This is a slightly different episode, but nonetheless important when thinking about exploring human behaviours at work. “These days when we’re not only spending all our time in our ‘heads’ but are lost in our phones!” In this episode my guest and Master Sophrologist, Annette Ebbinghaus explores this methodology called Sophrology which is a dynamic practice, more so than the likes of yoga or pilates, to support well being and good mental health. Some people coined sophrology as “Happiness Training” - encouraging the production of more dopamine and happy hormones which studies have shown are more effective than ‘happiness pills’. It is a scientific approach, developed by a medical doctor. KEY TAKEAWAY What is Sophrology? “Sophrology basically stands for the study of consciousness and harmony, or the study of consciousness and peace… it was started in the 1960s, by Alfonso Caycedo. He was a neuro psychiatrist… he was working at the hospital in Madrid and he was working with clients who had some sort of mental disorder… He didn’t like how these people were begin treated… So he developed this system, there's 12 different levels, and in each level they have associated techniques. Through taking them through all of these levels, he basically got them off of all their medications” “…Each practice includes breath work, conscious awareness” Self-Awareness “We have to assess situations and in business… it's the business of assessment, right? You think about it… every business does some form of risk assessment… but that whole process of constantly doing assessment means we're constantly judging… And judgement is something as humans; we have to judge whether a situation is safe or not… that comes down to our primal selves… I would say that, we've brought that too much into business, when it comes to the whole capitalist model of… grow more, sell more, being more everything has to be more… you take a step back, you say, well, am I not enough as I am?” Self-Acceptance and confidence “And at a young enough age we need to expose ourselves to failure. So that we can learn that it's okay to fail… you have the ability to do that analysis, and to figure out ‘what I'm good at what I'm not’, but you need to have enough experiences, when you're young, in order to have certain level of resilience as an adult.” Practising these skills “So becoming aware that you have these is key, but also becoming aware that not everybody thinks the same way that you do. And not everybody is motivated the same way that you do… I'm need to understand how my communication style is impacting them. And that always comes down to the emotion because the emotion that drives the behaviour” ABOUT ANNETTE EBBINGHAUS Having emersed herself in her Masters training twice, Sophrology expert Annette challenges the ongoing global business requirement of constantly needing to be ‘more’ - ‘grow more, sell more, be more’. The constant human need to scan for danger, to make judgements, to remain ‘safe’ against perceived danger, driven by our primitive human behaviour of scanning for danger to stay alive. The human tendency to focus on the negative, the danger rather than the positive. Annette Ebbinghaus is a globally sought-after mental fitness coach, master sophrologist, and motivational speaker. She draws from 30+ years of experience and is founder of the beChill® Exams & Life programs for adolescents. Annette works with the link between mind, body, and consciousness to boost resilience, performance, overall wellbeing, and aids in the self-development of adults and adolescents. Educated in several fields, she began her professional career as a civil engineer and after an MBA shifted to sustainable development in business and ultimately into stress management and wellbeing. Annette teaches and mentors sophrologists and is an active charter member of the Inspired Women Lead global women’s leadership program. Annette’s business hero: Florence Scovel Shinn CONNECT WITH ANNETTE WEBSITE: www.trulybalance.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annetteebbinghaus/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trulybalance/, Twitter: https://twitter.com/EbbinghausA Contact: annette@trulybalance.com Publications: Inspired Journeys Book – Women of Switzerland ABOUT THE HOST – ALLI SPARGO Alli is the mother of two daughters and a son, a wife, a daughter and a sister. She is also an executive leadership coach who passionately believes that every individual has the potential to be who they want to be, and do what they want to do (she is living proof of that!): to BE the BEST version of themselves. Alli specialises in behavioural performance as an executive leadership and systemic team coach. Her breadth of business experience, together with her coaching and facilitation expertise, enables her to enhance leadership capability and ...
