The Rise of Remote Work and the Importance of Team Bonding Events Outdoors

Posted on by Martin Murphy

As remote work continues to become the norm, it’s essential to ensure that teams remain connected and engaged. That’s why I wanted to share with you all an excellent solution to this problem: Freshwalks!

Freshwalks is a unique team bonding experience that combines the benefits of walking outdoors with the opportunity to network and collaborate with like-minded professionals. With Freshwalks, your team can take a break from their desks and experience the beauty of nature while also building strong relationships with each other.

As more and more people work remotely, it’s crucial to invest in team bonding events that promote communication, collaboration, and overall wellbeing. By participating in Freshwalks, you’re not only improving team morale, but you’re also investing in your employees’ mental and physical health.

So if you’re looking for a way to bring your team together and create meaningful connections, I highly recommend giving Freshwalks a try. Your team will thank you for it!

#teamwork #remoteworking #Freshwalks #team #bonding #networking #collaboration #mentalhealth #physicalhealth #wellbeing

Fresh Ways of Working in The Great Outdoors

Posted on by Martin Murphy

A great day spent guiding a Down at the Social private Freshwalks.

I wondered about the recipe for a great day freshworking in the hills.

-Inspiring outdoor scenery ( They don’t call it the great indoors do they? 😉

-Interesting people (we’re all interesting but we just have to create the space and opportunity for us all to be discovered:)

-Insightful conversations (When you’re exercising and out in nature, you release a raft of positive neurotransmitters including Anandamide which boosts connections across the brain)

-Intriguing new ideas to discuss and mull over in the pub over lunch!

# #people # # #
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The Power of Community in Nature with Freshwalks & Michael Di Paola

Posted on by Martin Murphy

Rebels chatting….

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King

What is Freshwalks?

In its simplest form Freshwalks is a community of people, primarily business owners and freelancers, who meet on regular basis to tackle peaks and traverse dales around the UK and Europe.

They’re an enthusiastic, inclusive and supportive group and a great example of what the human spirit is capable given the opportunity. The power of community should not be underestimated when it comes to helping you find business connections, expertise and boosting your wellbeing.

Michael Di Paola has always been a keen advocate of communities. Moreover, he realises that for a community to be successful, it must enrich the lives of its members and that Freshwalkers feel a shared sense of trust, connection and compassion for one another.

Just some of the benefits of taking your networking with clients and also your team and leadership learning outdoors includes:

Confidence to push against your limits as you climb hills and so building greater self-belief

Collective Wisdom – New ideas are generated on walks due to the conversations and neurotransmitters flooding your system

Being with the crowd allows you to be infected with their motivation, even if you’ve had a tough week

Mutual accountability- if you say you’re going on the group’s WhatsApp, you’ll feel a sense of responsibility for your comrades.

With the craziness of the world at the moment, it pays to not walk alone.

Listen to Michael’s journey here: https://youtu.be/5MBOK9U7tVs

3 Types of Mindset

Posted on by Martin Murphy

Mindset differs for mavericks, rebels and change agents.

Mostly people are limited by the economic, political, social, academic and philosophical boxes they grew up in.

Some people can think outside the box, but they ask permission of the box.

Through fate or enlightened insight, there are those who can see the matrix of the box and want to find a socially just, sustainable and spiritually fulfilling alternative well outside the influence of the box…But not on Mars!

#elon #eliteidiots

#stoicpilgrim

#stoicpilgrimphilosophy

#robust

#resilience

#mindset

#mentalhealth

#survivalskillsforlife

#doingwhatsrightnotwhatseasy

#adventure

#alwaysalittlefurther

#redefinesuccess

How Capitalism and Hierarchy Continue to Destroy the Health of the World.

Posted on by Martin Murphy

In the UK, air pollution is the largest environmental risk to public health. The annual mortality of human-made air pollution in the UK is roughly equivalent to between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths every year.

Asthma is the most common long-term medical condition in children in the UK, with around one in 11 children and young people living with asthma. The UK has one of the highest prevalence, emergency admission and death rates for childhood asthma in Europe. Outcomes are worse for children and young people living in the most deprived areas

I went for a walk in the countryside yesterday and found myself coughing as I realised I was breathing in the acrid exhaust fumes emanating from #PolyntGroup factory in the valley below me.
This is an Italian organisation, polluting the air in Staffordshire and probably sending the profits back to Europe.

They boast on their website about their sustainability credentials, but somehow me thinks, they’re not really a robust effort to sustain the environment or the stakeholders who live near their factories.

But hey!! Capitalism is the best way to run society…. Really??

When you dig into how this is possible, you find out that the local counsellors are often friends of these organisations. Politicians are in the service of the wealthy.

The environmental department at the local council is overrun with cases, one can’t help think purposely under resourced, so they are ineffectual.

These firms employ clever lawyers who delay and obfuscate any kind of challenges brought about by councils or people.

The people who work there are dependent on the organisation for wages to feed and home their families, so understandably and invariably’ anti-anything which threatens their lifestyles.

Moreover, if wealthy, powerful people will abuse the ecology and environment of their own country, you can understand how they will definitely exploit countries such as Africa as Oladele Dosunmu 🇳🇬 is highlighting on his LinkedIn page.

It’s going to take some brave leadership to transform this world.

It’s necessary to highlight this behaviour, but don’t expect that the oil-tech capitalists will voluntarily transform their practice. They will have to be motivated and probably against their will.

As Buckminster Fuller advised: ‘Don’t fight the existing reality, create a better world which makes the old one obsolete’

#sustainability #health #environmental #oil #chemicalindustries #society #capitalism #pollution #asthma #wellbeing

Don’t Be a CAD Leader!

Posted on by Martin Murphy

Unfortunately, the world of work and capitalism is driven by stressful neurotransmitters such as cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine.

Founders and Entrepreneurs have to be driven people when it comes to breaking new ground and competing for their place in the world.

Technology and processed foods need to be addictive and give you a ‘RUSH’ otherwise you’d probably get off your phones and go spend more time in nature and eat fresh local produce.

People who’re very competitive rise to the top of the food chain in hierarchical organisations. They get a rush from crushing the competition. Status and power give them that adrenaline and dopamine rush they crave but it triggers the stress hormone cortisol in those around them.

From a leadership perspective, this feels great for the leader but it can mean that an organisation is reliant on the leader to keep driving. After all, if you can get by as an employee doing the bare minimum so as not to irk the mansplaining chump at the top, then why not?

It just isn’t very satisfying to live under the rule of a CAD driven leader, is it?

I sat in a meeting not long ago with one such white male (there were two females in the room). He asked if he could give me some blunt feedback. “Sure” I replied, realising I shouldn’t have taken this meeting whilst recovering from a dose of flu!

As he pontificated the two females were silent. It was obvious he was getting his dose of CAD at my expense as he continued to ‘no-mark’ me.

After he ran out of steam he asked “So why do you want to work with us?” …. By that time, I didn’t.

Normally I’d have asked to give him back some feedback in return, but I was pretty drained by then and I knew it would have fallen on deaf ears.

Why should I compete with his ego to explain why he and his ‘world-class’ organisation suffered from simplistic thinking, He didn’t realise there was a difference between complicated and complex. He is materially successful selling old world ideas and style over substance because he’s great at competing for business.

We’re experiencing stressful times; we don’t need more trauma inducing leadership.

In a world of ambiguous and novel challenges, we need more self-aware, purpose focussed and supportive leaders who are open-minded and willing to learn collaboratively their way forward.

Leaders who don’t need to be rewarded with the rush of cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine at the expense of those around them.

#business #leadership #work #power #entrepreneurs #leader #complexity #traumainformed #leadership

 

The Hero’s Journey Through Trauma

Posted on by Martin Murphy

Acknowledge — The hero realises that a journey must be undertaken because they’ve arrived at a place referred to in hypnotherapy as the point of ‘No More, Never Again’. It’s the call to adventure because there is a mighty battle to face in search of a new reality. It means confronting all manner of dark foes such as overwhelm, fear, shame, guilt, cowardice, addictions, anger, sadness and anxiety. It’s no wonder the hero often ‘refuses the call’.

Apotheosis — The hero momentarily transcends their normal reality, becoming an outside observer with the help of a ‘supernatural aid’, a guide who can facilitate greater awareness. This point of realisation instils greater understanding of what life would look and feel like when lived authentically. Armed with this new knowledge and perception, the hero is ready to ‘cross the first threshold’ and the adventure begins.

Agency– The guide teaches the hero some useful techniques which can help the hero going forward. This gives the hero ability and responsibility for their own wellbeing and safety. The guide is only a catalyst for the transformation the hero must undertake, so it’s important the hero develops increasing agency and awareness throughout the journey.

Acceptance — The hero enters the ‘Belly of the Whale’ and commits fully to the journey. It is the final separation from the old world into the new. It is a challenging phase which shows a willingness by the hero to undergo a metamorphosis.

Assess- Removed from the turbulent but familiar world, the hero is aided by the guide or a community who can help them become whole. By assessing what has happened, what is working and what needs to change, the hero understands the ‘road of trials’ to be faced. Within the new relationship with the guide or guides, the hero experiences positive recognition, support and safety.

Alter- When their body feels safe to do so, the hero can begin to revisit, reframe and reimagine their past and future. This phase is a journey of curiosity and exploration as different modalities will have differing results. Each hero and their journey are unique.

Authenticity — As time passes the hero begins to live more authentically. Living in a way which is true to possibly newfound beliefs, values, integrity and courage. There may be some further changes required within their eco-system and environment. Reintegration into the familiar world of family, friends and everyday reality can be challenging on both sides for the hero has changed and others may not be aware of the hero’s undertaking or care for it.

Living authentically is a perpetual journey, living a balance between purpose and the material world. ‘Mastery of two worlds’ requires the hero to increasingly make their own choices and voice their opinions, with confidence and compassion, so that the hero can enjoy the ‘freedom to live’.

#stoicpilgrim

#resilience

#mindset

#mentalhealth

#survivalskillsforlife

#doingwhatsrightnotwhatseasy

#alwaysalittlefurther

#wellbeing