As we start a new year, it pays to reflect on how we make a difference in our vocation and what we may want to do differently with the start of this new year.

For those of you that read this blog regularly you know I focus on helping to resolve conflict with the IRS and others, negotiate winning solutions and inspire leadership. That is how I try to make a positive difference as a speaker, negotiator, facilitator or mediator. I want to offer you some ideas to help you in your vocation in 2018 based on neuroscience.

As a student of neuroscience I subscribe to The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California at Berkeley. They released a very thoughtful article on the above subject and I share a link to the article below. I wanted to share ten highlights with you.

  1. Neuroscientists found that our emotional experiences are far richer than they had thought. These are interrelated, complex and have a definite impact on our mental and physical wellbeing.
  2. Everyone needs a sense of purpose regardless of how old we are. This helps us connect with others and actually makes us healthier.
  3. Scientists know far less about the impact of mindfulness and meditation than they thought. Stay tuned and follow as we learn together and think about applications in your life.
  4. You can probably change your personality and your relationship with others if you want to practice by applying it in your daily activities.
  5. Music can make you a more creative and mindful person whether you play, sing, or listen to music as part of your daily rhythm.
  6. Taking care of others might be good for you and your resilience. This ties into the commentary above about having a sense of purpose.
  7. “ Phubbing” or the act of snubbing someone with your phone instead of interacting with others socially could hurt your relationships.
  8. Kindness at work is contagious. Studies find that by being generous, buying someone coffee, making a conscious effort to reach out to others results in greater gratitude and willingness to help others.
  9. Students of all ethnicities could benefit from diverse classrooms. Taking this beyond the classrooms a Swedish study found those that made efforts to reach out to immigrants reduced prejudice.
  10. Those that actively work to improve their social and emotional learning show improvements in their personal, social and academic lives.

I found these key points to be insightful. I hope you do too. We never stop learning. Consider these findings and by continuing to make a positive difference in the lives of others you may very well have a blessed and happy 2018.

For those of you that would like to read more detail on this topic I would like to suggest you read this article from The Greater Good Science Center. If you find this helpful, please share this with others.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Michael Gregory, NSA, ASA, CVA, MBA and a Qualified Mediator with the Minnesota Supreme Court is an international speaker that helps others resolve conflict, negotiate winning solutions and inspire leaders. Mike services clients business to IRS, business to business and within businesses. On point resources are available online at www.mikegreg.com and check out the blog. Mike may be contacted directly at mg@mikegreg.com or at (651) 633-5311. 

About the author

Mike Gregory is a professional speaker, an author, and a mediator. You may contact Mike directly at mg@mikegreg.com and at (651) 633-5311. Mike has written 12 books (and co-authored two others) including his latest book, The Collaboration Effect: Overcoming Your Conflicts, and The Servant Manager, Business Valuations and the IRS, and Peaceful Resolutions that you may find helpful. [Michael Gregory, ASA, CVA, MBA, Qualified Mediator with the Minnesota Supreme Court]