BRAINS + HOW
THEY WORK
NeuroEducation Resources + More
“The #1 Thing You Need to Know About How Your Brain Works”
By Colleen Companioni / NeuroKind (formerly Rowan Coaching)
This 20-page white paper starts with a brief introduction to brain-based coaching (for all your friends and family who have asked, “You have a *what* kind of coach?”), before diving into the fundamental neuro-knowledge bomb that underlies all my work. It concludes with some thought-provoking reflection questions and free-writing space to capture your thoughts.
PRACTICAL COMPASSION
By Jennifer Mascaro, Mind + Life Institute
Research by the Mind & Life Institute delves into how compassion training, such as Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT), affects emotional regulation and cognitive functions. The study found that compassion practices enhance emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility, which helps individuals better manage stress and discern problems clearly. Participants, including medical students, reported increased compassion, reduced depression, and improved overall mental well-being after undergoing CBCT, indicating that compassion can significantly enhance cognitive capacity and problem-solving abilities.
STRESS + THE BRAIN
by Ipek Ozonder Unal and Cetin Ordu, MDPI - Psychosocial Oncology
This study explored the psychological mechanisms influencing depression and anxiety in cancer patients, particularly focusing on self-compassion, alexithymia, and cognitive emotion regulation. It found that self-compassion significantly aids in emotional regulation and resilience, which in turn positively impacts cognitive capacities. The research showed that higher self-compassion leads to better emotional regulation, reducing depression and anxiety. This creates a mental space conducive to clearer thinking and problem-solving.
Self-Compassion: Theory, Method, Research, and Intervention
by Kristin D. Neff, Annual Review of Psychology
(I highly recommend this super-comprehensive dive into the research on self-compassion!) A study by Kristin Neff and colleagues found that higher levels of self-compassion are associated with improved executive functioning, including enhanced problem-solving abilities. The research indicates that self-compassion reduces self-criticism and stress, which can impair cognitive processes. By fostering a kinder and more supportive internal dialogue, individuals can better manage their emotions and maintain cognitive flexibility, which is crucial for effective problem-solving and decision-making (Self-Compassion).
Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function
By Amy F. T. Arnsten, Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Research on chronic stress demonstrates that it weakens prefrontal cortex connectivity, impairing attentional control and cognitive functions. This disruption makes individuals less capable of effective decision-making and problem-solving, highlighting the significant impact of prolonged stress on brain function.
HUMAN CONNECTION + COMMUNICATION
The Power of Vulnerability
A TED Talk by Brené Brown
In publishing and graphic design, Lorem ipsum is a placeholder text commonly used to demonstrate the visual form of a document or a typeface without relying on meaningful content. Lorem ipsum may be used as a placeholder before the final copy is available. In publishing and graphic design, Lorem ipsum is a placeholder text commonly used to demonstrate the visual form of a document or a typeface without relying on meaningful content. Lorem ipsum may be used as a placeholder before the final copy is available.
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg PhD (Author), Deepak Chopra (Foreword)
If “violent” means acting in ways that result in hurt or harm, then much of how we communicate—judging others, bullying, having racial bias, blaming, finger pointing, discriminating, speaking without listening, criticizing others or ourselves, name-calling, reacting when angry, using political rhetoric, being defensive or judging who’s “good/bad” or what’s “right/wrong” with people—could indeed be called “violent communication.”
Nonviolent Communication is the integration of four things:
Consciousness: a set of principles that support living a life of compassion, collaboration, courage, and authenticity
Language: understanding how words contribute to connection or distance
Communication: knowing how to ask for what we want, how to hear others even in disagreement, and how to move toward solutions that work for all
Means of influence: sharing “power with others” rather than using “power over others”