In this episode, Christine explores the science behind why letting your mind wander leads to more creativity and insights, sharing her own experiences with pain and focus while walking the Camino de Santiago, and how distraction helped alleviate her discomfort. She explains the concept of "flipping the focus" to get unstuck from problems.

Just like Steve Jobs and Einstein, who had breakthrough ideas while daydreaming, we can all benefit our brains by zoning out every now and then!

CHRISTINE REVEALS:

• Which parts of the brain daydreaming activates. 
• How daydreaming helps form new connections in the brain.
• Why trying too hard to solve problems stops ideas from emerging, creating an 'impasse.'
• Why VETO power is necessary to generate insights, and how to shift the focus.
• What research shows is the best thing to visualise if we want to reduce the sensation of pain. 
• The links between imagination, "alpha waves" and solution finding. 
• The difference between people who can calm their minds on demand and intensely focused thinkers.

BEST MOMENTS

"Thanks very much, boss. Can you shag off for a minute please? I’m staring into space."

"Think about it like this, right. You know when you’re in a conversation with somebody or you’re in a meeting and you're brain... (well brainstorming is a different topic actually because now research is finding that brainstorming is not the best way to come up with ideas because it puts pressure on the brain and creates, creates stress.)"

"Next time, walk away, give yourself a couple of minutes to calm down, move out of the conditioning and allow your brain to dream."

VALUABLE RESOURCES:

Your Brain at Work: www.amazon.com/Your-Brain-Work-Strategies-Distraction/dp/0061771295 

The Biology of Desire: https://www.amazon.com/Biology-Desire-Why-Addiction-Disease/dp/1610397126

ABOUT THE HOST

Christine is from Ireland and now lives in Málaga, Spain. She coaches and trains IT professionals on English pronunciation, accent inclusion, international culture and the neuroscience of confident communication.

Her mission is to make public speaking, English pronunciation and brain-based intercultural communication training accessible to disadvantaged communities, so everyone has an opportunity to learn.

Outside work, she hikes, cooks, sings and is currently writing her first book – Healing on The Camino, a story of her journey across Northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela.

Support her work here: www.connectedcommunication.club You’ll get access to a library of personal and professional development resources on “The Science of Speaking.”

• Get in touch: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/connected_communication 

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