← Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

How to Open Your Mind and Change Your Life with Dr Tara Swart #58

Apr 17, 2019 1h 9m 29 insights
Whether it's a dream job, a successful relationship, losing weight or running a marathon, you have the power to accomplish anything you set your mind to. Yet for most of us, life just passes us by. In this week’s episode, neuroscientist and executive coach, Dr Tara Swart, explains how we can all take back control of our lives by training our brains to create the life we want to live. She explains the science behind ‘the law of attraction’ and talks about how what we think and feel are so intimately connected with what goes on in our bodies. We discuss the power of journaling and how creating a vision board – a collage that represents everything you aspire to – can be a surprising way to focus your intentions and construct a life that’s true to your innermost wishes. Dr Swart also talks about the concept of value tagging – placing a new idea at the front of your mind by thinking about it often. Finally, she gives her top tips for getting the most out of life. This conversation could change your life for the better – I hope it does! Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/58 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Actively Drive Your Life

Stop and step back to reflect on choices and what you tolerate, actively choosing your path rather than letting life happen to you on autopilot.

2. Integrate Six Ways of Thinking

Consciously work on mastering your emotions, knowing your body, trusting your gut, making good decisions, staying motivated/resilient, and taking ownership of life creation, ensuring all six are balanced.

3. Implement Micro Tweaks

Focus on small, incremental changes (e.g., 30 mins earlier bed, weekend digital detox, more water, 1-2k more steps) rather than drastic ones, as these build up to significant, sustainable improvements.

4. Decide from Abundance

Shift your decision-making from avoiding negative outcomes (fear) to actively pursuing positive growth and abundance, such as improving relationships, building savings, or seeking new experiences.

5. Curate Your Information Diet

Be mindful and selective about the news, social media feeds, and other information you consume, especially before bed, to avoid living in fear and foster a more positive mindset.

6. Optimize Brain Health Physically

Prioritize physical factors like sleep, diet, exercise, and mindfulness, as they are crucial for putting your brain in good condition, which then enables clearer thinking and better relationships.

7. Optimize Sleep Quality & Position

Aim for eight hours of good quality sleep; if restless or jet-lagged, make an effort to sleep on your side, which is optimal for the brain’s glymphatic system to flush out toxins.

8. Start Daily Journaling

Dedicate a few minutes each day to journal your thoughts and experiences, then periodically review your entries to identify patterns, understand your moods, and gain insights into your behavior.

9. Create a Vision Board

Make a vision board (a collage of images representing your aspirations) to visually prime your brain, making it more likely to notice opportunities aligned with your goals.

10. Transform Vision to Action Board

View your vision board not just as a visualization tool, but as an ‘action board’ that prompts you to take daily steps and make consistent efforts to achieve the dreams and goals represented on it.

11. Subconscious Priming with Vision Board

Keep your vision board near your bed and view it just before falling asleep and upon waking, as your brain is more impressionable during these states, strengthening the impression on your subconscious.

12. Daily 12-Minute Meditation

Commit to a minimum of 12 minutes of mindfulness meditation every day, as studies show this duration significantly increases resilience.

13. Review Journal Entries

Actively re-read your journal entries from time to time to discover patterns, understand triggers, and learn from past experiences, which can be more helpful than just the act of writing.

14. Journal to Process Thoughts

Use a blank diary to record daily events, emotions, and reactions; this helps externalize thoughts, reduce stress, and allows for objective review to inform future decisions.

15. Evolve Gratitude Practice

Start your gratitude practice by listing external things, but gradually evolve it to include intrinsic qualities and personal resources (e.g., creativity, resilience), which builds self-worth and confidence.

16. Maintain Achievement List

Regularly list 10 things you are proud of having achieved, including personal milestones (like being a good step-parent) alongside professional ones, to acknowledge your efforts and build a stronger self-image.

17. Embrace Change for Resilience

Actively seek out new experiences, meet new people, travel, or read books on diverse topics to make your brain more open and flexible, enhancing your ability to deal with unexpected negative changes.

18. Mindful Social Media Engagement

If social media causes feelings of discontent or comparison, consider a temporary break or carefully curating feeds to follow people who impart knowledge or share positive, joyful imagery.

19. Family Gratitude Game

Engage in a daily gratitude game with your family, asking questions like ‘What have I done to make someone else happy?’ and ‘What have I learned today?’ to instill a focus on positivity.

20. Individual Family Vision Boards

Encourage each family member to create their own individual vision board, fostering self-love and personal goal-setting, while still sharing and supporting each other’s aspirations as a family.

21. Avoid Stress Over Imperfect Habits

While striving for healthy habits, avoid getting stressed or feeling guilty if you miss a day or can’t perfectly adhere to them, as stress can counteract the benefits.

22. Go to Bed Earlier Tonight

Begin tonight by going to bed half an hour earlier than your usual time to improve sleep quality.

23. Start Journaling Tomorrow

Begin journaling tomorrow morning to process thoughts and gain self-awareness.

24. Try a Meditation App

Download a meditation app (like Headspace or Calm) and listen to a guided meditation to begin incorporating it into your routine.

25. Limit Afternoon Caffeine

Refrain from consuming caffeine after 12:00 PM to improve sleep quality and reduce restlessness.

26. Experience Meditation First

Start by experiencing a guided meditation to understand its benefits, which will then make you more likely to download and consistently use a meditation app for daily practice.

27. Long-Term Vision Board

For a longer-term strategy, create a vision board to help focus your intentions and manifest your desired life.

28. Supplement with Athletic Greens

If you live a busy, stressful life and want an ‘insurance policy’ for nutritional needs, try Athletic Greens by visiting athleticgreens.com/livemore for a special offer.

29. Support “Feel Better, Live More” Podcast

Go to www.britishpodcastawards.com, type ‘Feel Better, Live More’ in the vote section, and enter your name to support the podcast.