Friday Musings—24/11/23

If you haven't read it yet, this week's post is all about the "Yes, and" principle, a pillar of improvisation that can help us have better discussions and be more open to new possibilities in business and life.

Now, onto my weekly musings, which will reflect the fact that I've recently been reading a lot and have also taken new steps to protect my mental health.

Book hangover

I'm currently in a phase where I enjoy reading biographies of great figures from the past and fiction (often books that are a mix of both). A few days ago, I finished reading a book about the relationship between the Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti (here you can enjoy some of his sonatas) and the Infanta of Portugal and future Queen of Spain. In addition to being her musical tutor, he became the only person from her time in Portugal to accompany Maria Bragança to Spain, and an odd friendship developed between the two.

I enjoyed the book so much that I found myself really saddened by the fact that I had finished it. This isn't the first time it has happened, so I was curious to know if there was a term to describe this feeling. It turns out there is! Here you can learn why you get a "book hangover", and how to get over it.

Psychotherapy sessions

Coaching helps you focus on your present and your future. At the same time, it encourages you to seek help if there's still past trauma you need to work on. The Positive Intelligence program I'm currently doing has highlighted the fact that there are parts of my past that are still dragging me down. Also, over these past few years, between the pandemic, my ongoing health issues, and some family matters, things haven't been easy either.

I've been feeling the need for some support and decided to find out what the National Healthcare System here can offer. My GP put a request in, yesterday I had my first session with a psychologist, and next week we'll discuss how to move forward. I don't know if it's what I need, but it's better to take action and eventually course-correct than to do nothing. I'm sharing this because, even though there's a lot of talk nowadays about the importance of mental health, it's still not a priority for many people. Plus, the past few years haven't really been easy for anyone, so there's no shame if anyone feels the need for some extra support.

Writing for mental health

Andrew Huberman is a Stanford University neuroscientist and he also has a podcast where he talks about the state of research in many health-related fields. Yesterday, I listened to his latest podcast episode, where he shared a writing protocol that has been shown to significantly improve immediate and long-term health, both mental and physical.

Implementing this protocol sounds pretty straightforward, and its validity has apparently been confirmed by hundreds of scientific studies, so I think it's worth a try. I'll be trying it out, and will share how it goes. If anyone else wants to join me, we can then discuss the results.

Quote of the week ✍️

"Books are a uniquely portable magic". (Stephen King)

That's all from me today. As always, feel free to share any insights or questions you may have in the comments, or send me an email—I'm always happy to chat. You can also book a free call with me to talk about personal development, mental health, positive intelligence, or simply where you're at in your life. Please don't forget to share this with someone who may be interested.

Enjoy your weekend and TTYS

ML