Add some Awe and become Awesome
7 February 2015
One of the core themes of the Neuro-Triangles model is that of mindfulness and its underpinning neurophysiology. Mindfulness in this context is based on four tiers of function: a non-judgmental connection and sensitivity to the broad environment; personal value contribution to the environment and acknowledgement of the value contribution of others; a commitment to living in the present by diminishing the distraction of the fears of tomorrow and the losses of yesterday; gratitude for personal fulfilment and success.
At the neuropsychological level, the emerging mind state is characterized by purposeful motivation, reward, fulfilment, achievement, empathy and trust. Underpinning these mind states is a neurophysiology characterized by raised dopamine and oxytocin. Documented effects of raised oxytocin include mind states of empathy, trust and belief. Oxytocin further increases the levels of dopamine, suppresses the fear-based activity of the amygdala, and decreases the levels of cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines (mediators of inflammation, cardiac disease, diabetes amongst many other effects).
The newest revelation however is that adding AWE to the equation further enhances the oxytocin levels and all its beneficial effects. Awe is variously defined as wonder, glorious, reverence, vast etc. It exists when engaging works of art, great music, natural phenomena and spiritual revelation. The ‘aha’ moment also represents a ‘mini-awe’ moment and therefore the accumulation of ‘aha’ moments also contributes to the benefits of awe.
It follows therefore that in the course of neuromodulation (neurocoaching), if specific attention is given to incorporating awe-inspiring activities into the well-formed outcome, a mind state can be developed which enhances personal gratification which in turn has major beneficial effects upon personal wellness, performance and leadership.
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15 July 2018
Indulge in the virtues of stoicism 24 June 2018
A ghost in the machine 11 June 2018
Death de-mortified 4 June 2018
Exposed! 12 May 2018
A tall story 8 April 2018
Transcending the mist 17 March 2018
Setting the record straight in this brief moment in time 4 March 2018
An authentic desert 11 February 2018
The hateful and the cruel 2 February 2018
Neuroscience is a joke 14 January 2018
To have and to hold 1 January 2018
Superconsciousness 22 December 2017
The Lethal Cocktail of Fear with an Existential Crisis 9 December 2017
Reflections in a cemetery 3 December 2017
Go forth and multiply 15 November 2017
Reflections of a mirror 29 October 2017
Dumbing down 26 October 2017
Avoid the brain drain 4 September 2017
An authentic lead 30 August 2017
Pop 23 August 2017
Respect begins at home 16 July 2017
An awe-full story 3 July 2017
Mushroom soup 2 June 2017
Relativity, relatives and other relationships 29 May 2017
Inflamed and smoked 25 May 2017
An Ode to my Mentor 10 May 2017
Counter-evolutionary 27 April 2017
Inspire 16 April 2017
Lost in an expert fog 12 April 2017
Don't be short-changed 30 March 2017
A brAIve New World 15 March 2017
The problem with Gus 12 March 2017
United in Energy 5 March 2017
Transcending emotions 25 February 2017
In the blink of an eye 25 February 2017
The real story about emotions 27 January 2017
Meditation Re-visited 21 January 2017
As a light to a flame 31 December 2016
Drowning in snake oil 24 December 2016
In the glow of an aura 19 December 2016
Mindfully yours 14 December 2016
Time to transcend the Flat Earth Society 4 December 2016
Prejudice and other violations 20 November 2016
Lighting up the Abyss 12 November 2016
Embrace the Zeitgeist and Transcend 9 November 2016
A Curious Life 8 October 2016
Perhaps we ought to read the stars? 22 September 2016
The truth about truth 27 August 2016
Conscious Integration 21 August 2016
The Toxicity of the Social Media 3 August 2016
Time to Integrate 24 July 2016
I Believe ... 16 June 2016
Crime, punishment and the brain 4 June 2016
The Essence of Effective Leadership 22 May 2016
Engage with the Eloquence of Neuromodulation 15 May 2016
Peer Reviewed Publications: A Trust Issue 28 April 2016
A Cathartic Therapeutic Moment 11 March 2016
Gateway to Consciousness 9 November 2015
Drivers of Success and Effective Leadership 2 November 2015
A Two-Point Solution 20 October 2015
All Black Rugby: The Eloquence of Applied Neuroscience 8 October 2015
In Mitigation of Limiting Deprivation Determinants 20 September 2015
Lamenting our intellectual malaise 13 August 2015
Respectful Intervention 25 July 2015
The Creative Leadership Zone 16 May 2015
Coaching to Pleasure 6 May 2015
Glowing the Void - Thoughts under a May Full Moon 1 April 2015
Context and Integration 11 January 2015
Effective Intervention 3 January 2015
The re-emergence of the right hemisphere 26 November 2014
Where is consciousness? 11 May 2014
A Strong Determinism 15 February 2014
The Physiology of Mindfulness 16 August 2013
The Triple Wheel Combination Model of Value-based Leadership 1 June 2013
Authenticity and Leadership 13 January 2013
The Neurobiology of Empathy 29 November 2012
Neuroplasticity 8 June 2012
The brain as a deterministic blueprint 21 April 2012
That 'Aha' Moment 17 April 2011
Rewarding Value 28 December 2010
The Dangers of Cyber-space 27 November 2010
Enhancing Gratification 23 June 2010
Systemic Degeneration 14 June 2010
Meaning and Purpose 3 June 2010
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