SUNDAY NIGHT SLIDES
Great to see so many of you discovering how adaptable you are and identifying ways to can improve certain elements through the platform's actionable insights.
If you're not quite ready to take the assessment and wanted to learn more about how it works, or you're just curious, head on over to AQai.io
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This week I wanted to shed some light on something that affects us all (albeit in different ways) but something that can be worked on for living more enjoyable daily lives...
And that's how we react to situations.
Especially important to become aware of whilst the new (dark) moon moves through the illuminating phases of its lunar cycle. The perfect time to work on cultivating growth as the crop seeds are going through germination.
Emotional Range (Reactive – Collected) is one of the measurements of adaptability, so you'll be able to see where you are on the scale by taking the assessment too.
Let's take stress, for example.
If you put 100 people through the same stressful situation, with the same stimulus at the same time, their physiological reactions (the sensations their body feels) will be similar across the board:
Heartbeat increases
Breathing more frequently
Body starts producing sweat
Heightened sense of danger
But if you ask each individual about their experience after that stressful situation, you will get distinctly different psychological responses featuring opposite ends of the spectrum.
Why is that?
The human brain is constantly working to make predictions (second guess), recognise patterns in behaviour and organise all the information it receives into comfortingly recountable, sensical stories. If it didn't, the overwhelm would be crazy.
Emotions don't just happen to you.
You are experiencing the same feelings (energy) that everyone else feels – but in your own way – that's entirely dependent on your previous interpretations in similar situations.
Naturally, I'll feel the same energy that you feel before taking an important exam, anticipating a job interview, developing a new love interest, being held at knife-point etc., but it's my reactions (energy-in-motion (emotions)) that will be entirely dependent on the narrative I've told myself up until that point and the self-fulfilling predictions that my mind is connecting itself to.
For example;
Anxiety ~ Excitement (both aroused emotions)
Anger ~ Determination (both motivational direction emotions)
Stress ~ Focus (both heightened flow emotions)
Your reactions aren't fixed for life.
The brain is neuroplastic by design meaning it can adjust with new responses to situations when consistently taught (internally or externally) e.g. adapting to new environments or learning new skills.
Which is why techniques like regularly reflecting on your own experiences, gratitude journaling and meditation practices are so effective in 'rewiring' your reactions that may have previously been debilitating in certain situations.
It must be said, however, that the brain starts to strengthen its neural pathways at around ~25 years of age, which is why it might feel a little harder to make progress when you're older.
Certainly worth the short-term effort for the long-term gains ;-)
FEATURED SLIDES
@textbooktravel — www.pinterest.co.uk
📍 Chirpan town, Bulgaria 🇧🇬
@autopops — www.pinterest.co.uk
📍 Lofoten, Norway 🇳🇴
@joelpenner — www.pinterest.co.uk
📍 Tulum, Mexico 🇲🇽
ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Justin's a visual development artist based out of Seattle, Washington, having been a Concept Artist at First Strike Games, receiving a Bachelors in Entertainment Design. Justin's passion and drive for artistry is how the works tell stories and how teaching this experience to students around the world perpetuates his vision.
Support the artist by visiting JustinOaksford.com
PRINT OF THE WEEK
Heart Warming — shop.nightslides.com
The cloud formations aligned to show an enlightened heart silhouette as the autumnal sun sets in Croyde Bay, North Devon. The warmth of the October sun was still felt as the last of the surfers caught waves at dusk.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
🎙️ Something Rhymes with Purple — open.spotify.com
I've been enjoying this light-hearted and educational short-show that uncovers fascinating, hidden origins of language and vocabulary to secure your place as an interesting table guest, thanks to the smart woman off of Countdown (Susie Dent) and her eccentric co-host.
🎧 King's Disease by Nas — open.spotify.com
Grappling with a raft of contradictions, contrasting the opulence of his lifestyle with the need for vitality in his message. It’s not perfect, but it’s less an end product and more the search for creative process – by the end, you become convinced the Queens rapper has found his throne. A royal return.
🔊 Baby It's You by London Grammar — open.spotify.com
New music since their collaboration with Flume, ‘Baby It’s You’ carries the trio’s familiar atmospherics and some of the more trance-driven elements akin to early single ‘Metal & Dust’, but also features a new, more colourful Balearic sound and vibe – with the assistance of acclaimed electronic producer George FitzGerald.
WORTH WATCHING
Damn obsessed with the quality of these First Person View (FPV) drone videos, especially now that radio aerials have beefed out considerably. This is 6 minutes of exhilaratingly peaceful flying down waterfalls in the dramatically beautiful scenery of the Norwegian mountains. Make sure to watch it in 4K too for added amazement.
FINAL THOUGHTS 💭
In memory of Josh Taylor ❤️