
05, 18
How do you start your day? I start mine by playing…
by PS Team 0 comments
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Children and play
Have you ever observed how children wake up and just play? How they start their day quietly exploring, happy and content in their own company?
It’s something we adults can learn from. For most of our lives we’ve been domesticated away from playing when really, the practice of quietly playing can set you up for the day, and regular breaks to play or just watch the clouds in the sky can make SUCH a difference in your day.
Whether you like to play Angry Birds (like former British Prime Minister David Cameron), Candy Crush (like PSU CEO Neroli Jones) or build Lego like Soccer Icon David Beckham, play doesn’t just reduce stress and contribute to overall wellbeing, it’s an incredibly rich mindfulness tool.
Let’s keep this quiet play separate from physical play – we’re talking about starting your day mindfully, but in a way that is light and playful. Physical play is a separate topic, here we’re talking about mind play rather than body play…

Play as a mindfulness tool
There’s a huge amount of psychology research material around the importance of play for both children and adults, but much of it focuses on the benefits and positive outcomes relating to stress, relationships and wellbeing etc. What hasn’t been well documented is how play relates as a mindfulness tool. When I play candy crush in the mornings I just love it. It’s a quiet part of my day where I’m just me, not a wife / mother / grandmother / CEO and business owner – just me and the game. Each level of the game has a purpose, and for each game I set an intention and I celebrate the outcome. As I play I observe myself – why am I choosing to make that move? What is motivating me? Am I playing for more of the positives or fighting the negatives? What elements in this game can I see reflected in my day – ie is this game about precision and alignment or is it more about expansion and conversion? And as I play I am stimulated by these questions as well as by the colours, the spatial reasoning and the wisdom that comes with my observations. Every next step I take in that game clearly adds up to a result and each one is completed with utter joy. I learn from the losses and I know when I’m stuck on a level for a spell that it will be reflected somewhere else in my life – somewhere I feel ‘stuck’ but with that awareness can now ‘unstick’. Play reveals thought and can be incredibly illuminating in a way that thinking something through often can’t reach or quite connect to. At the end of my play I’m ready to be a part of the world and later when I meditate, I already have insight into the intention I will set for the day that is mine to create. So you see, I don’t switch off when I play, I switch on… What do you play? Please write in and share what starts your day and why it’s so great?

10, 17
The power of breath
by PSU Editor 0 comments
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Conscious breathing
Lung Power
Conscious Breathing
There are several ways to consciously breathe, such as the Kapalabhati (breath of fire) and pranayama yogic breathing. They all share one thing in common, they induce rest in the body, by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system.The Alpha State
When we ground ourselves through the breath, we move into a lower vibrational state, close to the alpha state. In this highly focused but calm state, we turn on our creative brain, become more aware of our surroundings and can observe life from a different perspective.
Breathe to Release Stress and Anxiety
Becoming more aware helps us to differentiate between experiences that induce fear or stress and the physiological changes that arise from them. By noticing our perception and physical reaction to them, we are able to enhance and safeguard our health in a more conscious and responsible manner.
Better Mind, Body and Spirit.
We are each born with billions of brain cells, and when we deprive them of oxygen, our performance will suffer. For example when we hyperventilate, we expel too much CO2, meaning less oxygen can be absorbed by the body, which leads us into a cycle of breathing even faster. By practicing balanced breathing we allow oxygen to circulate evenly, to saturate the blood - feeding every cell in the body, muscles, brain, organs, and skin, while allowing the metabolism to burn fat and work more efficiently.
09, 17
Have you Met Yourself?
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“I was dissatisfied with most areas of my life, I had a job I hated, my health had suffered, the family were in disarray and my self critic made me feel I was failing at everything.”

Sub-Personalities have the Power

By releasing your fears you become stronger
Neroli Jones, PS founder has a more amusing analogy: think Nancy Ganz shapewear – “you can push and squeeze the unwanted pounds around but they won’t just vanish – they have to go somewhere!” A very big thank you to Steve Grant Paradigm Switch Osteopath, Acupuncturist and Voice Dialogues Coach.“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.” advises Professor Brené Brown, who shows us through her work, how we can turn fear into power.

08, 17
All is Well in My World
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The passing of Louise Hay was indeed a sad day for us all at PS. Even though she died of natural causes and had reached a ripe age of 90, she represents a great loss and will be missed by millions, all over world.


RIP Louise Hay.
We thank you for shining your light.


08, 17
5 Ways to Instantly Boost your Wellbeing
by PSU Editor 0 comments
emotional wellbeing Energy Focus Happy mental health Re-energise REJUVENATE Wellbeing
“Wellbeing is a combination of feeling good as well as actually having meaning, good relationships and accomplishment."
Martin Seligman Paradigm Switch founder Neroli Jones identifies 4 pillars of wellbeing; mental, physical, purposeful and the one that is often the most overlooked - emotional. To experience a true sense of wellbeing we need to balance all these elements. Here are some effective wellbeing practices you can incorporate into your week.MASSAGE
Massage is a recognised way to reduce stress and produce deep relaxation. Consider a massage when you are feeling particularly tense or anxious. The practice of using touch as a healing method began over 5000 years ago as a sacred system of natural healing when ancient civilizations found that massage could heal injuries, relieve pain, and prevent and cure illnesses. Todays therapists practice a multitude of techniques originating from the ancient methods. From those origins comes the inspiration to help with healing physical and emotional wellbeing.GET CREATIVE
Whether it’s with arranging a vase of fresh flowers or crafting your own garden, putting some inner creativity into your life will develop a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Not all of us are budding artists but most will take pleasure in cooking a delicious meal, or creating a calm space in the home. Whatever your ‘thing’ - just lead with the heart. In her best-selling book Elizabeth Gilbert explains the untold benefits of living a life creatively –“Do whatever brings you to life, then. Follow your own fascinations, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.”
Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
BORROW A DOG
This is a good one because not only does it provide the value of spending time with a furry friend, but gets your body moving too. The benefits of animal therapy are well documented. According to http://www.pawsforpeople.org spending time with a friendly pet lifts our physical, mental and cognitive focus. Many hospitals now encourage dog visits as a form of natural healing while a number of studies have found that people who spend time with animals experience some real positive effects such as lower blood pressure, a sense of belonging, fewer colds and flu, less stress and elevated moods.SENSORY BOOST
Our most primal sense is that of smell as it exerts surprising influence over our thoughts, emotions, moods, memories, and behaviours. Scents are experienced in the brain, long before we develop a conscious awareness of it. This is why it's nearly impossible to describe them with language. For this reason, scents can have a powerful influence over how we think, feel, and behave. Try burning some essential oils to suit your mood, match them up to add energy, focus or calm into your life.BE KIND
Something as small as writing a few thankful words to someone who supports you, or giving a compliment to a stranger can work wonders for the soul. By giving, you boost your internal sense of value and wellbeing. Studies have shown that volunteering promotes better psychological and mental health as well as increased longevity. Next time you’re out and about be ready to offer a seat to someone need or lend a hand to a struggling mum with a pram. It’s tempting to overlook these small acts, while we rush through life, not realising that it’s a simple way of actually making us feel better. Psychologists recognise that doing something positive for someone else can lead to a feeling of well-being in both the helper and the recipient, even a sense of elation. If you develop a balanced wellbeing, other areas of your life will benefit. Kindness attracts kindness.
06, 17
We’ve all heard of Emotional Intelligence, so what is Emotional Wellbeing?
by PSU Editor 0 comments
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When faced with corporate burnout and her own threatened state of wellbeing, Neroli Jones, founder of PS embarked on a journey of personal discovery. She identified four key quadrants that underpin our wellbeing – and realised that it is not until these are in balance, that we can expect to feel a complete sense of health. These pillars, she names - the Physical, Mental, Purposeful and Emotional.
"I call this our Wellbeing Compass"

Emotions are simply feelings with a judgement attached. Once we understand this, the rest falls into place.
Emotional wellbeing is about truth – the truth of now. It’s about self-acceptance without judgement and it’s about love. More often than not, we feed ourselves a diet of toxic lies. Our relationship with ourselves is the most profoundly complex relationship we will ever navigate and yet we spend most of our time developing or managing relationships with others, outside ourselves. Emotional wellbeing focuses on your relationship with you…. ask yourself regularly – how does this (person, event, conversation, activity – whatever) make me feel? Do I want more of that or less of that? How you feel tells you everything. You actually do know what you need, you do know what makes you happy, but you do need to invest the time to listen. That's called emotional wellbeing. To understand your personal wellbeing and discover how balanced you are, go to the Paradigm Switch compass tool and spend a few minutes to reveal where you need to focus on improvement. You might be quite surprised at the results. The PS Compass will point to the quadrant that needs most work, so you then can be directed to the best suited therapies.
04, 17
MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION REVEAL PROVEN BENEFITS
by PSU Editor 0 comments
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Recently our CEO Neroli Jones, had the privilege of attending a prestigious HR summit in the Gold Coast which proved to be enlightening on many levels, one being the growth and acceptance with which meditation and mindfulness has been accepted into the workplace. What might once have been judged as all a bit too ‘out there’ or ‘kooky’ within this environment has now become widely embraced as a proven technique to manage stress and enhance productivity.
INCREASE YOUR PERFORMANCE BY CALMING DOWN
The term “stress” was coined in 1942 by neuroscientists and was identified as a common life event placing physiological overload due to undue pressure. This potentially leads to long-lasting effects on our health and behaviour. Source Think of an ocean that can be choppy on the surface, but is always calm underneath. In a similar way, stress works on the surface, on our frontal lobe of the brain provoking the fight/flight reflex. If we are to bypass it, we need to delve deeper. Sadly, we live most of our lives on the surface. This is where meditation comes in, allowing us to access this calmer part of our brain, by shutting down the limbic brain and frontal lobe.
MEDITATION GIVES US PERSPECTIVE
As meditation is soothing our overheated metabolism and slowing down body function, it allows us to look inside and see how we have allowed ourselves to speed up in the first place. We are given a new perspective by becoming aware of our roles, how we have been taught, trained a

03, 17
The Essential Ingredient Happy People Share
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If you look around at the people you admire, the ones that inspire you, that make you feel good, and the ones who have that contagious energy you just wish you could catch…. What is it they have in common? Chances are, you’ll find that they have a reason to get up in the morning. In other words they are motivated by an innate purpose or sense of moving forward to achieving something they feel passionate about.“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Helen Keller

Get a new car
Go on holiday
Find a partner
Go shopping
Eat our favourite food
Go to the gym
Go partying with friends
These are all enjoyable but temporary happiness moments. More often than not, once the holiday is over, we are faced again with having to find another happiness distraction. And so the cycle spins around and around. Continuous research findings have shown that a lasting sense of happiness or contentment comes with being useful. If we are being useful to ourselves, friends, family, the planet or even our pets, our sense of identity or pride is lifted, thus inducing a feeling of achievement and satisfaction. You just need to look at a new mother to witness a purpose surge of happiness. According to Volunteering Australia, 96% of volunteers said it made them happier people. It’s also worth noting that volunteers are healthier and sleep better. They experience a ‘helpers’ high’ akin to an emotional and physical sense of wellbeing. Financial security, a sense of purpose in life, and good personal relationships are said to make up the "golden triangle" or 3 pillars of happiness according to one of Australia's largest wellbeing surveys. Unfortunately, the toughest one to harness is to find your purpose, which essentially underpins the other two happiness pillars. Finding your purpose can be both challenging and elusive, often taking many years to discover.The Answer is always Inside Yourself



12, 16
We asked our talented team at PSU HQ to come up with their personal tips to make sure Christmas runs smoother, happier and healthier.
Neroli Jones, CEO breaks it down to collaborate and sing …

Shelley Seddon, our synergy manager focuses on some year in review and personal observations …
During Christmas Lunch we have a (hopefully) fun “Year in Review” discussion. Everyone is emailed questions in advance so they have a chance to really think about their answers.Topics include:
What was your favourite movie, book, TV show this year?
Best travel story.
Highlight of the year
What do you hope to accomplish next year?
What are you most looking forward to in the New Year?

Hannah-Florence Macgregor, video producer advises us on how to keep our bodies healthy this season …
Drink lots of water especially in these hot months. 3-4 litres a day, will keep you hydrated and balance out the excessive sugars and other indulgences we enjoy during the festive season. If you feel like going one step further, add little Apple Cider vinegar to alkalize the water and detox while you hydrate.Anna Barr, Director of Awareness focuses on staying calm…
Be organized!
Don’t leave wrapping presents, decorating, baking and so on, all to the last minute. Do whatever you can in the weeks leading up to the big day, so you manage to actually enjoy the festivities without worrying about the menu or conjuring up a missing gift.
I make lists on my phone so I can’t forget them! For an instant recharge, escape to a quiet spot for 5 minutes and take a few deep breaths.
Helen Kingsmill, Ground Control, has discovered a real crowd pleaser…
Here’s a handy recipe that is a whizz to make and sooo healthy and fresh!Prawns with blended Xmas mango dip
Fresh, green Aussie king prawns 2 x plump Christmas season mangoes Generous handful of fresh basil leaves Garlic and chilli infused oil (for marinating prawns) Spritz of lemon juice Shell the green prawns leaving tail intact and marinate in the garlic/chilli oil Peel mangoes and whizz in a food processor with basil and lemon juice. Cook the prawns on the barbeque, brushing with oil – they cook in a flash so don’t look away! Serve warm, with mango dip, then stand back so you don’t get injured in the crush for more!
John Whaley, Architect of Order, suggests a time for reconnection without distraction …
I always love to play a board game or cards at Christmas. Whilst this can be a source of tension for over competitive family members (!), generally it is a great ice-breaker and activity for getting everyone together in one place and having a laugh…
Another tip is to have a no electronic devices policy (phones, iPads, computers) on Christmas Day, allowing us to feel present and bringing some togetherness into the day.
Nadia Superina, Mission Control, shares her diet tricks…
*Eat a healthy breakfast with loads of fruit/veggies and healthy fats. Either a big smoothie or eggs with avocado. This means that even if you have a fabulously unhealthy lunch and dinner, you’re charged with one healthy meal. Plus, fats will make you feel fuller so you’ll eat less of the bad stuff.
*Stick to three meals and avoid snacking. All the snacks add up and you’d be amazed how they pile on the weight.
*Drink lots of water between meals. NOT with meals. Water dilutes stomach acid, which needs to be strong to digest meals (particularly loaded with carbs and protein). Drinking between meals will help you feel full as well as prevent snacking.
Merry, healthy Christmas to all!

11, 16
Why Yoga Teachers are Always Happy
by PSU Editor 0 comments
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BE A WARRIOR NOT A WORRIER
As I walked into the yoga class and planted myself firmly cross-legged on my mat, I was given my mantra of the day“ Set your intention for today as Acceptance”
Of yourself Of others Of your body

