Mental Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Better Sore Than Sorry

Sssssssh! – Are you an Introvert?

I recently watched Susan Cain’s Ted Talk – The Power of Introverts. It’s excellent and has been watched nearly 15 million times. The Ted Talk led me to read her book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.

I wasn’t sure if I was an introvert or not, but reading the book made me realise I was.

I was outgoing at school. Always asking questions, was fairly lively and always engaging in the class.

When I look back to those times I think –

Was that really me? Was I an extrovert at school and now I am an introvert. Continue reading “Sssssssh! – Are you an Introvert?”

Being Present – Pay attention

I heard a great quote the other day –

“Nostalgia is really just wishing you had been more present the first time you were there”

Now, while it may not be exactly true, it does make you think.

What it may be suggesting is…..

Be really present the first time.

I have mentioned “being present” in a number of posts and it is a tricky thing to put your finger on. Does it mean concentrate more, pay more attention, don’t think about the past or the future?

Right now, I am not really sure myself. Continue reading “Being Present – Pay attention”

Inner chatter and your chimp

I mentioned in my review of the Ealing Half Marathon that after weeks of training and planning for the race, I ended up having a few beers the night before. Not blind drunk. I had 3 bottles of Corona over the course of about 4 hours. It didn’t have an effect on me the next day, but it is a good little example of self-sabotage.

I recently read The Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters. He is a psychiatrist and best known for his work with the GB Cycling team. Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton regularly sing his praises. Ronnie O’ Sullivan is also a client. Since there are so many takeaways from the book I wanted to reinforce, I also used a free Audible download to get the audio version so I could re-listen to it on the go.

What the book made me realise is that there is a Chimp (the name used in the book) in my head telling me things that are inconsistent with my goals and what I want to achieve. Continue reading “Inner chatter and your chimp”

The Andy Files – Getting Started/Goals

I recently (a while ago now) shared my blog with my brother and he set me the challenge of how I can to help him with simple fitness and eating habits with the aim of losing one stone.

If you have missed the previous post of The Andy Files you can find it here.

Andy was a very good athlete in his younger years and now has 2 children, works long hours and a long commute. He leaves the house at 5.30am and is not home till 7.00pm. He sees the kids, has some food and then has to go to bed. Finding time is a big issue.

I could jump in and say do this, eat this. But we need to step back, think and plan.

Setting Goals

It’s all a little corporate, but setting goals is important. Continue reading “The Andy Files – Getting Started/Goals”

The Parable of the Mexican Fisherman

I have come across this little story of the fisherman a number of times and it really resonates with me. It has been posted before on a good number of websites looking at finance, happiness and minimalism, so I am definitely not the first to find it and post it. I just want to share it.

I normally try to add takeaways to my posts, but I think I will just let you read this and come to your own conclusions. Let me know what you think in the comments at the bottom.

One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish. Continue reading “The Parable of the Mexican Fisherman”

The best thing you can wear is a smile

A few weeks ago I was walking down the street and across the road was a lady in her 30s, possibly early 40s riding along the pavement on an adult scooter. You know the ones, like the ones all the kids are on, but bigger. She looked to be having great fun. It made me smile. She saw me smiling and smiled back at me. And you know what, a smile from a complete stranger made me feel great.

Scooter — An adult scooter. They look fun!

Smiling is a very powerful act and can have many positive effects on you and others around you.

Smiling makes you more attractive. The more you smile the more attractive your face looks. It also activates other people’s sensory rewards which makes you attractive in their eyes. Continue reading “The best thing you can wear is a smile”

FOMO – The Fear of Missing Out

Wikipedia describes FOMO as “a pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent”

If you don’t think you are subjected to this, then either you are not being entirely truthful or you are super comfortable doing your own thing.

It get it! I have managed to give Facebook a fairly wide berth, but have recently got into Instagram. I tend to follow other fitness bloggers, runners, cyclists, athletes and people getting out there and doing big things. The thing with this is, that when I check my feed, (only once a day) I see all these people out there winning medals, smashing ultras, climbing mountains, cycling with friends and generally living excellent interesting lives while I do my washing.

I am very aware that people only show the shiny interesting bits of their lives and not the family sharing bag of crisps they just destroyed. But I still get it a bit of FOMO, which manifests itself as anxiety.

When I think about though, am I really missing out? Continue reading “FOMO – The Fear of Missing Out”

Superstitions

This week I grabbed my boxer shorts and socks and threw them into my backpack to commute to work on my bike. Once I showered and pulled my socks on, I realised they were odd! Not strange, just different colours. I have the socks that the majority of the male UK population have, from M&S, socks that have different coloured toes and heals so you can always match one sock back to its partner. For many people, this may not be a big deal, but I have not worn odd socks since I can remember.

I think it is just something I have come to do. Why would I wear odd socks? It looks as if I can’t dress myself and shouts – Here is a person who does not care about themselves. But there is a little more to it! Continue reading “Superstitions”

Question and Answer

I like a good Question and Answer, so have decided to put my own together. Here is a little more about me and when makes me tick.

Born and raised: Born in Leeds, Yorkshire. Raised in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.

Current location: South West London.

What changed: I become the fat, unfit friend and got fed up of it. I found BMF, loved it and kept going.

Why blogging: I want to share the things I pick up and help others if I can. I struggle with accountability. If I talk the talk, it helps me walk the walk.

Running history: London Marathon in 2008 and 2010. A few halfs and many 10kms. Continue reading “Question and Answer”

I’ll do it tomorrow – Procrastination

Do you ever hear the phrase “I’ll do it tomorrow” or do you even say it to yourself. It is very, very likely that you have or you do! Yep, procrastination!

Why do we do that? Why do we put things off? Generally it is because we don’t really want to do it.

You need to sort that pile of clothes out on the bedroom floor. The pile has been there for weeks, it has been bugging you, you intended to sort it out but there are a million other things to do that are just a little more interesting and must be done first. Continue reading “I’ll do it tomorrow – Procrastination”