Elements of a Better Life

It’s undeniable – our world is transforming at breakneck speed, propelled by the digital revolution into uncharted territory. The relentless influx of stimuli and information we now face daily is unprecedented and overwhelming. But do we fully grasp the impacts?

Human brains evolved for a very different world, wired to prize stability and conserve resources. Yet today, we confront a constant assault of inputs and disruptions that our neurology struggles to process. People compulsively check devices everywhere – the gym, work, meals, bedtime – bombarding already taxed neuronal capacity with TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram and more.

“What I see in practice, as a brain specialist is fatigue, muscle pain sensations in neck-shoulders resulting in headache, memory and concentration weakness, fears, anxiousness and sadness, and the complete inability to relax. We are always switched ‘on’.”
- Erik Matser

But there is hope. Buried beneath the strain lies a simple truth – you don’t have to be perfect to have an amazing brain. The real superpower now is calmness and control over your personal pace. What others do pales next to what you choose for healthy function.

Seniors Seize the Day

This home-based exercise program is designed with seniors in mind, requiring only minimal, inexpensive equipment: no bulky machinery taking up space like a traditional gym. The easy routine is simple, safe and can be performed at your own pace daily, provided your doctor agrees it’s suitable.

The full workout takes about 60 minutes including rest periods, with 60 repetitions of each segment. Personally, I feel a sense of fulfilment and an endorphin rush when I finish.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues evolving with devastating health effects physically, mentally, and emotionally, I’ve felt in virtual solitary confinement as a widower since 2020. However, maintaining my daily exercise routine has been crucial for coping mentally and physically. I commend this program to other seniors as a valuable tool, especially amidst the ongoing pandemic, to take control of your health at home. The routine provides a constructive way to alleviate stress and frustration while keeping fit.

The Mama Sutras

The Mama Sutras is a practical, spiritual, psychological and emotional toolbox for modern mothering. Threaded with ancient wisdom and magnified within a contemporary context, the words within these pages are a doorway into the unspoken challenges and complimentary bliss faced by modern mothers. It dares to bring to the surface the deepest fears we carry and gently addresses them with a bold yet forgiving voice. This is the handbook for opening your heart, growing your soul and healing your mind.

As modern mamas, we can gain a lot of insight from ancient traditions and theories. The Mama Sutras serves as a present-day contemplation and translation of these. This book is for you if you’ve ever felt that mothering is like battling an inner demon (or two) or you feel exhausted from the endless giving and the aspects of motherhood which live alone in your mind and need a friend to hold hands with. Within these pages are a retreat, a non-judgemental place to turn, the wisdom you wish you had and a place to ground and regather when everything around is spinning. Come and catch your breath within these pages.

Brainwashed and Back

Do you ever wonder why things happen the way they do? Is there a higher intelligence I can tap into to create better outcomes? Do I truly know myself or can I reshape my personality to access superpowers?

In this extraordinary journey, the author Ivana Basilotta delves into her experiences so far removed from the ordinary that at the time felt unreal. Spurred by a deep curiosity, her quest to understand a fuller story of the self unfolds, a story which transcends the limitations of a single lifetime. Ivana’s adventure of discovery compiled in this book will take you on a voyage from gloom to bliss.

This inspirational collection is a reminder of your inherent beauty and power, and your worthiness of life’s richest blessings. Whether you are young or old, a dreamer, an artist or a creator, if you yearn to live your life to its fullest, this book will trigger a remembrance of your embedded ability to know that we are all incredible beings with untapped superpowers fully capable of achieving our most cherished dreams, no matter where we find ourselves in life’s journey. Are you ready to unleash your superpowers?

Happy Notes

In her book, Happy Notes, author Delina Fajardo conveys her knowledge of how to focus on the things that matter in life. Things that you care enough to accomplish. Because people who can’t see you soar will hate you for when you’re wrong; they’ll even hate you for why you’re right.

So, you need to go against the grain because life may become arduous at times; you may seem to be off-track, but remember that this life is your story, and you can either keep writing the futile paragraph or pen another.

Believe in the star that’s still hiding behind the clouds will eventually appear. Time seems to run out at times, but somehow, it is because you need to take some rest from your tedious schedule. It’s like boxing: when a boxer who is about to lose the game hopes for the round to end quickly so that he could regain some strength.

The Plight of Psychiatric Patients: A Biochemical Explanation

This book delves into the complex world of psychiatric illnesses that continue to evade full medical comprehension. Through poignant case histories, it puts a human face on mental afflictions that all too often defy satisfactory treatment. The author presents compelling narratives of patients wrestling with disorders ranging from depression to schizophrenia, capturing both the uniqueness of each individual’s experience as well as the common threads of chaos and suffering that bind them. Interwoven with these intimate portraits is an accessible examination of leading theories on the biochemical basis of mental illness.

Though significant knowledge gaps remain, the book brings to light important scientific insights into the genes, pathways, and neurotransmitters that may lie at the root of so much torment. Written with equal parts sensitivity, curiosity and rigor, this work illuminates the lingering mystery of the mind while paying tribute to those who struggle daily with its most devastating failures.

Why My Daughter? From Binge Eating to Restriction

Written unflinchingly, Why My Daughter? From Binge Eating to Restriction chronicles an intergenerational journey with disordered eating that swings dangerously between bingeing and restriction. After witnessing her daughter’s eating disorder diagnosis at a very young age, the author’s quest for meaning uncovered something deeper: a family narrative stretching across time, with ancestral roots. She realizes her daughter’s illness is not an isolated incidence, but the apex of long-unfolded family dynamics.

From overabundance to scarcity, from gorging to deprivation, this book confronts the possibility that mental illness can extend beyond the individual, emerging from generational traumas. With illustrations penned by the author herself, Why My Daughter? sheds controversial but urgent light on the collective roots of eating disorders.

Both a powerful tool for insight and a guide for parents and therapists, Why My Daughter? From Binge Eating to Restriction shares an impactful message for anyone seeking to understand eating disorders’ complex intergenerational ties. This compelling story provides more than answers – it paves the way for healing.

Therapeutic Notepad: A Path to Happiness and Well-Being

Happiness is a tapestry we craft from the myriad threads life provides – some coarse, some silky. Yet, it’s our choice how we intertwine them. Your life’s tapestry is your sanctuary; make it as resplendent as possible. Once woven, the threads remain fixed; time won’t reverse, so craft each moment, each connection, with care. Every instant is a potential stitch, every action a defining pattern. Relish each strand and moment, for time is relentless. Be the mastermind of your own intricate pattern. Avoid leaving gaps, lest your tapestry unravels. While it’s okay to seek guidance, remember, the significance lies not in the process, but in the magnificent final piece you create.

Owning, Growing and Being

‘A lived experience’ what does this phrase really mean? A lot of companies and organisations like to use this ‘expression’ when describing ‘you’, your family and or maybe even someone that you may know that looks or sounds like you. But do they really know you? Do they really want to know you? Or is it something else that they want from you?

This book explores some of the challenges and benefits of getting to know more about yourself, and considers what might make you ‘similar’ and or ‘different’ and or ‘unique’ within a multi-racial and multi-cultural society, especially those that might consider themselves as coming ‘from a minority group’ (with regard to race, sexuality, language, colour, income, etc.).

Finally, this ‘non-politically correct resource’ will explore some of the interpersonal challenges for working with charities, social care organisations, general workplaces, and the like. How ‘others’ (individuals and organisations) might see you – is it similar and or different to how they might see themselves, and to how you understand yourself?

Readers of this book might be surprised by some of the contradictions from those that might be working with you and or around you, maybe just because of who you are or who others assume that you are. The joy of this book is that it provides some practical strategies and answers for making the most out of ‘the now’ and living our best lives even in the complicated world that we may find ourselves in.

Helping Skills

Have you ever tried to help but you didn’t know how? This book gives you a step-by-step guide on how to listen, understand and guide people into solving their problems. A must for counsellors! This textbook of interpersonal and problem-solving skills should be a prerequisite for anyone entering the helping profession, or even just looking for ways to help loved ones through challenging times.

The How and Why of Surviving a Poor Prognosis Cancer

These incredible stories of pain and suffering, courage and determination will assist people newly diagnosed with cancer to position themselves in the best possible place for survival. Knowledge and understanding of the stories of survivors of cancer may also assist health professionals to best help those living with cancer, and the people who journey alongside them. At the very least these stories shed light on how a group of people, given the worst news possible related to their health, fought back against all the odds and lived to tell the tale. Awareness of the many concerns facing cancer survivors may inspire policy-makers, health professionals, even those remotely involved with someone journeying with cancer to initiate change in some way: to make a difference to the person with cancer’s struggle.

Although some cancer survivors recover with a renewed sense of life and purpose, what has often not been recognised is the frequently devastating toll taken by cancer and its treatments. Long-lasting effects may be apparent shortly after completion of treatment and/or many years later. Personal relationships are changed and wide-reaching adaptations to all aspects of life may be necessary. Importantly, survivors’ health is forever altered. Let’s face it; we are all involved here. All of us know someone with cancer, many of us have lost loved ones to cancer, many, too many of us will be diagnosed with cancer, given that one in three people in the world face a cancer diagnosis during their lifetime.

The Way of the Philosopher

The Way of the Philosopher touches on a wide range of philosophical ideas and perspectives. It opens by pondering the meaning of philosophy itself, defining it as ‘the search of truth’ and ‘the continual failure to get to the truth.’

The author then dives into discussions of logic, reason, the patterns of thought, living in the present moment, and having an open, questioning attitude. There are reflections on the purpose of emotions, the subjectivity of morality, the illusion of past and future, and the importance of authenticity.

Several chapters offer practical personal growth teachings, from cultivating self-awareness to overcoming fears and destructive thought patterns. Themes of freedom, autonomy, and self-reliance also feature prominently.

Throughout, author Abdul Shakoor aims to share useful life lessons and timeless insights. The Way of the Philosopher emphasizes cooperating with others, facing challenges with courage, removing the veils of illusion, and ultimately living by following one’s heart. While wide-ranging, the unifying message seems to be about seeking truth through philosophy and dedicated self-inquiry.