Barry Winbolt's Blog. Posts that will help you get a better handle on life.

Does SM Make You Happier?

March 25th, 2019

‘New’ things always attract criticism. Social Media is/are no longer new, but there are still plenty of pundits that will tell you that SM is bad. They did that with the use of biros in schools (spoils handwriting), and fast food (unhealthy).

Confusing the ‘new’ thing with how people manage to get into difficulty when using it is an error in thinking. Still, some of it is relevant. Coming back to SM, I’ve met quite a few people lately who can’t break the habit.

Grand Designs Start With Imagination

March 23rd, 2019

Many people delay their progress because their vision is simply an unattainable grand design. Wishing and hoping won’t do it, unless you believe it.

Selective Optimism for Pessimists

March 21st, 2019

There are advantages to optimism that are worth considering, but some people are put off because they don’t want to be disloyal to negativity.

Optimism and pessimism are generally seen as opposites, but that doesn’t mean they are mutually exclusive; learning optimism does not mean abandoning negativity. If that is what turns you on, stick with it.

If you tend towards a pessimistic outlook, how about learning selective optimism? That way you can get the benefits and still be true to your negativity.

Work-life happiness

March 19th, 2019

There’s life and there’s the job, right? Wrong. Instead of treating work and home as disjointed parts of the same existence, Anna Tims suggests a change in perception rather than a change in circumstances, and so re-infuse our lives with greater purpose and fulfilment. Work is not necessarily the enemy if it is managed correctly, and it can all be achieved without you having to trek through rain forests, climb a mountain or wear sackcloth.

How to Still Your Mind

March 19th, 2019

The easiest way to think about not thinking is to start doing. Taking steps to become more aware of our physical experience is one way, but there are others. I’ve published a one-pay handout which you can download free.

Which Community Do You Belong To?

March 15th, 2019

In a community (I use the word loosely) there are those who are driven by passion, while others only pay lip service. Which group do you fall into?

A Quandary About Decisions

March 13th, 2019

When you can’t decide you have already decided that you can’t make a decision, which is in itself a decision.

It takes a strong-willed person to be undecided, and it may have unexpected consequences.

Emotional Intelligence – What It Is and Why it Matters

March 12th, 2019

Emotional Intelligence is a set of skills which determine how well you handle yourself in life and in general. It gives you critical advantages, and it can be learned.

Sleep is Sacred 2

March 11th, 2019

Sleep deprivation is said to start when we get 10% less sleep than we need. We now sleep 20% less than we did before Thomas Edison had his light-bulb moment.

A lot of people complain of poor sleep and losing sleep is bad enough, but feeling bad about it just makes things worse. The stress and worry about how loss of sleep will affect us the following day is enough to keep anyone awake at night!

Continuing Professional Development and Personal Growth

March 11th, 2019

CPD does more than add to your technical skills, it helps you grow as a person.

March 25th, 2019

March 23rd, 2019

March 21st, 2019

March 19th, 2019

March 19th, 2019

March 15th, 2019

March 13th, 2019

March 12th, 2019

March 11th, 2019

March 11th, 2019

How to be more Resilient