How Happiness Can Help Your Workplace And How To Achieve It Happiness is a personal experience, easily influenced by a number of personal and impersonal factors. In a workplace, it can be easy to lose sight of why it matters to hold happiness as a priority. However, research suggests that happiness could be the cog […]
Most people would not associate the word ‘humour’ with ‘power’. Humour is a positive attribute that is recognised cross-culturally. It is defined as the quality of being amusing or comical, especially when expressed in literature or speech. Positive psychology research suggests that humour is a key component of a happy workplace. This is because it […]
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” – Victor Borge Why Choose Laughter? In our brave new world, it has become harder than ever to foster creativity, connection, and well-being among our work colleagues. However, research has shown that laughter is an untapped force that leaders can use to build genuine human connection and […]
Laughter is the strongest and most effective way of instantly making you or someone else feel better. Although not many people recognise the many mental, social, and physical benefits, that are all brought on by laughing. Using humour daily can really make each day a bit better. Adults are usually so caught up in the […]
Why is Mental and Physical Health Important? In May we have covered the importance of a person’s mental health on their physical health. We know both mental and physical health impact each other significantly. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states that people with mental illnesses are more likely to develop physical illnesses. Bad […]
It is highly like that you, or a colleague of yours, have experienced mental ill-health while in the workplace. 1 in 5 Australians experience mental ill-health in any given year. While factors outside of the workplace may contribute to one’s mental illness, it is often presumed to be the main contributor. However, “unhealthy” work environments, […]
Mental health can significantly affect physical health and performance in sports and athletes. Stress can interfere with performance through increased muscle tension, and reduce wellness. This increases the risk of injury because of attention and coordination changes, and an impact on self-confidence. Through these indicators, we can see how mental health can impact physical health […]
Mental Health Inevitably Impacts Physical Health It may not occur to most people that mental health and physical health are very interconnected. However, a large body of research shows how your brain effects the well-being of the rest of your body. Our thoughts, feelings and behaviours relate to one another and sometimes accumulate certain habits […]
Have you ever felt pressured, controlled or questioned what you are thinking or doing by another person? It may be a sign that manipulation is at play. What is Manipulation? Manipulation is defined as the exercise of ‘unscrupulous’ influence or control over others. Rather, then asking for something in an upfront, direct, truthful and clear […]
What is Possessiveness in Relationships? Possessiveness is defined by collinsdictionary.com as “having or showing an excessive desire to possess, control, or dominate”. Think of possessiveness as a line with two ends. On one end, we can feel uncomfortable when our partner is out at a bar, being hit on by someone else. On the other […]
Power Imbalance Narratives of charismatic men and women are commonly portrayed within the media which use coercive control and manipulation to get what they want. This portrays an extreme and often unrealistic picture of narcissism and controlling behaviours leading to a power imbalance. However, power imbalances in real relationships are often less extreme but are […]
What is Pathological Narcissism? Narcissism has become a term known among almost everyone. For example, in Woody Allan’s 2006 movie, Scoop, when asked what religion he is, he replied that he had converted to narcissism. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) or pathological narcissism is associated with ways of thinking and feeling about oneself and others that […]
Replacing loneliness with togetherness doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. Loneliness is more common than you think, with 1 in 4 Australians reporting they feel lonely according to psychweek.org.au. What is the Difference between Loneliness and Togetherness? Loneliness is the desire to have more social contact than you currently have. It is […]
Togetherness is defined as having quality relationships. When someone has surrounded themselves with quality relationships this helps their social, emotional, and physical health thrive. But what happens to your sense of togetherness when impacted by social anxiety and COVID-19? These can have a significant impact on your health and the way you socialise. Why […]
International Women’s Day is dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women (International Women’s Day 2022a). It is also a day to encourage change and development for women all over the world. The theme for 2022 is “#BreakTheBias” which aims to leave gender bias in the past. Instead, celebrating difference in […]
Did you know that loneliness increases early death at the same rate as smoking 15 cigarettes a day? So, What is Togetherness? Togetherness is the social, emotional, and physical act of having and maintaining quality connections and relationships with others. Our mental health impacts our physical health. Togetherness has never been more important than during […]
You may have heard the saying (or have said), “I am losing my patience!!”. What does this saying around losing our patience actually mean? If patience is described as “waiting calmly for what I want”, losing patience means we are no longer calm, and no longer waiting. We have given into our impulses (our thoughts […]
1. Get in your Body…Slowly Take five slow breaths. Focus on breathing from your belly and count each breath in and out. Try to slow it down…. Get up and do your favourite stretches Walk or stand barefoot on grass or sand or lie down in a forest or on a beach Place your feet […]
The practice of staying grounded is key to maintaining stability and calmness in the face of the chaos and uncertainty. In my view, this quote from Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning captures the benefit of being grounded perfectly: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms […]
What is actually going on for me? During our day-to-day reality, we may often experience strong emotions. These emotions may cause anxiety, restlessness, burnout, and other negative feelings. Grounding yourself in the present moment is a simple, evidence-based technique that can quickly soothe unpleasant emotions and provide psychological benefits. Focusing on Our Reality Focusing […]
We Didn’t Start the Fire What is Gaslighting? Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse whereby an individual will manipulate the targeted person into believing they’re wrong, even when they’re right, causing them to doubt their perception of reality. The target may be convinced that their memories are wrong or that their feelings are […]
Women’s Equality Day Special What is Women’s Equality Day? Women’s Equality Day is an American celebration of allowing women to vote. Just because it’s American doesn’t mean we can not take this time to reflect on what Australian women have achieved. Women’s Equality Day is a day of reflection. A day of appreciating the sacrifices […]
‘Stress-Mas’: The Stressors of Christmas Christmas can be a very stressful time for some people for a variety of reasons. Maybe you are finding this year difficult or had a difficult holiday experience previously, this can make you worried and stressed for the coming Christmas. On the other hand, you might enjoy Christmas but […]
Identifying Identity What is Identity? Identity can be viewed as the unique puzzle pieces that when put together, make you, you. Identity includes your memories, experiences, values, beliefs, relationships, strengths, weaknesses and many more. Your identity is something you can’t control. However, you can help it develop over time as you learn, grow and experience […]
Holiday Stress The holiday season is here. It is a time to make good memories with family and friends and to celebrate getting through to the end of one turbulent year that was 2021. Despite the premise of relaxation and fun, the holiday season can also bring about increased stress. With Christmas and the New […]
Christmas can be a time dedicated to catching up with family and friends and organising events, lunches and dinners. Sometimes amongst all the chaos and company it’s hard to wind down, relax and spend time with yourself. Winding down across the Christmas period is a great way to recharge and refresh yourself for the […]
Christmas is a period for everyone to enjoy. People can relax, come together with family and loved ones, reflect on the year that has passed and share their goals for the year ahead. Being a part of Christmas festivities can also be beneficial for mental health. It encourages positivity and socialising as well as […]
Christmas can be a very stressful time for some people for a variety of reasons. Maybe you are finding this year difficult or had a difficult holiday experience previously, this can make you worried and stressed for the coming Christmas. On the other hand, you might enjoy Christmas but just find small aspects of the […]
Returning to Socialising After Lockdown Over the last year and half our country, and the broader global community have become used to living in a state of lockdown isolation. The limits of our conversations over this time have been reduced to nodding along in Zoom meetings. Previously, we enjoyed chatting with housemates before dissolving to […]
What is Flow? To be in a state of flow is to be utterly absorbed in an activity, with time seeming to pass in the blink of an eye. It is a mental state in which one’s whole being is completely immersed, typically in an activity which one enjoys and is skilled at. While flow […]
Flow and Organisations Organisational cultures are transforming and shifting to new models. New importance is being placed on employee well-being and the need for a culture that supports employee mental health and engagement. Organisations that only focus on profitability have seen their employees lose their drive to work, particularly where their job is viewed as […]
What is Flow? Have you ever been so absorbed by an activity that you lost all sense of time? Were you ever so focused on your task at hand that all your worries drifted away? If so, you may have been in a mental state psychologists refer to as, ‘flow’. According to psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, […]
There is extensive research suggesting that members from Generation Z (Gen Z) are growing up in an age of increased stress, anxiety and depression. Members of Gen Z are individuals who are born between 1995 and 2010. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), a mere 45% of Gen Z report that their mental health […]
What is a Millennial? Millennials are people born between the years 1981 and 1996 during the rise of technology, societal changes and rapidly increasing mental health concerns. Millennials are usually known as the narcissistic generation or the ‘me generation’ due to the need for instant gratification, their high standards for others, themselves and life. Millennial […]
The sandwich generation is the lesser-known generational category. It doesn’t refer to the birth year but instead, middle-aged individuals who support their parents as well as their own children. People within this generation are usually women in their mid to late 40’s who are also employed and caring for ageing parents as well as children […]
You’ve probably heard people referring to others by their generation. There has been an increase in young people using humour and stereotypes to address different generations. October is Mental Health Month, here at Veretis we will be sharing an insight into the mental health landscape of generations spanning from Baby Boomers to Generation Z. Together […]
Imposter Syndrome (IS) is the continuous psychological belief that you are a failure or a fraud. People with IS constantly brush of their achievements, qualifications, intelligence or social skills and believe they don’t actually meet the standards other people expect of them or they have for themselves. It’s important to note that IS is not […]
Imposter Syndrome What Imposter Syndrome Can Look Like The concept of Imposter Syndrome is the idea of someone not being able to internalise their success. They believe their success or accomplishments are dependent upon external factors. Such as luck, fluke or even the stress they applied to their preparation. There are five patterns that have […]
Can you Identify the Imposter? Jessica is starting a new job today, she has recently graduated from university and is entering the work force. After five years of studying, Jessica is allowed to feel nervous about this new change, that’s normal right? A thought pushes its way to the front of her mind, ‘You shouldn’t […]
We have been faced with many challenges as a community over the past few years and sometimes it can be hard to know if people are really ok. Technology has been a fantastic way to connect with friends, family members and colleagues even when we can’t physically see them, but distance can make it hard […]
What is Women’s Equality Day? Women’s Equality Day is an American celebration of allowing women to vote. Just because it’s American doesn’t mean we can not take this time to reflect on what Australian women have achieved. Women’s Equality Day is a day of reflection. A day of appreciating the sacrifices of the women in […]
What is an identity? How do we know what parts of our identity are truly ours and not a projection of those around us? The different aspects of creating an identity can make it a very difficult thing to do. Especially in a time of change or stress which is when the assurance of who […]
What is an Identity Crisis and How Can it Occur? An identity crisis is a developmental life event where a person questions themselves, their purpose and their place in the world around them. This is a time of deep analysis, reflection and exploration of various ways a person sees themselves. An identity crisis is not […]
What is Identity? Identity can be viewed as the unique puzzle pieces that when put together, make you, you. Identity includes your memories, experiences, values, beliefs, relationships, strengths, weaknesses and many more. Your identity is something you can’t control. However, you can help it develop over time as you learn, grow and experience new things. […]
Changing Your Habits of Gaslighting and Recovering From Gaslighting Do you stoke the flame? Gaslighting can be difficult to identify, it can be even harder to identify if you’re the gaslighter. The main concept of gaslighting is an assertion of power and control. Denying other people’s feelings and perspectives and further reiterating yours is the […]
The Consequences of Gaslighting and How to Stand up for Yourself What is Gaslighting? Have you ever found yourself in a relationship or friendship with someone who is constantly denying their actions or words? You know they said they would do something or that they went somewhere, you know you heard it or saw it […]
Gaslighting Gaslighting has recently come to light on social media and is being increasingly spoken about. It’s not a new concept though, it’s been around for a long time and was actually named after the 1944 movie, ‘Gaslight’ where the husband manipulates his wife into thinking she is losing her sanity. Gaslighting is a form […]
What is Gaslighting? Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse whereby an individual will manipulate the targeted person into believing they’re wrong, even when they’re right, causing them to doubt their perception of reality. The target may be convinced that their memories are wrong or that their feelings are overreactions, leading them to rely on […]
The world is an unpredictable place, it always has been. However, the recent experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly heightened this experience for us humans. So how do we stay positive? This might sound counter intuitive, but one strategy is to let yourself go with your thoughts (to a point), with the aim of […]
The pandemic has placed us in a brave new world where we have been challenged to adapt and survive in an environment that is continuously changing and leaving us on edge. What’s going to happen today? Will there be another case? Should I wear a mask? This constant state of uncertainty has generated frequent feelings […]
The Need for Adaptability In an ever-changing world, where no day is the same, the ability to adapt to our surroundings is quickly becoming vital, although a difficult skill to possess. In the wake of growing global civil unrest, climate change, financial debt, and a global pandemic; feelings of angst, stress and more than a […]
Ups & Downs of Living in a Pandemic COVID-19 has forced us to acquire new knowledge and skills to assist with generating a new way of thinking that accommodates our current, ever-changing times. We never know when or how our everyday life is going to be changed. What may have made sense last year, may […]
There are three important questions to ask yourself in any relationship who am I? where am I going? and, who is coming with me? Who am I? Is a big question, and one that is both not stagnant, and answered by a series of other questions such as “what do I like/dislike?” Where am I […]
When it’s time to say goodbye… Toxic friendships can be tough to deal with, and even recognise at times. Whether it’s the inability to connect on a level you once did, or perhaps you’ve merely grown apart and they treat you differently as a result. Recognising when people are taking more from you than they’re […]
Have you ever been in a situation where a friend reaches out and asks for advice on a problem they’re dealing with? By listening and responding to your friend you are providing something called social support. Social support is the assistance that is accessible and provided by your social network to aid in difficult situations. […]
Humans are inherently social beings. We interact with different people in different ways every day. Hence, connections and relationships are an essential component to our overall health, well-being and wellness. So what is social health? Social health is our ability to interact and build valuable and meaningful relationships with others. It involves how comfortable we […]
What is Memory? Memory is widely understood to be defined as the process of learning, storing and retrieving information. There are two overarching types of memory which are then subdivided depending on the kind of stimuli (senses) and how it’s recalled. ‘Temporary’ memories or information that is stored for a short period of time is […]
Control your thoughts, clear your mind. “Mind control”– it’s the stuff from science fiction movies typically with sinister overtones. In its purest form though, it’s simply about training your brain to serve you better. Previous blogs have covered ‘exercising your mind’ and ‘your thoughts aren’t necessarily facts’. In this post, we’ll focus on controlling your […]
Can you tell the difference between a fact and an opinion? Sometimes it can be difficult to see the difference. Often, we respond to our thoughts as if they reflect facts about the world, but they more often represent opinions or assumptions. Being able to tell the difference between facts and opinions is a valuable […]
The mind like any muscle, must be exercised. When we think about our health and well-being, we tend to focus on our physical health. Thus, we typically neglect the health of our mind, which is a critical aspect of our overall well-being. Whilst a healthy body keeps us active, fit and well. A healthy mind […]
Ever faced a challenge so big it fills you with terror? Where the sheer size of the what you have to deal with makes you feel completely overwhelmed? What Happens? For a start, you might feel bit of a “brain freeze”. The brain’s pre-frontal cortex (where logic, problem solving, analysis, prioritisation take place) goes off line, and our amygdala fires up the fight, flight, freeze response. The perception of […]
So often, in everyday life, we are faced with important decisions concerning new challenges. These could include applying for a new course at university or deciding on taking a new job. These kinds of challenges are a vital component of our ability to grow and develop as an individual. The more we test ourselves, including […]
Challenges Stimulates Growth and Progress As young humans, we are faced with daily challenges. From learning to roll, to crawl, and then to walk, none of which are easy feats. All have obvious (i.e. new physical capabilities), and not so obvious consequences (i.e. wiring of neuron pathways) that ultimately stimulate growth and progress. Have you […]
A health crisis. A marriage breakdown. A death of a close friend. A workplace crisis. A global pandemic. Life is no doubt full of life challenges. Challenges that are unexpected and hard to overcome. Challenges are what makes life interesting and overcoming them makes life meaningful. It’s inevitable that you will experience adversity and challenges […]
Empathy What is Empathy? Social researchers normally define empathy as the ability to sense other’s emotions and the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. According to vulnerability researcher Brene Brown, the empathetic person will recognize the struggle of someone else without minimizing it, and be able to communicate a powerful sense […]
So, how do you bring compassion to the workplace? Throughout this month, we have dived into what compassion is, the kind of power it holds, and how we can be kinder to ourselves. But an area we are yet to explore is an area where we spend the majority of our week. That being the […]
Self-Compassion Self-compassion is often associated with shame and dismissed as something that leads to self-indulgence or self-pitying. It may be avoided as it forces us to think of times we were not compassionate to ourselves or when others weren’t compassionate to us. However, it is a real and important thing. It helps us internalise stressors […]
Self-Compassion In our earlier blog post, we explored how to be compassionate towards others and ourselves. In this blog, we will take a closer look at self-compassion, how self-compassion is different to self-esteem, and how we can use self-compassion to move beyond self-criticism. This post is largely informed by the research of psychologist Kristen Neff, […]
In order to understand what it means to be compassionate; we must first understand the different approaches people adopt in relating to another’s distress. Problem Solver Imagine you have just separated from your partner. An individual who encourages you to take action, without properly acknowledging the gravity of the situation, might be considered a ‘problem […]
At some stage of your life, you’ve likely used the terms extrovert and introvert to label another, even yourself. Imagine this, you’re at your work Xmas party. An hour into the social gathering, you have recognised that one person, Matthew, has been doing the most talking by a significant margin. You feel yourself become indignant, […]
The hard part of leadership is leading others. It’s not a skill we learn at university. Unless you’re in a services-based industry which requires you to interact with others frequently, there’s limited “leadership skills” we learn while on the job. The easiest way to begin setting yourself (and others) up for success through your leadership […]
Different Styles and Perspectives The benefit of working as a team is not simply that “many hands make light work”. But it brings different perspectives and approaches to the tasks your team completes and problems they solve. An abundance of difference helps perpetuate innovation, breeds efficiency and quality through allowing different people’s strengths to complete […]
It is truly amazing how differently we all view the world. How our likes, dislikes, skills and preferences shape the way we think, feel and behave. We are all a kaleidoscope of different attributes, but it’s possible to arrange these differences into key categories. For some people, arranging our attributes, styles and personalities into groups, […]
As part of our focus on radical open mindedness it is necessary to look at our ego. This impacts the way we make decisions, form opinions, and hold discussions with others (in particular, colleagues). So before you tune out, thinking this article is not relevant to you because “I don’t have an ego, I am […]
Not succumbing to an opportunity to address and improve As humans, we often find ourselves overthinking and reliving certain situations. This could be a situation that transpired at work, or something that occurred several years ago that still may cross our minds. During this time of reflection and contemplation, emotions may resurface that cause a […]
Making Positive Use Out of Disagreements If you’ve read our blog on this months topic, Radical open-mindedness (if you haven’t I suggest you check it out!) then you are aware of this skill made famous by Ray Dalio. It allows us to be open to alternative perspectives and willing to accept that you might be […]
Comparative to many of our monthly topics, radical open mindedness is relatively unknown, however, being able to harness it as a skill you bring to your personal and professional life provides tremendous benefit. Open mindedness, particularly radical open mindedness is about being open to alternative perspectives and willingness to accept that you might be wrong. […]
This is a timely blog post with Xmas and New Year resolutions just around the corner! We all understand, hopefully, that life is a journey and if we are to be as successful as we are capable of becoming in any meaningful pursuit/s in our life then we need to have the resilience, perseverance and […]
When faced with some threat in our environment, our autonomic nervous system, one of the major neural pathways in the brain, becomes activated. Activation of this neural circuity triggers our ‘flight or fight’ response. This response is our natural response to danger. Think of a time when you were confronted with a terrifying situation. What […]
Hi, this is Oliver, your (stress) instructor….. Doooooooowwwwwwwwwn up, doooooowwwwwnnn up, come on more energy! In many areas of our lives we put ourselves under pressure and view this as a positive thing. We see the purpose of this exercise and what pursuing through that stress will ultimately reward us with. However, when this pressure […]
What is Mental Fitness? Have you ever thought about how mentally fit you are? You’ve probably heard of the buzz term “mental toughness”, but have you heard of “mental fitness?” Mental fitness is the ability to live life in a satisfying and sustainable way that enables you to cope with day-to-day challenges. It’s not just […]
Healthy Families, Healthy Homes Mental health is an integral part of overall wellbeing for children. Like adults, the mental health of children is not static; it is a continuum where one can be in a state of optimal mental health, poor mental health or somewhere in between. At such pivotal and influential ages, there are […]
selfish /ˈsɛlfɪʃ/ adjective (of a person, action, or motive) lacking consideration for other people; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure. It’s not always easy to put oneself first, particularly when you have other people depending on you. Women active in their different communities, mothers, daughters, wives, and girlfriends have […]
When asked, “What do you really do to take care of yourself?”; many of us struggle to answer this. Instead we are guilty of persisting through a day of work, completing errand after errand, attending to others over ourselves until it gets to the end of the day, leaving ourselves feeling exhausted, drained and depleted. […]
Where does Men’s Mental Health currently stand? It has long been the understanding that men struggle to acknowledge when mental health issues are present and are less likely to reach out for support. Now, I don’t wish this blog to be another “men should reach out for support” or “mental health challenges are part of […]
Going beyond the conversation of asking if someone is OK, is a difficult step to take. It takes a bundle of courage to simply ask, “are you okay?” However, it takes a stack of bravery to go a step further and genuinely help someone who isn’t okay. Initially when asking if someone is okay, people […]
As you may have heard many times, this year has proven to be one of the most significant years in our lives. We have gone from Bushfires, to Drought, to Floods and now the almighty Coronavirus. At the beginning of the year, we all focused on how we could achieve our new year resolutions and […]
R U OK? R U OK day (Sept 10), is a terrific day encouraging us all to look out for each other and “check-in” on how we’re traveling regarding our mental health and wellbeing. Obviously 2020 has thrown up unique challenges which at some point have tested us all in very different ways. With a […]
Something in your gut has told you that your friend, family member, colleague or acquaintance, may not be doing so well – it could be a change in something they are doing, saying, or something that you’re aware of is going on in their life. You could ignore your gut and brush it off, or […]
