We talk a lot about having purpose in our lives, but how do we go about identifying that purpose? Conscientious leadership expert Nick Jankel has some advice for us. Firstly, start slowly, perhaps in your job or on the edges of your job. Then keep a ‘meaning journal’ for a week across all areas of […]
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Awaken your purpose, Nick Jankel
Just what the doctor ordered, Andy Cope
Andy Cope is known as the ‘Doctor of Happiness’. He explains that when we are in our best-self mode, that positivity radiates and benefits other people, making them 16% happier just by being in our company. He says we can learn how to reach our best-self mode, rather than being ground down into mediocrity. He […]
Do better at doing good, Leigh Mathews
We know that doing good for others makes us feel better. But how do we choose a cause and use our voice in the best way? Philanthropy expert Leigh Mathews urges us to find a cause that sparks an emotion and motivates us to engage in an action of good. She says: “Get detailed about […]
Closing your mind’s apps, Richie Norton
Richie Norton discovered yoga when struggling to recover from injuries from his rugby career. The different forms of movement, plus the connection to his breath, helped him deal with what was going on in his mind at the same time. “That took me into breathwork, and meditation, and the power of restorative movement, and functional movement.” […]
Author and journalist on happiness,
Author and journalist Oliver Burkeman reminds us that what will be pleasurable and fun for us isn’t always easy at the beginning: think of it as weight training, and do a little more every day at the point where it’s a tiny bit more uncomfortable than you’d choose. “The advice you don’t want to hear […]
Psychiatrist, Mental Health and Spirituality expert, Anna Yusim
Dr Anna Yusim studied how she could integrate psychiatry with spirituality when she felt something was missing during her training. She recommends stream of consciousness journalling every day for a few minutes: just write without thinking. Our dreams are a form of this as well, trying to make sense of the difficult things we can’t […]
Former Prime Minister of Finland, Alexander Stubb
Alexander Stubb, former Prime Minister of Finland, believes that happiness comes from a balance of human contact, ongoing learning, and physical health. He thinks one essential component is an open mind: “Cynicism is an attempt to take the easy way out – it means you haven’t been curious enough.” And he thinks empathy is critical […]
Sing loud, sing proud, sing together, George Bell
Music brings us huge benefits, especially around confidence and engagement, says On:Song co-founder George Bell. “When we sing with the correct diaphragmatic breathing, we feel clearer and more awake. It gives us the opportunity to mindfully reconnect with ourselves through the simple act of singing.” It also makes groups feel more connected, he says. “Not […]
Master your meaning, Jon Duschinsky
“What is purpose?” asks social innovator Jon Duschinsky. It’s not only the thing that “lights us up”; it’s also the determination to do something about it. We have got really good at believing things have to be a certain way, but when you strip all those assumptions away, it’s scary. “But that’s the journey we […]
Employee Engagement Coach, Paul Krismer
Author Paul Krismer teaches people how to be happy. We remember our experiences with fear, grief and panic because they make a big impact on us, and our brain uses them as learning experiences. If we work to create more impact around our positive experiences, our brain will recall them more readily. Paul says: “Look […]
World’s most influential Happiness Researcher, Meik Wiking
Meik Wiking, CEO of The Happiness Institute, explores what makes us happy. “It’s about having a sense of connection, a sense of purpose, and exploring positive emotions on a daily basis,” he says. During the pandemic, our sense of connection has suffered, he says, which impacts our daily mood, overall life satisfaction and the meaning […]
Fellowship, therapy and our non-stop culture, Henrietta Bowden-Jones
Henrietta Bowden-Jones is a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in the treatment of addictions. She has a particular interest in the treatment of problem gambling. She believes that a combination of therapy and a drug-based approach can be helpful to many of her patients. Dr Bowden-Jones warns of the risks of a culture where we are […]