Tag: Blog

The Third Intelligence

We’ve developed our IQ (Intelligence Quotient) through education and cultivated our EQ (Emotional Intelligence) through personal development. Yet there’s a crucial third intelligence that is a crucial skill to develop in today’s digital world: Body Intelligence (BQ). What is Body Intelligence? Body Intelligence is your capacity to listen to, interpret, and respond to the wisdom of the body. It allows you to: Unlike IQ, which measures cognitive abilities, or EQ, which addresses emotional awareness, BQ focuses on the intelligence that resides in the body—a powerful wisdom that has evolved over millennia. Why BQ Matters More Than Ever In our screen-dominated world,

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It’s time to forage

Where I live in Italy, there’s wild garlic in the fields right now—earthy, pungent, alive. I’m kneeling in the damp grass, fingers brushing green blades, and for these moments, I’m not a brain on a screen. I’m in a body in the world. This is the basis of embodiment. Neuroscientifically, it’s called sensory grounding (touch, smell, movement). This shifts us out of hypercognitive mode—that frazzled state where we mistake ourselves for thinking machines. Studies show even brief nature exposure lowers cortisol, while tactile engagement (like foraging) reactivates the vagus nerve, dialing down stress. My new book, Embody: The Power of Presence in an

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Three Ways to Come Alive this Spring

The first one is skiing—just look at those colors! I took that photo a few weeks ago in Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy). This rejuvenates the soul as well as body. I’ve got two other ways that are equally as powerful. The “24-hour reset The first one is the “24-hour reset.” Carving out a day dedicated to sleep. That’s right: 24 hours in bed, free from distractions, responsibilities, and external stimuli. Why wait until you’re completely burnt out or sick to give yourself this incredible gift? What Does It Involve? My rules are simple: 24 hours in bed with no input from

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Welcome to Spring! 

Today is the vernal equinox. The official start of spring is a great time for new beginnings, which is why I’ve chosen to show you the new cover of the book Embody. Designed by the fabulous American graphic designer Pamela Berry, the cover shows me watching the sunset in 650,000 square meters of sand in the Empty Quarter Desert of Oman. I was in Oman to prepare my last great Scottish event. Sitting in the silence of the desert, I realized just how small and inconsequential I—and all my plans—were compared to the magnificence of nature. It was a wonderful

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Room with a View 

Guincho beach in Portugal, as seen from our hotel room window. Every year we come here, staying at our favorite hotel, the quirky Muchaxo, to recharge our batteries. I try to limit all digital and electronic input while I’m here. Nothing but stare at the sea, walk on the beach, and see old friends. It’s great to do something like this once a year. Stop the input. Check in with myself. See what’s new. Mourn what’s gone. Be open for new ideas.  It’s so wonderfully simple and yet so nourishing I had to show you a photo of where we are.

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An Ode to Women 

This was NOT written by AI but from my heart to celebrate Women’s Day When a woman understands her power, she doesn’t move, she dances. She embodies a beautiful paradox – she can melt into others while maintaining her center. This dance reflects the essence of being a woman: She knows how to connect to others without losing herself in the process. So to celebrate Women’s Day, I wanted to write something which shows the magic of being a woman that I’ve learned along the way. I’ve written about it in both my fictional books, The Extraordinary Awakening of Annabel Jones (embracing

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Why I Don’t Share Political Posts

In researching my recently published book “Embody: The Power of Presence in an Age of Distraction,” I discovered something important about those clever, witty political posts we’re all tempted to share. Even if they align with our views, unless it provides something that allows us to learn new information or offers a different perspective that helps us grow, these posts do three things that undermine the wellbeing of everyone who is tempted to forward them: 1. They hijack our nervous system Those momentary hits of righteousness trigger the body’s stress response. Brains can’t distinguish between physical threats and perceived social/moral

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The Heart of Intelligence”: Why Compassion, Not Computers, Will Save Humanity

There is so much fear about AI and how it will take over our lives. However what needs to be done isn’t “out there” outside of us, but “in here” within us. While I respect the vision of making humanity an interplanetary species, my heart remains here on Earth. This beautiful planet is our home. It’s where we come from and where our bodies will return once we die. When we live in our heads, we disconnect from our relationship with Earth. No wonder most of us are so fearful—we have unplugged from the largest and most powerful battery we

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What Science Is Missing About Breath and Presence

Dear All,I was reading an article in The Economist (see link below) that reported on studies, including one from Stanford, showing how specific breathing patterns can improve your mood and reduce stress. Breath can do that and so much more. It is one of the greatest tools we have, and we take it for granted because it’s just so darned easy.Breathing is the cornerstone of life. A person can live for a month without food, weeks without water, but only minutes without air. It’s such a basic thing that most of us miss its importance.But here’s what’s interesting about what

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This is work I promise

My newsletter is late this week because I was working yesterday, as you can see from the photo above. I slipped away from my desk in the afternoon to take advantage of the 3 hour ski pass which is on offer less than an hour from where we are living in Italy. I told myself that I had to get ready for my brother’s family, who are traveling from Atlanta to visit us in a few weeks time. My nephew is a top skier and I want to retain my position as “cool aunt”. I’m also preparing myself because my

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