Editors note: The Gazette sports staff has compiled lists of its top 15 favorite sports movies. Each day, a different staffer will share some insight into one of their favorites. Some of them are classics, watched and re-watched time and time again. But for a few, maybe well be able to convince some of you to check it out for the very first time.

How could it not be Brians Song?

A Chicago Bears fan for as long as I can remember, this movie still chokes me up today. I watched the movie speech given by Billy Dee Williams as Gale Sayers again this week and, well, I felt like a 11-year-old watching it for the first time.

The movie speech was what Sayers actually said on May 25, 1970, while receiving the 1969 George S. Halas Courage Award.

... He has the heart of a giant and that rare form of courage that allows him to kid himself and his opponent cancer, Sayers/Williams said. He has the mental attitude that makes me proud to have a friend who spells out the word courage 24 hours a day, every day of his life.

You flatter me by giving me this award, but I tell you that I accept it for Brian Piccolo. It is mine tonight, it is Brian Piccolos tomorrow ... I love Brian Piccolo, and Id like all of you to love him, too. Tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him.

Picollo died less than a month later at the age of 26.

The original Brians Song movie was released in 1971. A remake was made in 2001, but I couldnt bring myself to watch it. The original is a classic.

Truth be told. I dont remember the story as it unfolded. I was 4 years old when the Chicago Bears drafted Sayers out of Kansas in 1965. I was 11 when he played his final season. Ive seen the highlights of his career, however, and am convinced he is one of the all-time great running backs in the NFL. He played only six seasons and averaged 5.0 yards per carry.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT

The movie starring a very young Williams, James Caan as Piccolo and Jack Warden as Halas was based on Sayers book I Am Third. Their friendship was controversial in the 1960s a black man and a white man not only becoming great friends, but rooming together on the road. The movie tells that story, as well as Piccolos relentless prodding to get Sayers back in shape after a knee injury.

That 1970 speech was after the 69 season when Sayers won the Comeback Player of the Year Award.

But mostly, this movie is a story about friendship, about the love two teammates can share.

This movie not only appealed to fans of the Chicago Bears and football fans all around the world, it was the most-watched movie on U.S. television in 1971 and, at the time, the most watched made-for-TV movie ever.

The theme song The Hands of Time also was one of the most popular of the time and still rings in peoples ears. Listen to it and it will bring back fond memories and maybe even a few tears.

1. Brians Song

2. Hoosiers

3. Rocky

4. The Legend of Bagger Vance

5. Bad News Bears

6. Without Limits

7. Caddyshack

8. A League of Their Own

9. Major League

10. Field of Dreams

11. North Dallas Forty

12. The Blind Side

13. The Longest Yard (original)

14. Remember the Titans

15. Foxcatcher

Comments: (319) 368-8696; jr.ogden@thegazette.com

10:16AM | Thu, May 07, 2020

12:58PM | Wed, May 06, 2020

07:00AM | Wed, May 06, 2020

View More SPORTS MOVIES Articles

Read more:
Best sports movies: 'Brian's Song' is about more than football - it's about friendship - The Gazette

Take time to find the cure that is within you

You have within you a powerful ability to improve your physical and emotional health. A positive mental attitude combined with optimism has been linked to strengthening your immune system. Norman Cousins is a perfect example of this phenomena. Norman, a magazine editor, was 49 years old when he was diagnosed with a crippling connective tissue disease. He was told that he only had a 1 in 500 chance of recovery. Cousins had previously done research on the impact of human emotions on physiology. He had a firm belief that positive emotions were a key component to fighting disease. Cousins created a recovery program which included massive doses of laughter brought on by watching comedy films and television shows. He discovered that 10 minutes of intense laughter gave him at least two hours of pain free sleep. When the pain set in again, cousins would resume watching the comedies. Cousins laugh therapy aided his full recovery from the debilitating disease. In addition to Norman Cousins experience, research shows laughter decreases stress hormones, increases 'good' cholesterol, and reduces artery inflammation. You can actually laugh your way to physical and mental health. So, look for the humor which exists in most situations. A good sense of humor is an integral part of the cure within you. The placebo effect demonstrates the power of your mind to cure ailments. When new drugs are tested, two groups of test subjects are used. One group gets the new drug, while the other receives a placebo. The test subjects do not know which group they are part of. At the conclusion of the drug test, the percentage of people who took the drug and saw improvements is compared to the percentage of the placebo group who also experienced improvements. A fascinating aspect of these studies is that there is a percentage of people on the placebo who experience the same benefits as those taking the drug. This is incontrovertible evidence of your minds ability to cure various ailments. This power also boosts the effectiveness of medications. People who take medications have better results when they believe the medications will work. Your mind has an amazing ability to facilitate your wellbeing when directed by a positive attitude. What you say to yourself has a tremendous impact on your physical and mental wellbeing. Positive self-talk boosts the cure within you. Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own negative self-talk. Yet, too many people regularly say awful things to themselves. Dont internalize negative emotions. Dont connect a negative emotion with a physical ailment. For example, dont say to yourself, Im so upset I have a stomach ache. If you do this you are inviting the ailment into your body. Additionally, negative emotions are linked to lowered immunity. Release negative emotions instead of hanging on to them. Exercise enhances the cure within you by lowering stress. If you are stressed out because you dont know how to deal with a problem, just go and get some exercise. Even if you dont feel like it, just go do it. You will feel better. Acknowledge the powerful cure that is already within you. Stop any behavior which interferes with it. Focus on the strategies which enhance it.

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit http://www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. Email Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper. 2020 Bryan Golden

View post:
Dare to live without limits Week of 5/11/20 - Press Publications Inc.

Photo: Mint Images | Paul Edmondson | Getty Images

There Will Be 4 Identity Types in This Recovery. Which One Are You?

The following article is based on excerpts from Ben Angels book, Unstoppable: A 90-Day Plan to Biohack Your Mind and Body for Success. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes Noble | iBooks | IndieBound. And be sure to order The Unstoppable Journal, the only journal of its kind based on neuroscience, psychology, and biohacking to help you reach your goals.

Nearly half of adults in the United States reported that their mental health had been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus, according to the latest Kaiser Family Foundation poll. Adverse mental-health effects due to social isolation may be particularly pronounced among older adults and households with adolescents, as these groups are already at risk for depression or suicidal ideation.

The pandemic is likely to have both long- and short-term implications for mental health and substance use. Those with mental health concerns pre-pandemic, and those newly affected, will likely require mental health- and substance-use services. Keeping this in mind, you must know where you sit on the mental-health continuum to understand how it is affecting you physically. When people undergo traumatic stress either mentally or physically, it creates a pattern within the body that soon emanates into psychological and biological side effects. You can now track where you fall into this continuum by taking an Identity Quiz on how well you are coping with your current situation. We have been able to survey more than 50,000 entrepreneurs and found out 54 percentof them fall into the two lowest categories:The Guardian and The Defender.

Related: 5 Ways to Boost Your Immune System During the Coronavirus Outbreak

There are four identity types in total:The Catalyst, The Synergist, The Guardianand The Defender. Your goal is to ensure your physical and psychological energy stays above a 50 percentcharge,the state at which you become a conscious creator and feel motivated, focused, and driven to achieve your goals.

When you fall below this state, you switch into a state of self-preservation mode where you run out of physical and emotional energy. This is where your fight-or-flight response is triggeredand your brain prioritizes vital bodily functions over personal or career goals.

Below, you're going to learn which identities we need to be most concerned about and what you can do to change your identity to help you through these harrowing times.

Operating at 0- 25 percentof their capacity. Traits of Defenders:

Rely heavily on caffeine or other stimulants to make it through the day.

Food cravings of sugars and carbs.

Anxiety.

Lack self-awareness and typically have low self-esteem.

Cognitive functions are in severe decline, like forgetting names, numbers or information;inability to make decisions.

Low levels of concentration.

Quick to exhaustion as brain doesnt have the fuel it needs to focus.

Chronic digestive issues, joint pain, skin rashes and unexplainable brain fog and fatigue.

Insomnia.

Defenders are depressed, anxious and struggle to make it through the day. Many will blame this on a poor mental attitude and feel they are lazy. They are emotionally depleted and need love and support from others, including medical professionals, to help them get their health and their life back. Defenders must seek out medical and professional help immediately.

Operating at 25-50 percentof their capacity. Traits of Guardians:

Procrastination and criticism derail their efforts.

They can keep going, briefly relying on willpower.

They have goals, but they seem unattainable.

Self-doubt has laid its foundation.

Chronic stress.

Nutritional deficiencies taking their toll.

Poor diet and lifestyle choices.

Less energy and focus.

Takes longer to recover from physical or emotional events.

They can endure for some time, but this constant state of fight or flight is taking its toll on many of their bodily and brain functions. It's typically the first time in their life they can't function as they used to, and many in the medical field will tell them it's typical aging and prescribe a drug to help alleviate the symptoms without treatingor accurately definingthe cause.

Operates at 50-75 percentof their capacity. Traits of Synergists:

Learning to balance willpower with sustainable energy, though starting to find it harder to maintain willpower alone.

Energy levels tend to fluctuate throughout the day.

Focus and concentration also varies throughout the day; unable to maintain constant energy.

They have an inner understanding that rest helps to reset the body for long-term success.

Relatively even moods.

Deliberate and conscious creators.

Not easily distracted.

Can quickly slide back into a Guardian if they fail to look after their physical and emotional health.

Operates at 75-100 percentof capacity. Traits of Catalysts:

Greatly self-aware ofhow their brain and body works for peak performance.

Abundance of psychological and physical energy to fuel them daily.

Able to troubleshoot problems calmly and methodically.

Able to pinpoint underlying issues and correct them successfully.

Operates from the higher executive part of their brain.

Strengthens their cognition through meditation, education, supplementsand a healthy diet.

Are society's game changers, both locally and globally.

Yes, we all can become The Catalyst, but it takes self-awareness and courage to dig deep into the root causation of your illnesses. Here are the first steps you should do to get yourself on the path to becoming unstoppable.

If you scored as a Guardian or Defender, you mustn't go on this health journey on your own. Finding a functional medicine doctor who specializes in chronic conditions will have the additional training needed to get to the root cause of your concerns. Following the steps below will aid in your knowledge of brain and body consciousness so you can increase your energy and build emotional and physical resilience to manage these stressful times.

Food sensitivities can trigger a range of issues, including; fatigue, bloating, brain fog, respiratory problems (e.g.asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis), headaches/migraines, depression, anxietyand sadness. They cause an inflammatory response in the body. Keep a food journal for a minimum of 30 days to track your mood and links to food. For a comprehensive report, you can order a food sensitivity test from companies such as Everlywell.

According to one study, 92 percentof the U.S. population has a nutritional deficiency. Nutritional deficiencies can occur regardless of whether an individual eats a healthy diet or not. This is due to farmland soil becoming deficient in essential micronutrients. Before you supplement, visit a functional doctor and have a full blood test done. Your doctor will be able to uncover any deficiencies that are impacting your physical or mental performance.

Nootropics are smart drugs or synthetic substances taken to improve mental cognition in healthy individuals. Consult your doctor before taking it. If we do not replenish ourselves, it can lead to burn out, exhaustion and depression. L-Tyrosine, L-Theanine, L-Carnitine, Magnesium, vitamin Dand Ashwagandha are but a few nootropics that can help you maintain proper brain function. They are go-tosfor Silicon Valley elite.

With all of us dealing with this new normal, we can optimize this time to go within and discover what is holding us back. Many of you suffering from depression, anxietyand fatigue may find the answer within these lines to help you get your body and mind back to optimal performance.

Related: 5 Ways Brands Can Reinvent Their Digital Marketing Strategy You Now Have An Extra Week to Return Your SBA PPP Loan There Will Be 4 Identity Types in This Recovery. Which One Are You?

See original here:
There Will Be 4 Identity Types in This Recovery. Which One Are You? - Thehour.com

Im telling this because its a major part of resilience. Social connectedness, anywhere you can find it, helps us get through these days with a more positive mental attitude. Its one step in the resiliency quotient.

I have looked at some resiliency research theres a panoply out there. It talks about making connections, seeing problems as not insurmountable (although, in fact, some are), accepting change as part of living, moving toward your goals, etc.

And I have read that since the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of self-help books have skyrocketed. Im not shocked about that. It makes sense.

But the bottom line is where to start? I think starting in whatever way you can with others is where it happens by phone, by video chat, in person with a smile under that mask, with a thank you for someone who might deliver something to your door.

Lately, I have been very interested in change how to make it, where to go. I have been impressed with the idea that small changes make a big impact.

Saying youre going to lose 50 pounds if you need to is awesome, but what about 5 pounds over the next month or two? If you do that, if you see progress, it helps to spur you on.

My spin: The same is true about social connectedness. The small steps you take today will undoubtedly reap big rewards tomorrow, for you and others. When youre done reading this, call or video chat someone you love or havent seen for years and years. I did this the other day when I called an old roommate from my medical school days in Chicago someone I hadnt talked to for 40 years. I found her phone number, dialed it, had a 2 hour conversation that made both of us smile and smile and smile. This was just as important to my well being as hitting the elliptical Its resiliency work. Stay safe and stay well.

This column provides general health information. Always consult your personal health care provider about concerns. No ongoing relationship of any sort is implied or offered by Dr. Paster to people submitting questions. Any opinions expressed by Dr. Paster in his columns are personal and are not meant to represent or reflect the views of SSM Health.

Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!

Read more:
Dr. Zorba Paster: Reaching out to others builds resiliency - Madison.com

New York National Guard soldiers, airmen and active duty and civilian medical providers fighting COVID-19 in New York City are getting the benefit of licks and a wagging tail to lift their spirits.The troops are returning the favor with belly rubs.The dogs are courtesy of Puppies Behind Bars, a New York City nonprofit organization that pairs inmates in regional prisons with puppies to be trained to become service dogs.The group brought the dogs to hotels where guardsmen and medical providers were staying, as well as the alternate care facility at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, to give those responding to COVID-19 a stress break, according to Gloria Gilbert Stoga, the program coordinator.Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard Masci, a New York Army National Guardsman assigned to the 104th Military Police battalion, first suggested the idea April 10 when he was talking to the unit's rear detachment."The National Guard was asked by Sergeant Masci in Kingston if they needed anything, and their answer was, 'Service dogs?' half in jest,"Stoga said."There's something about a dog that people love and they gravitate to and let their guard down,"Masci said.The idea was raised up to the governor's office, Stoga said, "and they recommended Puppies, so here we are.""As soon as we were asked, I said that of course we would help, and one week later [Friday, April 17], we started," Stoga continued.Puppies Behind Bars began in 1997 and has almost two dozen years of breeding and training experience to prepare dogs for service or therapy duties.It was a perfect fit for the current military missions in New York, Stoga said."The amount of stress that the military and medical personnel serving in New York City are going through is extraordinary,"Stoga said. "The fact that our dogs can provide some comfort makes me prouder than I think I have ever been of them."The dogs are raised and trained in seven different correctional facilities in upstate New York. About 140 prison inmates raise the service dogs and with support of the Puppies Behind Bars staff, train them for wounded veterans and first responders.To prepare them for the work, the dogs receive some 100,000 hours of socialization during their two years of training."We're set to do eight shifts a week, two hours each, and the idea is that this is a way for the young soldiers of the Guard to decompress, to just pet a dog and have a dog lick them and kiss them."The dogs live in prison with "puppy raisers,"inmates who are matched with them for the mutual benefit and bonding the training brings."Our dogs learn, instinctively, to help people who need them,"Stoga said.Stoga discovered that the efforts have reached further than the uniformed responders in New York."The Guard is also taking the dogs to meet with the nurses when they come back from the hospitals around the city, and what I've found out that I didn't know is that the nurses are literally coming from around the country,"Stoga said."They don't know anybody, they're working 12 or 20 hour shifts and they're coming back [to their hotels] and the National Guard is there with service dogs, and the nurses get to pet them and love them."The ability to hug and pet a dog during a time of social distancing is what makes the difference, said Army Capt. Yvette Valle, the headquarters detachment commander for the 104th Military Police Battalion."The experience here is quite surreal and unlike anything I've experienced in the military," she said.With the long hours and the stress of the unknown,the missions for soldiers during the pandemic has been unlike any other disaster response effort, Valle said."The biggest thing I promote within my company is a positive mental attitude during this crisis, and their attitude has been more than I expected with everyone willing to do whatever is needed,"Valle said.Bringing in the dogs has certainly made a difference."Coordinating the dogs has definitely boosted morale with the soldiers and with the nurses,"Valle said."It gives them a piece of family, a closeness that we can't experience due to social distancing,"Valle added. "They can get that through the dogs. It gives them love and warmth that they are sacrificing being here for this cause.""The dogs are doing amazing work out in the world and at this particular moment in time, are bringing a tiny bit of joy and normalcy to people for whom joy and normalcy seem almost impossible to remember,"Stoga said.The dogs, trained to work with veterans, wounded warriors and first responders, are a natural fit for supporting the National Guard response effort and can make a real difference for soldiers, said Army Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York's military forces."I am sure this means the world to all those who get to spend time with the puppies,"Shields continued."I went twice last week with two dogs," Stoga said. "One was raised in Fishkill and one in Bedford Hills."Serving as a stress relief, the visits are now a regular part of the working shifts for military and medical responders at the Javits Medical Station and hotels in Manhattan.Stoga spoke with one off-duty soldier during a visit on April 18, and asked where he was from."A small town in Dutchess County,"he replied, "Fishkill."Pointing to one of the dogs, Stoga said, "This dog was raised in the Fishkill Correctional Facility!"The soldier couldn't believe it, he got down on his knees to meet a new hometown friend, she added."It's been a great success,"Masci said. "Everybody is thrilled to see them.""For Puppies Behind Bars, all of our service dogs go to wounded war vets or first responders,"Stoga said, "So these dogs being able to help in this way before they are placed is just phenomenal. We're just thrilled to be able to work with the National Guard like this."(Army Col. Richard Goldenberg is assigned to the New York National Guard.)Related linksU.S. Army COVID-19 GuidanceArmy.mil: Worldwide NewsArmy.mil: National Guard NewsDefense.gov

See the rest here:
Puppies bring stress relief to those fighting COVID-19 - United States Army

Former Indian cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath, who is trying to help players to stay motivated, increase mental toughness, and reset their goals going forward with a new platform MFore, hailed former India skipper MS Dhonis mental toughness. Badrinath said Dhoni goes about his business as if 50,000 people are not watching him and also believes in his abilities. Also Read - Chennaiyin FC Player Anirudh Thapa Expresses His Admiration For MS Dhoni's 'Down to Earth' Attitude

He is not bothered about anything else. He completely believes that whatever he is doing is right. That is the approach everybody needs to have. I would like to say that just do what Dhoni is doing as a cricketer. He is totally detached from everything automatically. When he is going out there, going about the business, it feels as though the 50,000 people watching him are not there. He is alone, he knows clearly in his mind what he needs to do, and he goes about it, he said in an interview with The Indian Express. Also Read - Apart From 2011 WC Final, 2016 T20 WC Q/Fs vs Aus Second-Most Important Match: Virat Kohli

Badrinath also hailed off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as the most talented and mentally strong player in Tamil Nadu. Also Read - Please do Not Use This Bat: Matthew Hayden on MS Dhoni's Reaction to Mongoose Bat

In Tamil Nadu, I think its R Ashwin. He is phenomenal the way he is. The way he thinks about the game. He is talented, he is blessed with a lot of talent, but he is the one who knows his cricket inside out, he added.

The 39-year-old played 145 FC games and scored 10245 runs at an average of 54.5. It includes 32 centuries and 45 fifties.

View original post here:
Its Like 50,000 People Watching Arent There: Subramanian Badrinath on MS Dhonis Mental Toughness - India.com

THE English adage attitude is everything holds true today just as it has done since time immemorial. Jeff Kelly further captures it so well by saying, Change your attitude and you change your life. Indeed, our generation today in times of the Covid-19 crisis can alter its life during and after this catastrophe by changing attitudes and thought process.

Robert Mandeya

It is no illusion that this disaster brought anger, denial, frustration, fear, uncertainty, anxiety and hopelessness upon us. This is indeed a sad situation which we have hopelessly watched as the crisis ripped into our investment of time, money, business, research, jobs and even lives.

Picking up the pieces

However, sulking or freaking over these misfortunes for hours, days and even weeks on end would not help anyone at this moment. It is time to let go of whatever heartbreaks pick the pieces and move forward in a new direction.

Easier said than done, of course, and it takes a great deal of effort, energy and power to pick yourself up and sail into a new direction all together. Believe me, in the course of this transition we are bound to make plenty of blunders and mistakes along the way but with the right frame of mind and enthusiasm coupled with appropriate actions you will soon attract positive results. This is only possible with a change of attitude a decision everyone in a situation of despair must make now!

Applying some life principles

Following certain life principles to develop and maintain a positive attitude will not only make you achieve some incredible breakthroughs but enable you to defy certain the odds in this period of devastating uncertainty.

I know from first-hand experience that the ideas I share in this article work have the power to literally transform your life! Please do not misunderstand me. I do not claim to be a know-it-all on this subject. Far from it!

I consider myself a work in progress and I continue to learn every day. However, I know what it is like to have a negative attitude, because that is the kind of attitude I had for the first 20 years of my life.

All of the positive changes that I have made in my life are the result of practicing the principles I will share in this and subsequent installments. The Master Action Plan, which I shared at the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown, touched on three broad concepts: think, speak and act.

Success begins in the mind

Recovering from this crisis will surely depend on ones attitude and perspective of the environment around you. The power of attitude and belief to shape your destiny going forward will set you apart from the rest. Just recently, I had an interview with a friend, colleague and founder CE of the Astro Tech Group, Munyaradzi Gwatidzo, who spoke of psychological pivoting.

Basically, Gwatidzo was talking about how success depends squarely on the way that you think particularly in times of crisis. Attitude is the mental filter through which you experience the world. Some people see the world through the filter of optimism (the glass being half full) while others see life through a filter of pessimism (the glass being half empty).

The person with the positive attitude sees possibilities even when the chips are down. True to his word, Gwatidzo saw possibilities out of the current situation and he launched a product called e-shagi, a digital platform meant to ease peoples access to funding and business loans during and after this lockdown.

There is really not much we can do to control the circumstances facing us today but we can control our feelings and thoughts about this situation we are confronted with.

Attitude is like a window

Attitude is like a window through which we see the world. Just like any window, there comes a point where life starts throwing some dirt at our windows. The dirt may be thrown by very close people in our lives. This dirt might be in the form of criticism from our parents or teachers, ridicule from peers, rejection by those we love, disappointments in business or life, self-doubt in what we want to achieve and so on. This dirt keeps building up on our windows particularly if we choose not to do anything about it. In the end we will not see anything through that window.

By continuing to go through life with a filthy window, we lose our enthusiasm, get frustrated and depressed. And most tragically, we give up on our dreams all because we failed to clean our attitude window.

The Covid-19 crisis has literary thrown lots of dirt on our windows and the longer we take to clean it up the more we will not discern the possibilities out there in the midst of this crisis.

This is the road most of us find ourselves in at the moment. We are gripped in fear of the unknown and tangled in a web of uncertainty. The longer we stay in this conundrum, the filthier our windows get. We will not be able to see any possibilities. How could you see when your window is splattered with the mud of negativity?

Remember, crises provide a unique opportunity to refocus your energy, remap your entry back into business or work and to rebrand yourself. Mandeya is a certified executive leadership coach, corporate education trainer and management consultant. robert@lird.co.zw/ or info@lird.co.zw, Facebook: @lirdzim and Mobile/WhatsApp: +263719466925

Read more from the original source:
Attitude is everything: Rebooting from the coronavirus pandemic - Zimbabwe Independent

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has urged Nigerians to maintain a strong mental attitude, which it stated is a major prerequisite for overcoming the global pandemic.

In a live video podcast on YouTube sponsored by Stanbic IBTC, the Blue Talk Show, Dr Sylvanus Jatto, a medical expert with the firm, said the lockdown offers the opportunity to reevaluate and restructure our daily routines, goals, and expectations. To relieve the psychological and mental concerns associated with the lockdown, he advised Nigerians to deliberately create a routine that enables them to go through what they have been doing before the lockdown and this routine could be spaced, to allow mental and physical relaxation. As a prerequisite for good mental health, he also advised Nigerians to exercise while staying at home and maintain a positive mindset, because this pandemic is but for a while.

Dr. Jatto further advised Nigerians to maintain a strong connection with their loved ones, even employers should consistently maintain communication with their employees, reassuring them of their commitment to their wellbeing. He further advised citizens to limit the amount of information being consumed especially from the social media space, as this information could affect them negatively.

On the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jatto cautioned Nigerians to be financially prudent. During this period, Nigerians must be financially frugal in their spending, with much emphasis on priority rather than impulsive spending, to build resilience in this tough time, he said.

Visit link:
Stanbic Advises on Positive Mental Health - THISDAY Newspapers

Motivation is volatile and not easy to sustain when cut adrift from the normal workplace. Photograph: iStock/Getty

Motivation is a slippery fish at the best of times. Its unbelievably fragile as anyone who has made and broken new year resolutions faster than the speed of light knows. But its also unbelievably powerful and can bring people through the most difficult circumstances.

One thing thats certain, however, is that motivation is volatile and not that easy to sustain when youre working remotely and cut adrift from the normal interaction of the workplace.

Motivation is a complex driver that governs our behaviour and this is underlined by the fact that it pops up as a factor across a number of disciplines, from management and organisational behaviour to social and educational psychology. It also plays a role in affective neuroscience and cognitive psychology, where academic Prof Kou Murayama, who heads the multidisciplinary motivation science lab at the University of Reading, says it has been normally treated as a nuisance factor that needs to be controlled.

Murayamas research is feeding into the emerging and stand-alone field of motivation science, which aims to take a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the different types of motivation and how they fit and function together to produce behaviour.

In his paper, The Science of Motivation (published by the American Psychological Society in 2018), Murayama points out that not all motivations are created equal and he also says that the use of competition a style often favoured by managers looking to improve performance doesnt work consistently as a means of increasing motivation.

Individuals differ when it comes to willpower and motivation but some people are called on to exercise both, to an extreme degree. Mark Pollock studied business and economics in Trinity College Dublin before losing his sight in 1998. Unwilling to be defined by what he couldnt do, Pollock, who was a competitive college rower, went on to win silver and bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games. He then threw himself into ultra-endurance sporting events and became the first blind athlete to race to the South Pole.

Pollock was subsequently asked to speak about his experiences to a corporate audience and one talk led to another. Over the last 10 years he has built a successful career on the international speaking circuit despite being paralysed in a fall in 2010. His TED talk about resolving the tension between acceptance and hope topped 1.5 million views within six months.

Pollock doesnt care for the term motivational speaker because he says gung-ho positivity is not his thing. Instead, he uses his own experience of coping with adversity to be thought provoking in a way that encourages people to take a step back, reflect and if necessary regroup.

Resilience and adapting to change are two of his main themes and he says what people need now is to regain their sense of proportion and control, as both have been thoroughly undermined by the pandemic.

Everything is suddenly on the table and people are constantly facing multiple choices which can be overwhelming, Pollock says. My advice is to narrow the focus of what youre trying to deal with. Resilience is about separating the internal and the external locus of controls and taking charge of what we can control we always have options.

Remote working has made it way more difficult to manage teams and keep everyone pulling together but Pollock believes its worth making a big effort to sustain team function because bringing people together is the best way to solve complex problems.

In this he speaks from the experience of having pulled teams together to take on extreme challenges, such as the race to the South Pole and running six marathons in seven days in the Gobi Desert. When individual endeavour is combined with others through collaboration, that is when major breakthroughs happen, says Pollock, whose personal quest is to help find a cure for paralysis in his lifetime.

Like many businesses, Pollocks was hugely affected by the coronavirus outbreak and, within a few days, all of his travelling engagements were cancelled. Almost overnight, he had to move online and he is now leading a series of 45-60 minute corporate webinars with co-host Paula Cunniffe, chief executive of Strive Management, covering topics such as resilience and motivation, coping with sudden change and unexpected challenges, charting some sort of a roadmap through the current uncertainty and dealing with fear and anxiety.

Pollock describes himself as a realist not an optimist and as someone who is at ease with the mindset of the ancient Greek Stoic philosophers. He has also been influenced by the Austrian neurologist and Holocaust survivor, Victor Frankl and by US vice admiral and Vietnam War veteran James Stockdale, after whom the paradox (why confronting reality is vital to success) is named.

Optimists rely on a positive mental attitude based on hope. Realists try to balance the tension between acceptance and hope, says Pollock, who is the co-founder of the global running series Run in the Dark and part of the World Economic Forums young global leadership programme.

Challenge is the opportunity and sometimes we choose our challenges and sometimes they choose us as were all experiencing right now. The starting point is to confront the facts and accept them and resilience starts from there. In a crisis, spectators sit on the sidelines while competitors show a willingness to pursue success at the risk of failure. The choice is ours.

Go here to read the rest:
How to stay motivated while working from home - The Irish Times

News

MUMBAI: The good looking young actor Mohsin Khan of Ye Ristha Kya Kehlata Hai dotes on his mother Mehzabin Khan. On being asked if he is the pampered one he says, I am the eldest son so I was pampered a lot. Also I was quite weak and shy as a child so I am sure my parents had to take extra care of me. I had Asthma and abba (Abdul Waheed Khan) and ammi (Mehzabin Khan) had to take care of me day and night. Now I am cured of asthama. He further adds, We are a big family. I am the most pampered person among all".

On being asked about lockdown he says, "I am doing what everyone is doing waiting for situation to get back to normal. I request all my fans to stay at home and follow the guidelines. This too shall pass away. Nothing is permanent"'.

Speaking further about his mother he says, " I contribute in helping in house hold chores in the time of lockdown but ammi tries her best not to let me do. Sometimes without our knowledge she does everything and sometimes me and my brother does the same. I feel blessed to have her as my mother. Every day is mothers day for me.

On being asked what he has learnt from his mother he says, To stay positive and have patience at all times. One must keep the right mental attitude towards everything and one must live life one day at a time.

Mohsin had made a cake for his mother last month on her birthday and his mother comes across as a very happy individual whenever she is seen with him and her smile is infectious enough and Mohsin has retained the same charm in his smile.

Read the original:
Every day is Mothers Day for me: Mohsin Khan - Tellychakkar