The Kindness Challenge: 5 tips for a kinder, happier you

Did you know that being kind to others can tend to make you kinder towards yourself? And it comes with the added bonus that it makes your world, and the world around you an altogether much nicer place to live. 

What's not to like? Why not take our kindness challenge and say goodbye to winter with a new Spring in your step!

Here are our top five tips for being kinder this week:-

1. Be grateful - take two minutes of each day to write a list of the things you are grateful for. It's an instant mood-booster.
2. Say it out loud – don’t hold back, express even the small things, like thanking a fellow commuter for letting you get off the train before them. Even small expressions of gratitude can make someone else’s day.
3. Stop judging  - the more you judge others, the more you tend to judge yourself, and who needs that negativity in their life anyway?
4. Stop criticizing, start encouraging – switch your thinking from telling your kids or colleagues or partner what they are doing wrong, to acknowledging the things they did well, and encouraging them to do other things better.
5. Ditch the drama– Ever noticed how some people are so addicted to drama and conflict, that you’ll never win an argument with them? Conflicts are a waste of your time and energy, so don’t get drawn into your colleague’s latest drama over who used the last nespresso. There are better things to spend time on in life.

   So on, take up our kindness challenge, and see how much better you feel by the end of the week.

The Kindness Challenge: 5 tips for a kinder, happier you

Did you know that being kind to others can tend to make you kinder towards yourself? And it comes with the added bonus that it makes your world, and the world around you an altogether much nicer place to live. 

What's not to like? Why not take our kindness challenge and say goodbye to winter with a new Spring in your step!

Here are our top five tips for being kinder this week:-

1. Be grateful - take two minutes of each day to write a list of the things you are grateful for. It's an instant mood-booster.
2. Say it out loud – don’t hold back, express even the small things, like thanking a fellow commuter for letting you get off the train before them. Even small expressions of gratitude can make someone else’s day.
3. Stop judging  - the more you judge others, the more you tend to judge yourself, and who needs that negativity in their life anyway?
4. Stop criticizing, start encouraging – switch your thinking from telling your kids or colleagues or partner what they are doing wrong, to acknowledging the things they did well, and encouraging them to do other things better.
5. Ditch the drama– Ever noticed how some people are so addicted to drama and conflict, that you’ll never win an argument with them? Conflicts are a waste of your time and energy, so don’t get drawn into your colleague’s latest drama over who used the last nespresso. There are better things to spend time on in life.

   So on, take up our kindness challenge, and see how much better you feel by the end of the week.

Book of the Week: F#ck Feelings

So, we don't usually do Book Reviews here at Brisbane Mediations, but we thought we'd round off #Bookweek2016 with a book parents might enjoy.

"F*ck Feelings" is a 2016 book by father and daughter team Michael and Sarah Bennett.

Dr Michael Bennett is a Harvard educated psychiatrist practising in Boston, and his daughter is a comedy writer. They promise to guide you through problems with work, family, self esteem, and our personal favourite "garden variety arseholes". Now who hasn't come across one of those this week?!

Drawing on the most common problems from Dr Bennett's private practice, the duo show as that you can manage any situation life throws at you by:-

• maintaining a sense of humour;
• making your wishes fit your reality;
• controlling your feelings;
• keeping your and behaviours in check; and 
• doing what you think is right.

This is self help with a side of smart-ass. What's not to like?

F*ck Feelings - one shrinks advice for managing all life's impossible problems by Michael I Bennett, MD, and Sarah Bennett is available from amazon.com.au

The Science of Reading - its a workout for your brain!

Ever find yourself saying "I need to put this book down and go and do other things"?

Life gets busy, and sometimes it's the things we really enjoy that get dropped from the "to do" list, like good old fashioned book-reading.

Next time, ease your guilt at spending some time with your latest "can't put it down" piece of fiction by reminding yourself reading is a workout for your brain.

Neuroscientists have discovered that reading novels can improve brain connectivity and function in ways similar to the effects physical exercise has on muscles and muscle memory.

Researchers have found that in much the same way as your muscles remember what you have done before, (and improve the more you use them), you can improve your brain function by reading more fiction.

So next time you're guilting yourself into ditching the reading, remind yourself flexing your brain is as important as your morning run or lunchtime gym session.

Go workout today - you deserve it!

Where do I go when I am in dispute with someone?

For a long time, the answer to this question has usually been to hire a lawyer and start court proceedings.

This often results in a dubious outcome obtained after long delays and very substantial costs that parties can't afford. Relationships are further damaged and children caught in the cross-fire.

Some disputes need a court resolution, but many, particularly in the area of relationships, are better dealt with without the delays and costs of court proceedings.

Mediation offers a way or resolving disputes in a cost effective, timely, and non-confrontational, and above all, respectful way.

Mediators are only a phone call away and have the expertise to guide you through the dispute without with disruption of court proceedings.

At Brisbane Mediations our aim is to keep you out of court and to help you find constructive, cost effective solutions.

Call us today to find out more - you'll be glad you did.

No such thing as a bad book for children

Worried about your kids book choices? Don’t be.

Reading fiction can be so rewarding for adults and children, but its easy to get sucked into only reading books of particular literary merit – and wanting your kids to do the same.

Author Neil Gaiman has warned that well-meaning adults can destroy a child’s love of books and has been quoted as saying that children should be allowed to read whatever they enjoy. Trying to get your kids to read what you want them to read can leave them feeling that reading is an unpleasant task you’ve imposed on them, or, even worse, something really “uncool” that parents want them to do, but they end up hating.

So next time you’re tempted to encourage your kids towards reading something YOU would have chosen for them, why not let them make their own choices at the book store?

They’ll be thanking you for it in later life.