more aware of your emotions as you become present.Be the facilitator of transformation!

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.

Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.

Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your inner voice.

And most important, dare to follow your heart and intuition.

Steve Jobs

Previously, I took up a consultant position in a large organisation to assist in a cultural change program. To point out, I was excited to be part of this forward-thinking organisation. To be part of a massive progressive change.

I wasn’t long into my role when I could see the disconnect within the organisation. The vision and values were what drew me to accept the role. However, on closer inspection, there was such a strong underlying fear of how this change would impact the people.

For this reason, the resistance to change was evident from all levels within the organisation. This was due to the vision and values not being practiced.

Change was required to remain progressive and innovative. However, many long-term employees were fearful of change. Refusing to change. Thus, preventing the cultural change to occur.

To sum up, cultural change cannot occur without all levels within the organisation being engaged. Making a collective shift and becoming more accountable. In a word, aligning to the organisational vision, values, and purpose is critical for change to occur.

Fear limits intuition!

We know that fear limits intuition. Lack of intuition disrupts innovation. We know that organisations of the future need to be innovative and demonstrate conscious leadership if they want to survive. That is, leading with their values and purpose. This means they need to use their intuition more and be the facilitator of transformation!

No longer can organisations say one thing and do the opposite and expect to stay current and successful. Research shows that baby boomers are exiting the workforce and making way for the millennial generation (generation Y).

The Millennial Generation

The millennials generation are the population who were born from the 1980s to the early 2000s. They now comprise of 75% of the global workforce.

Some characteristics of this generation are: –

• Intuitive knowledge of technology
• Open and adaptive to change
• Free thinking and creative
• Values social interaction in the workplace
• Crave flexibility

With this in mind, millennials will be the generation to push forward this change. Shifting from the rigid command and control type of leadership into a more relaxed, flexible and collaborative style.

Transform Workplaces!

To help move forward into the future requires leaders to transform the workplace and employees using energetic means. The simplest and most effective way is to encourage and support intuitive development.

Mindfulness!

Five years ago, mindfulness and meditation were used heavily in medicine, science, and the workplace. Put simply, mindfulness is a practice of paying attention to the current moment and acknowledge any thoughts and let them go, and just focus on breathing.

Not only does mindfulness relax you and enable you to listen to your inner thoughts, your intuition. It also reduces stress, lowers health costs, improves health, increases employee productivity, improves innovative thinking and communication.

Intuitive practices!

In conclusion, for organisations to flex into a more adaptable world, they should encourage intuitive practices to create leaders of the future who facilitate transformation!

We understand that fear impacts intuition and disrupts innovation and creativity. However, focusing on intuition, innovation and creativity will dissipate the fear and allow a new transformational type of leadership to reign.

Three simple steps to help:-

1. Practice mindfulness or meditation to quieten your mind
2. Start to feel your emotions from your heart
3. Be curious and challenge current ways of doing and thinking

The more we discuss and acknowledge the power of developing and using our intuition, the more effective organisations will be and the happier the workforce will be.

If you would like to learn more about developing your intuition and be the facilitator of transformation, contact me here to book a chat about how my programs may help you?

The post Be the facilitator of transformation! appeared first on Joan McEwan.

Everyone is talking about what the “new normal” will look like post COVID-19.  So much disruption has occured! For this reason, we move forward into a prime opportunity to re-design our new normal. In effect, this will require a shift in mindset. Change your perception and be agile as you realise the intuitive leader has the edge!

Definition!

You will be surprised, to learn that the google dictionary describes intuition as the ability to understand something immediately without the need for conscious reasoning. Clarified by Deepak Chopra, intuition is a form of intelligence that is beyond the rational mind.

Different Way of Thinking!

Climb aboard, and be part of the new wave of intuitive thinking. In addition, this way of thinking is now being used by many successful leaders. Leaders such as Apple CEO Tim Cook. Cook was an industrial engineer before becoming gaining his position with Apple.

Cook talks about how intuition led him to work at Apple despite a lot of evidence and close friends suggesting that he should not take the position. Going on to say that he believes intuition matures over time.

Cook describes himself as an analytic engineer. At the same time he admits to making most of his important decisions based on intuition. Cook believes that sometimes despite all odds you just need to listen to “that voice in your head” and “go for it”!

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant.

We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” 

Albert Einstein

Research!

Neuroscientists are now finding through research and techniques how to better assist leaders access their intuition. At the same time, allowing for faster and better decisions being made. Scientists have found that humans have 3 brains.

3 different forms of intelligence found in our brain, heart and gut. Given these points the 3 sources of intelligence work together in intuitive decision making.

3 tips on how to develop intuitive leader capabilities:-

1. Listen to your brain, heart and gut intelligence, your inner voice. Trust what you hear and feel. Practice, practice, practice. This becomes an art! Building confidence, efficiencies and calm.
2. Dont attach yourself to negative emotions. Do not buy into negative conversation. Avoid hanging out with negative personalities.They just drain your energy. Avoiding this keeps your energy elevated and purposeful.
3. Enjoy solitude where you can. This provides the space and quiet to listen to your inner voice. Strengthen this with a daily mindfulness practice. This is a sound self care practice that reaps multiple benefits.

At The End of The Day!

In reality, everything is up for grabs at the moment. For this reason dig deep and explore your hidden voice, your inner sources of intelligence. Find new and effective ways to inspire and lead your teams by trusting your intuition.

The intuitive leader has the edge! Making faster decisions based on their gut instincts is beneficial both to the individual, team and the business.

Love to hear your thoughts?

The post The intuitive leader has the edge! appeared first on Joan McEwan.

Do you measure and monitor your personal and professional growth? In reality, are you just so busy you feel that you don’t even have time to monitor your growth? Similarly, are you just too exhausted to care? Time to stand out in a crowd – own your story!

Loosing momentum!

You lose your momentum when you get discouraged and you then start to struggle with your professional life. This can be the time when you feel you have to force yourself to do daily tasks and everything just seems to be hard work. Your energy drops and It is usually at this point that fatigue, lethargy, and niggling health issues set in, and your performance declines.

The law of attraction?

For instance, their are many different tools and techniques can be used to keep you on track and moving forward. Of course, one such tool is visualisation. Rhonda Byrnes, author of The Secret talks about the ”law of attraction”. When you focus on what you want, you create this. As a result, what you think about creates your feelings. In effect, what you think and feel today is creating your future. Therefore, when you create a vision board, you focus on what you want, and it transpires into your reality.

To keep your momentum up it’s helpful to have a vision. A focus on what you want and an understanding of how that makes you feel

Vision boards!

2021 is a magical year that is focusing on new beginnings, flexibility, adaptability, transformation, and balance.

Each year I re-create my vision board. It’s a good reminder to measure how far I have come and a simple tool of measurement. You see I place my goals on my vision board and taking the thought out of my head and putting it down on paper creates the energy to bring it to life. As my goal comes to life, I then assign emotions to that goal so that It now becomes tangible and I buy into the experience even more.

This year was a bit different. I wanted to go deeper into my vision board and be able to manifest my goals in a fun way. I wanted to introduce the use of colour, meditation, mirror work, dance, and numerology to build on the energy to manifest my goals.

This process led me to be in a workshop with 15 like-minded women. All these women were looking to increase their energy and awareness to make their vision board come to life in a fun and productive way. We learned the value of understanding the vibration of different colours to enhance the emotions we were drawing on. Having an awareness of colour and numerology helps to bring greater alignment to goals.

When you prepare your vision board, it is important to develop the energy around you to set yourself up to create a vision board that comes to life. This requires you to trust in the process and yourself. The process we discovered in this workshop was very detailed and personalised.

Why do a vision board?

You may find a vision board helpful if you: –
– Want to increase your productivity?
– Want to enhance your career?
– Want to improve your personal life?
– Want to have time to enjoy family and friends?
– Want to get that spark back into your life?
– Want to take the next step in your career but not sure how to make it happen?

If you feel you are ready to stand out in a crowd – own your story! Now is the time to start developing your vision board. Identify and focus on your 9 key areas, abundance, health, spirituality, legacy, purpose, career, relationships, hobbies, and travel. This will help gain clarity and focus on the major areas of your life.

Some tips to create your vision board. Applying the following steps will help take you to your next level. The more energy that you put into your vision the better outcomes you will achieve: –

1. Firstly, write down the 5 goals you want to achieve for the year
2. Secondly, write yourself a letter of forgiveness
3. Thirdly, write yourself a letter of gratitude
4. Fourthly, now stand up and dance all the emotions that have come up from the above process and dance to a high energy song, and finish up by grounding yourself with a strong yoga warrior pose

By using the “law of attraction” principle in your vision board, assists you to be clear about “your story” and what is important in your life.

Time for you to stand out in a crowd – own your story! Look forward to hearing your story.

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As can be seen, we have received a huge push forward into this new decade thanks to the disruption of COVID. In short, now is the time to settle and explore where we are going and re-focus on what is important to us. In fact, an opportunity has risen to take a breath and return to basics. For this reason, we have time to identify what is important and how we want our life to be, to return to basics, and manifest a new life!

A View from Louise Hay!

Inspirational author, the late Louise Hay stated,
“We have to come back to basics: learning how to take care of ourselves. Not only learning to love our bodies – and that’s a good beginning – but to take care of our bodies and ourselves by learning how to eat and how to think. I think living is really about thoughts and food, and we’ve got to get back to basics”.

As Hays illustrates, to manifest our new life, one that will give us purpose, joy, and contentment we need to return to basics. That is to say, we need a clean slate, letting go of old beliefs and attitudes that have not been serving us well. In addition, we have an opportunity to re-set our mind, with a different way of thinking. 

A Purposeful Life!

In reality, this is a time to slow down and become more purposeful, and content. Time to let go of ego, judgment, and stop comparing yourself with others. With this in mind, focus on your needs and wants as the individual that you are, exploring your uniqueness.

Reconnect Body and Mind!

Our body can be broken down into 3 planes – mental, physical, and emotional. When these 3 planes are working effectively together a balance between the body and mind occurs.

Fast, chaotic 20th-century living has created a disconnect of these 3 planes for many people. If we truly want to manifest our new future we must heal, realign, and rebalance our mental, physical and emotional planes to bring balance. It is time to get reconnected with ourselves!

Our Mind!

For example, let’s consider our mental plane. Mindfully look at our thoughts, the way we think. When we do this purposefully, we can create a structure of thoughts as our framework. Creating thoughts of what our new future looks like. This will assist us to move forward.

These thoughts expand as we visualise them and bring them to life. Visualisation is an extremely powerful tool and enables us to manifest our thoughts into our physical reality.

Research!

The power of the mind has long been researched, and Indian yogi and author Sadhguru talks about how to manifest what you want in life. He talks about 4 fundamental areas to develop: –

1. Create a peaceful life
2. Create a life full of joy
3. Create a loving life
4. Create a life of purpose

This is the basic philosophy of life. Getting clear in these areas creates clarity and courage to step up and start manifesting what you want in life. Creating what makes you happy.

Your Story!

For one thing, you are the author of your story and with hard work, clarity, and perseverance you can create the change you want. With this in mind, here are some tips to help you on your journey: –

1. With each thought, ask yourself, does it make you feel peaceful, joyful, loving, and purposeful. If the answer is yes, then keep building on these thoughts.
2. Focus on your nutritional intake and start making a note of the foods that make you feel light and energised and avoid the foods that make you feel heavy and sluggish
3. Do more activities that make you happy, such as listening to music, walking along the beach, or hanging with friends

You are the driver of your story, it is your choice to make a difference or not!

The post Back to basics and manifest a new life! appeared first on Joan McEwan.

Creating a habit of waking up every morning and deciding that today is going to be the best day ever. Going to bed every night and spending time reflecting on your day. Realising what your achievement for the day was? This habit creates a shift to boost brain health and lessen anxiety.

Disruption

Not to mention that 2020 has been such a disruptive year. In addition it has caused many of us to drop some of our healthy habits. Habits such as our daily exercise regime, eating clean, healthy, fresh foods, and practicing mindfulness. 

A common theme

By the same token, one of my clients resonated with what many have been saying this year, “I have lost much of my confidence and seem to be second-guessing myself all the time”. She acknowledged that this current state was due to her losing her job and financial security. Thinking that she was set up for life. However, losing her job and struggling in the “covid lockdown” had made her question her abilities and self-worth.

Did you know?

– Anyone can suffer from a mental or emotional health problem
– 1:5 of us will suffer a mental health condition in our working life
– Mental health issues cost the Australian economy a conservative $12 billion annually

Problems

So much disruption occurring at such a fast pace has led to an increase in individuals experiencing fear, panic, overwhelmed, and loss of confidence. Most of us think that eating and exercise will take care of things. In part this is the case, however, when there is a focus on brain health, all sorts of improvements can be found.

Our body, mind and brain are negatively impacted by disruption, fear, and anxiety.  Bad news can also impact us. Do you notice that you may become quite negative or more anxious if you have just heard some bad news from the media?

My client made the personal choice that saw her taking control of what was within her sphere of control and worked both on her mental and physical health. Over time her courage increased and in turn her confidence amplified. She is taking one step at a time on her journey but with a solid foundation, her journey has become easier.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”.

Lao Tzu

This so is true for all of us. Start to understand how improving brain health affects our physical and emotional bodies?

The end of mental illness

Dr Daniel Amen is a seasoned American Psychiatrist and author who has spent his extensive career studying the benefits of brain health. He has recently published a book called “The end of Mental Illness”. The book is around scientific research that demonstrates how brain science and eating brain foods is boosting brain health by reducing anxiety, stress, and other mental health disorders.

Amen believes that brain health issues steel your mind! Firstly, he likens mental health disease to other chronic health states such as heart disease. When mental health is viewed through the same lens as people suffering from say heart disease, the “shame” attached to mental health illness is removed. As a result, mental health illness starts to become normalised, without stigma. 

Not an easy fix!

In short, both chronic diseases and mental health illnesses are affected by lifestyle choices. In the case of brain health, choices such as poor sleep habits, consumption of alcohol, drugs, playing physical sports, and ingestion of pesticides on food all have an impact.

Research shared in his book suggests that there are simple ways to start to improve your brain health. Paying attention to healing your brain helps to heal your mind and thoughts. Indeed, the body and mind respond to every thought that we experience.

Blood flow to the brain increases by eating foods high in fatty acids and taking specific supplements to support brain health. Improved brain health increases brain size.

In other words, when you identify what is important in your life, for example, health and longevity. Clarity can be heightened. Providing an opportunity to make changes that will enhance brain health to lessen anxiety. Creating a stronger connection between the body and the mind. A shift in mindset.

Some steps that may assist to boost brain health are: –

1. Work on improving the duration and quality of your sleep. Start to develop a habit of going to bed at the same time each night and waking at the same time each morning. Try to get 7 – 8 hours of sleep per night.
2. Foods high in omega-3-fatty acids and anti-oxidants may assist in keeping your brain healthy. Some of these foods are fatty fish, blueberries, turmeric, broccoli, walnuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds
3. Seek out a qualified health professional to assist in guiding you to the appropriate supplementation to support brain health if required
4. Write down what you are thinking when you feel sad, scared, nervous, or out of control. Ask yourself if these feelings are accurate? Then write down what you want.
5. Change the way you are thinking. When you get a thought that does not make you feel confident or fulfilled, change it, and replace it with a positive thought that serves you better. 

Developing these simple habits will help to boost your brain health, memory, feelings, and emotions. 

Would love to know what changes you can make to boost your brain health and lessen anxiety? 

The post Boost brain health and lessen anxiety! appeared first on Joan McEwan.

“It is health that is the real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver” 

Health is Wealth!

To point out, without health you have nothing! For this reason, you owe it to yourself to have a healthy body and mind. In the long run, by capturing the guiding principles for health sets you up for lifelong success.

So why is health critical to our success, happiness, and longevity?

Build the Foundation!

It’s a bit like building the walls and roof of a house before you lay the foundation. The walls need the support of the foundation to build a strong, sturdy house that will last. After all, without the foundation, cracks appear, and the house starts to crumble. 

In reality, poor health distorts the way the body and mind work. As a result, you become less efficient, less motivated, and more disillusioned. Aging is forced to occur at an accelerated rate.

Why Health Matters!

A long time ago when I was a young student nurse. I remember my first student placement in my training hospital. I entered the ward on my first morning with trepidation, having no idea what to expect. Struggling to breathe at times, I was anxious and terrified.

My fears were somewhat alleviated when I was buddied up with a senior nurse. She was kind and supporting, showing me the “ropes”. Our first task was to give Mrs. Brown a bed bath, so off we went. It was an old army hospital and all the beds were lined up along the wall with only a screen to separate them for privacy.

Pulling apart the screens to Mrs. Brown revealed the biggest person I had seen in my life. She filled the bed she was lying in. My initial thoughts were of how we could carry out our task when she was so large and immobile!

However, that was not to be my concern that day as the next thing I remember is “coming to” sitting propped up on a chair in the linen cupboard. I had fainted upon entering Mrs. Brown’s bed area and was dragged off to recover in the linen cupboard (it was the only private area on the ward).

Reflection!

Many years on, I still remember that day vividly and it is a constant reminder to me that looking after our health is so important if we want a good quality life.

I went on to discover that Mrs. Brown was only 52 years of age and had been in that hospital bed for over 2 years. She had not walked in all that time and had remained a prisoner in her bed. No quality of life. Taking multiple medications to fix one issue and counteract the side effects of others. It was a vicious circle with horrible consequences.

Health Burden!

Australia health statistics show that In addition to the health burden contributed by cancer, heart disease, and mental illness, an estimated:
•    1 in 3 adults and children suffer chronic respiratory conditions
•    1 in 3 people experience arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions
•    1 in 10 adults show signs of chronic kidney disease
•    1 in 20 adults experience diabetes
•    1 in 11 people aged 65 and over suffer from dementia

So what’s the point?

Well, Mrs. Brown’s story is not unique it is fairly common. Statistics tell us that 87% of the population are currently dying as a result of at least one chronic health condition such as obesity. Obesity is a completely preventable condition, however, it requires us to take personal responsibility to prevent it. It takes hard work and discipline if we want to avoid suffering from obesity. We make the choice.

Some guiding principles for health are simple: –

1.    PHYSICAL: Exercise every day, keep your body moving. Eat nutritious food, 5 – 6 small meals a day that include carbohydrates, protein, good fats and free from chemicals and pesticides. Drink clean water. Make mealtimes a celebration, enjoy your meal, and savour the flavours of your meal with friends and family. Avoid consuming junk foods. 

2.    EMOTIONAL: Take time to “smell the roses”. Spend time in nature or at the beach. Enjoy the sunshine, fresh air, and outdoors. Practice regular meditation and allow yourself time to reflect on where you are at and what is working well and perhaps not so well. Permit yourself to have fun.

3.    MENTAL: Spend time with your thoughts. Practice being present with them, acknowledging and taking action on them. Journal your thoughts, as you go deeper you will uncover hidden meanings and guidance. Pushing you forward on your journey. Keeping your mind quiet and unpacking your thoughts creates space for more thinking to happen.

Whenever I question my health choices, I always remember Mrs. Brown and the life she chose for herself. One of hospitalisation and misery. Unable to fulfil her dreams due to poor health, immobility, disease, and obesity.

We all have choices, don’t end up like Mrs. Brown! Life is for living and having fun so don’t waste a minute on poor health.

Would love to hear your thoughts?

The post Guiding Principles for Health appeared first on Joan McEwan.

Have you ever had the feeling that your mind is about to explode? You have so much information in your head. Fantastic ideas that you are passionate about. Unfortunately, when fear steps in, it stalls you, preventing you from moving forward. You have reached the pivoting point, time to push through. When the body and mind collide!

Try and lean into the resistance you feel. Relax, ride the wave, grow, or accept the resistance and get stuck! An energetic moment has occurred that can metaphorically crack your beliefs open to growing. To be the seeker or to hide that is the choice.

Self- Belief!

Oprah Winfrey, one of the most successful females of our time, with a net worth of over $2.9 billion US dollars. Growing up in poverty. Born to a single mother living on welfare. She was physically, mentally, and sexually abused during her childhood. Running away from home at thirteen-years-old, and pregnant at fourteen-years-old. Later she lost the baby shortly after its birth.

At the age of 19 years, Winfrey found herself in radio as a reporter. From there she found herself hosting chat shows and by 1985 she had her own Oprah Winfrey show. Going from strength to strength she launched her cable television network for women and O magazine in 2000.

Known as an activist for children’s rights and philanthropist. In 2018 she became the first African American woman awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B DeMille award for lifetime achievement.

Doing the Inner Work!

Also, she realised early that she had to do the inner work to achieve her vision. Above all, the journey has been one of continuous development. Equally important, being honest and transparent allowed her to let go of “her baggage” that was holding her back.

Another key point, in 1995, she lost a massive amount of weight which boosted her confidence. Later going on to be classed as an influential spiritual leader. Above all, Winfrey has always listened to her inner voice, finding the answers she was seeking. With a clear vision and a strong belief, enabled her to achieve her dreams and vision.

So, what’s the point?

Important to realise that self-development is a most powerful tool. Looking within, feeling your fears and doubts. As a result, understanding what is possible then launching into them as your doubts and fears fade and your self-belief increases.

Metaphorically when the body and mind collide! A period emerges that calls for an internal re-focus and re-set. A time when you get to choose, to break down the barriers. Discarding the fears, you carry and picking up opportunities, change, and growth. An exciting new world!

Where to start: –

1. See the vision you want and bring it to life
2. Make small incremental changes every day
3. Eat well and drink clean water, exercise often and have fun

Acknowledge that the collision has occurred. Start making changes, remember slow and steady wins the race. Having fun is the transporter of change, so jump on board and enjoy the ride.

Would love to hear your thoughts?

Want to work with Joan to improve your mental and physical health and wellbeing? Contact her at [email protected] to find out more?

The post When the body and mind collide! appeared first on Joan McEwan.

Everybody wants to be the person that can always be relied on. That solid person that seems to be able to ride every storm without flinching. But like all things that person needs to be cared for and nurtured. Otherwise we crumble. Create time for self care, to rest and sleep otherwise sleep deprivation impacts our mental health!

Cause?

Sleep depravation occurs when we have an inadequate quality or quantity of sleep either due to choice, circumstances or a medical condition.

“Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together”

Thomas Dekker

The Signs!

Many years ago a university friend of mine was studying to be a Doctor, his name was Mike. It was no secret that he was a high achiever with dreams of being a world famous surgeon.

Graduating from university he was so excited to start his career as a resident Doctor in a busy city hospital. Before long the glamour of what he thought the job would be had disappeared. Working long hours became the norm. Every 3 weeks him and his fellow residents would be required to work 3 days and nights straight to be the on -call Doctor.

They worked from Friday through to Sunday doing ward rounds during the day, attending to trauma and being on call during the rest of the time to support the patients and other medical team in the hospital.

The Struggle!

During this time it was common for Mike to struggle with his workload. Making mistakes were not uncommon, being grumpy and irritable as well as overthinking due to a slowing down of his thought processes due to fatigue. He was always yawning and would zone out when people were talking to him. He would always apologise but he was unable to stop himself.

Most of the time he was exhausted and dragged himself around. Living on coffee and chocolate to keep him “functioning”. His weight increased as his diet consisted of non healthy choices due to ease and instant energy gain. It wasn’t long before his sleep patterns became erratic and found sleeping difficult, his norm had become maybe a 2 -3 hour sleep in a 24 hour period. Catnapping when he could.

Research!

Research shows that sleep disorders costs the Australian economy over $66 billion per year in health care, loss of wellbeing and indirect costs. 40% of the adult Australian population suffer from sleep disorders. They also contribute to depression, stroke, workplace injuries and motor vehicle accidents. 

– 53% of Australian adults have a medical condition that impacts their sleep habits and quality
– 52% of Australians claim they are less motivated, irritable and cant concentrate after a poor nights sleep
– 18% of Australians use prescription medication to aid sleep

Circadian Rhythms!

Circadian Rhythms – This is our internal body clock that regulates us to feel sleepy at night and awake during the day. Being exposed to sunlight helps adjust our clock with night and day. Finally, when the body is ready to sleep a hormone melatonin is raised and the core body temperature lowers. As the rhythms align in the body and with the environment provides the best opportunity for quality sleep. It has been found that when our body clocks are out of alignment, this negatively affects health and wellbeing.

Did you Know?
– 8 hours of sleep per night is the average an adult should aim for
– Our brains are active when we sleep
– Sleep cycles last around 90 minutes and change throughout our sleep

Pulling it Together!

So we know that the research links lack of sleep to increased health effects such as anxiety, depression, weigh gain and poor cognitive function to mention a few. We also know that our body and mind and intricately connected so when our body is impacted our mind is also impacted. Ultimately sleep deprivation impacts our mental health!

Mike’s story highlights how we can push our body and mind to extraordinary levels when we become deprived of sleep. The body also works hard to normalise our current situation. However the research confirms that long term exposure to sleep deprivation has an adverse effect on our mental and physical health.

Simple Steps!

Find out for yourself. Take some steps to prevent sleep deprivation and improve mental health. Correct and re-balance your body and mind by beginning with some simple steps added to a daily routine:-

1. Reduce your intake of stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol
2. Relax before you go to bed, listen to calming music, reading a favourite novel or meditate. Avoid using all electronic devices.
3. Make sure your sleeping area is a comfortable temperature, with a quality mattress, a comfy pillow and darken your room to aid sleep.

The responsibility of our health is in our control, our responsibility and affected by the choices we make. All the tools we need are within us no, its about acknowledging them and taking action now! 

Love to hear your thoughts?

The post Sleep deprivation impacts our mental health! appeared first on Joan McEwan.

Leading in tough times is what we are all being called to do in these difficult times. Whether it’s leading in your family, with friends, at work or in relationships. Additionally, now is an opportunity to dig deep and explore ways of leading that perhaps had not been on your radar?

It’s a Bit Like!

In effect, it’s a bit like practicing a yoga posture. The deeper you allow your body to go into the posture, the more you relax and let go. The more agile you become as you break down barriers that have been preventing your growth.

So that, as you let go and trust the process as it unfolds you go on an unexplored journey. In fact, revealing vulnerabilities, shedding fear as trust steps in. As a result supports the intuitive leader leading in tough times.

Author Brene Brown, says “staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection”. The chaos and fear that COVID-19 has created has forced us to pay attention to what is most important to us. Loosing income, jobs, financial security and access to family and friends has been stripped away from us. However we are connecting with each other on a much more human level. Making time for others albeit through virtual platforms.

Many publications liken our present climate to that of post World War 1 and the great depression. As leaders, we must get some strategies in place to emerge after this pandemic with security and prosperity for our teams. So many aspects are out-with our control but consider what you can control to make a difference?

Intuition Helps in Tough Times!

So let’s look at how your intuition can help leading in tough times?

Some refer to it as your sixth sense, your gut feelings, your inner knowing or just a sense or thought. Intuitive thoughts arise all the time including in business, in personal and professional situations and opportunistic times. Some have even gone as far as to say that intuition is a lost skill as many no longer acknowledge this.

So as a leader in these unusual times a huge opportunity exists to tap into your intuition, your sixth sense. Listening to your gut in combination with your mind will be the key to manoeuvring through this chaos and re-inventing from a heart space.

We are all now getting a sense of what is going on globally as well as in our own life and business. Being guided by our intuition will assist in identifying what we can control and what can be changed in business. This is a pivotal moment that will drive clarity and action. Getting a sense of what is important, relevant and actionable and having the courage to run with it. Be curious!

Become more curious. This will ignite more energy to expand pathways of thinking. Teams will become more crreativitive. Excitement during change creates possibilities that gives hope. Hope is the essential currency in these times.

Intuitive Leaders Have the Edge!

Leaders who engage with their intuition will grow at a deeper level. Why does this happen? Well, when you trust your intuition you are beginning to trust yourself. Trusting yourself requires you to understand who you are. That involves going within and doing internal work to get a deeper meaning.

This creates a cycle of growth as the more you understand who you are the more you trust your intuition and what  you are feeling. The stronger your belief becomes the more courageous and confident you become. Your energy becomes amplified and it becomes infectious. Your team wants to be a part of what you have going on.

Creating a win-win situation as a leader is simple when you develop and trust your intuition. As humans we yearn to trust and believe in ourself consistently. This core element of building and trusting your intuition isn’t taught in management curriculum as yet.

The intuitive leader will be able to create and initiate new ways of intuitive led business . An opportunity to re-invent purposeful and happy teams with longevity.

Starting Point!

So where do you start:
Firstly you have to be open to change and be ready to be the trailblazer as an intuitive industry leader. Be ready to make the change that is required to move forward in a positive and abundant way post COVID-19. This is an amazing opportunity for courageous and insightful leaders to re-invent the meaning of high performing teams.

Step 1 – Start to meditate daily or practice mindfulness. Develop a daily habit of meditating at the same time each day. This discipline strengthens your purpose and outcomes.
Step 2 – Journal your daily intuitive thoughts and make note of how it related to what your current thoughts were and how this could be applied to give you a better outcome
Step 3 – Get yourself an Intuitive Coach to develop a strategy to move forward in an effective way for you and your team

We all have intuitive abilities within us, some have just chosen to place them on hold. Leaders leading in tough times who develop their intuition have a deeper sense of peace, balance, gratitude and accomplishment for all. 

Learn more about intuitive coaching now?

The post Leading in Tough Times! appeared first on Joan McEwan.

Why you may ask?

Above all, the answer in my mind is simple! In other words, if you dont know yourself, dont understand your feelings and know what you want, it is difficult to know and understand others needs. However, it is difficult to express kindness spontaneously if you have not explored this feeling yourself.

On the contrary, knowing yourself allows you to put your life in perspective. Hence, returning to the basics to nurture yourself. Explore your feelings. To be kind to yourself and others. In other words, as clarity rises you can redefine and realign your life, career and business.

At a recent vision board workshop I ask the question “When did you last update your vision board”?

The answers varied from “did not have one”, “did not have enough time”, “wasn’t sure what to do to get the most from it” and so on. All sort of excuses came up. Ultimately, when you really get to know who you are you shed your “invisible layers”. Procrastination and holding yourself back stops. You become vulnerable.

The Fear!

As a result, it’s like swimming underwater for a long time and suddenly you come up for air. You gasp, cough and perhaps choke on some water. Above all, once you have settled, regained your homeostasis, your breathing settles and you are calm and invigorated.

Indeed fear is the culprit for holding us back. Stopping us from taking the leap to move forward. Becoming what we are meant to be. We fear that people will judge us or worse we will experience the feeling of being an imposter.

The Emotions!

The more you feel what you are about the more aligned you become with who you really are! Therefore, the upside of this is that when you explore your feelings you feel more inclined to give out kindness. You release and receive 10 fold in return. This creates a ripple effect and increases energy and vibrancy.

As awareness increases we create a space within us that allows us “to slow down the frenetic pace of life”. Allowing us to reduce the pressure that we place on ourselves in this fast paced world we live in. To experience a calm mind and body. 

Matt Kahn, best selling author, spiritual teacher and philanthropist talks about acceptance. In addition, accepting the feelings you are experiencing and probing further to understand.  How this releases a capacity to be kind to self and others. Without focusing on an outcome.

Every feeling that we feel allows us to explore ourselves deeper to get a more grounded understanding.

The new paradigm of leadership has a strong focus around heart and mind led leadership. For this to be authentic, meaningful and purposeful it requires more of you. Poet Yung Pueblo sums it up perfectly:-

more rest
more self love
more letting go
more time for learning
more space for transformation
more honesty about how you feel
more time developing good habits
more courage to try new practices
more time cultivating your inner peace
more faith in yourself and the process

So how do we do this?

In other words, how do we create an environment where Kindness Matters – Building Healthy and Happy Cultures!

This requires continuous personal self development. In conclusion, create a simple but effective strategy by nurturing your self, sustain quality nutrition and evaluate your capacity. Take action in these areas to build your foundation.

Above all, by doing this will set you up for a happy and healthy life that enables you to contribute to building happy healthy cultures. That is when kindness creates magic!

Would love to hear your thoughts?

The post Kindness Matters – Building Healthy and Happy Cultures! appeared first on Joan McEwan.