Blog Archives - Page 11 of 17

What makes Lundy Island an important nature reserve?

What makes Lundy Island a sanctuary for wildlife? Lundy’s kelp forests, reefs, sandy sediments, sea caves and shipwrecks provide space, peace and nourishment for dolphins, spiny lobster, pink sea fans, sunset cup coral and Atlantic grey seals. Important seabird colonies, including Manx shearwaters, guillemots, as well as puffins, have also flourished following the eradication of …

How to deal constructively with triangulation in your friendship or family circle

What are the signs of good communication in a relationship? In general, it’s when interactions, whether on a one-to-one basis or within a group, are direct and allow space for each person to communicate openly. It’s also characterised by tolerance, honesty, empathy and the ability to listen to and respect others’ views and thoughts, while …

How to identify glimmers and improve your mental well-being

What are glimmers and how do they affect your body? Shortcuts to moments of joy, peace and other positive emotions are glimmers – a term coined by Deb Dana, a clinician, consultant and lecturer specialising in complex trauma. While triggers are widely understood as signals to the nervous system of a potential threat, fewer people …

Is it really true that cold showers are good for you?

Do cold showers improve mental health? In theory, exposure to cold can increase the neurotransmitters in the brain that are known to improve mood, such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Research as to whether this translates into reality, however, is limited. One very small study, published in the journal Medical Hypothesis, showed improved mood after …

How to have a healthier perspective on career success and disappointment

Why the reality of success can often differ from the idea of success Clare says ‘When you set your sights on an ambition, you’re more often than not playing out your own internal narrative about what you think achieving the ambition will be like. The reality can often be something very different from the projections …

Why embracing melodrama and big emotions can be healthy

Why are melodramatic people and art so often dismissed? Exaggerated, histrionic, over the top – a melodramatic person creates life in vibrant colours, for there is no incident too tiny to be symbolic of Great Things. Emotions are heartfelt and opinions expressed in extreme ways. And while this can be entertaining from a distance, up …

What is dharma and how can it help bring you contentment?

Where does dharma come from? The origins of dharma go back a long way, to the spiritual literature of India, when the Mahabharata, often referred to as ‘the Great Epic’ or the world’s longest poem, was created. According to Hindu belief, dharma is, in its simplest form, the ‘quality that epitomises what it is to …

How to start metal detecting

How does metal detecting work? The handheld metal detector, first patented by two people, Gerhard Fisher and Shirl Herr, around the same time in the 1920s, works by transmitting an electromagnetic field from the search coil into the ground to detect targets (any metal objects). When an item is detected, the device will produce an …

How to write a memorable anti-hero character

How to identify an anti-hero Antiheroes can be any gender, but they must be the star of their show. As a principal character, they embody the opposite of what you’d expect. In fact, it’s these very qualities that drive their appeal. Antiheroes embody the shadow side of humanity. They’re the parts of ourselves we despise …

How to deal with being scapegoated

When does scapegoating become problematic? Scapegoating occurs in any type of relationship, including those within larger structures, such as families and workplaces. In fact, it’s common to occasionally attempt to deflect responsibility for one’s mistakes, often by blaming someone else. It becomes problematic, however, when the pattern is repeated, especially if the so-called blame is …