It's Life, Jim....

  I stumbled upon a great interview with Johnny Marr who continues to be revered as a ground-breaking guitarist who has played with a host of great artists. Check it out: https://youtu.be/NjY2O92ByNw   “ Johnny Marr Talks Guitars & A Life In Music”. Johnny Marr has a great book out called ‘Marr’s Guitars’ about his guitar collection and the role they have played in his songwriting.    Marr's Guitars available here . Johnny also speaks about his parents’ musical tastes and growing up listening lots of records. Personally, I grew up around a lot of musical diversity, and lived in dread and anticipation of being forced to ‘do a turn’ – i.e sing for the grown-ups at a succession of Christmas parties.  Two of my favourite artists, Johnny Marr and Declan MacManus (AkA ‘Elvis Costello) also had very musical backgrounds. I’ve come to the conclusion that hearing music in one's formative years can have profound neurological benefits, shaping cognitive and em...

     First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—      because I was not a socialist.      Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—      because I was not a trade unionist.      Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—      because I was not a Jew.      Then they came for me—      and there was no one left to speak for me.      Martin Niemöller Pastor Martin Niemöller's transformation from a Nazi sympathizer to a resolute humanitarian is an indelible testament to the power of introspection and moral awakening.  (Martin Niemoller:  https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/gallery/martin-niemoeller) His journey is inextricably linked to his renowned tract, which traces his evolution from complicity to conscience. Initially, Niemöller supported the Nazi regime, but as time passed, h...

Recently, highly paid, apparently trustworthy and skilled professionals all reported a missile strike on a hospital in Gaza which turned out to be an accidental detonation of a Hamas rocket prior to launch. This was pointed out, and the collective media, far from apologising, simply moved on in a herd to the next watering hole. So why do some still trust in everything they read? Do you agree with and accept everything you are told? If the answer is “no” you may not be ‘off the hook’ because you still may believe some things, but totally reject others. How can it be that a person can read a newspaper, be outraged by one factually inaccurate report, but totally passive in their acceptance of other articles? Why, if we are misled once, do we simply accept that everything else is true? In ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’ C.S. Lewis suggested we can trust a witness if their previous track-record is good. Such as when Lucy first claimed to have visited Narnia, and Edmund con...

Years ago, I showed Darren Brown documentary to a psychology class I was lecturing. It discussed the notion that 'Bad Luck' was something we fabricated for ourselves as a belief system, Our 'Bad Luck' is story we tell ourselves about ourselves. (I've put a link at the end). When we 'hard-wire' certain events or situations into our views about luck, we call them superstitions. People are superstitious for a variety of reasons, and it can be understood through a combination of neurology, habit formation, and the narratives we hold. Our brains are wired to seek patterns and make connections, which can lead to superstitious beliefs. When people experience a positive outcome after performing a certain action, their brains may release dopamine, reinforcing the behaviour. This neurological reward system encourages the repetition of superstitious rituals, as the brain associates them with success or safety. as well, we are convinced by what we see: Our Visual Retic...

  On the psychological Benefits of Making Detailed Lists... #personaldevelopment   #lifecoaching   #accountability   #coach The Zeigarnik Effect is a psychological phenomenon that highlights the human tendency to remember and dwell on uncompleted or interrupted tasks more than those that have been successfully accomplished. It was first observed in Berlin by Russian psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik in the 1917. This effect essentially means that unfinished tasks tend to occupy our thoughts, creating a sense of mental tension until they are resolved or completed. In the realm of personal improvement and personal development, the Zeigarnik Effect has profound implications. It underscores the importance of setting and achieving goals effectively. This phenomenon implies that when we have well-defined, detailed goals, we are more likely to experience a sense of accomplishment as we complete each task. This can be particularly beneficial in the context of personal development...