Josie and Jeff introduce the neuroscience of mindfulness and show its (sometimes surprising) applications in the workplace.

1. Mindfulness,
the Brain & Business
Managing and leading others
with the brain in mind
Dr Jeffrey M. Schwartz & Josephine Thomson, MCC

2. Presenters
Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D.
As one of the world’s leading experts in neuroplasticity and
the co-founder of the NeuroLeadership field, Dr. Jeffrey
Schwartz is a sought after speaker, and best selling author of
'Brain Lock' and 'You Are Not Your Brain'.
Dr Schwartz has been practicing mindfulness within a
structured cultural tradition for over 35 years. He has
sustained a formal daily practice for at least one hour every
day for over 25 years.
Josephine Thomson, MCC
Josie Thomson is an internationally certified master coach, a
Middlesex University neuroleadership graduate, lifestyle
author, acclaimed business woman and cancer survivor. She
partners with her clients to achieve sustainable change and
breakthrough business/lifestyle results.

4. Overview
● Introduction to mindfulness
● Deceptive brain messages
● Meta-cognition, meta-attention, meta-awareness
● True self
● Your mind
● Your 'Wise Advocate'
● Mindfulness defined
● How it works
● Benefits of mindfulness
● Practice
● Q&A

5. Deceptive brain messages
Any false or inaccurate thought or any
unhelpful or distracting impulse, urge, or
desire that takes you away from your true
goals and intentions in life
i.e. your true self.

6. The brain puts out the
call, the mind decides
whether to listen

7. ● Meta-cognition – thinking about
what you’re thinking
● Meta-attention – paying attention
to what you’re paying attention to
● Meta-awareness – being aware
about HOW you are being aware

8. True Self
Living according to your true self means
seeing yourself for who you really are based
on your sincere striving to embody the values
and achieve the goals you truly believe in.
It includes approaching yourself, your true
emotions and needs, from a loving, caring,
nurturing perspective that is consistent with
how your loving inner guide (Wise Advocate)
sees you.

9. Your Wise Advocate
The aspect of your attentive mind
that can see the bigger picture,
including your inherent worth,
capabilities and
accomplishments.

10. Your Wise Advocate
Knows what you are thinking, can see the
deceptive brain messages for what they are and
where they came from, understands how you feel
(physically & emotionally) and is aware of how
destructive and unhealthy your habitual,
automatic responses have been for you.
The wise advocate wants the best for you, it loves
and cares for you, so it encourages you to value
your true self and make decisions in a rational
way based on what is in your overall best interest
in the long-term.

11. What is mindfulness?
● An activity
● A state of mind
○ While it eventually can become a way of being and a state
of mind, it does not start out that way. You can’t just be 'in
the zone' without effort.
● Awareness
○ What is happening right now
● Focus
○ Consciously directing your attention
● Acceptance

12. Non-judgemental?
Mindfulness is in fact BOTH non-judgmental and
judgmental
● With respect to thoughts, impulses, urges,
desires, interests, preferences and so on,
mindfulness certainly is non-judgmental
● However, this does not mean anything goes in
terms of our behaviors... we can and should
judge our actions and plans

13. Components of mindfulness
● Direct knowing and deep experiential
awareness
● Being knowledgeable about what is
happening in this moment as it is happening
● Approaching your experiences and feelings
through direct observation, rather than
through thoughts and concepts that cloud
your perceptions

14. Behavioural
James Gross has shown that suppressing
emotional reactions/responses does not work:
● Increases blood pressure and heart rate in the
subject
● Decreases memory of events/encoding new
memories
● Increases blood pressure of those around you

15. Mindfulness
A practical way to learn mindfulness...
Use the Four Steps:
1. Relabel
2. Reframe
3. Refocus
4. Revalue

17. Mindfulness
Let's practice...

18. Mindfulness works
In summary, any approach that allows you to:
1. Make mental notes/increase awareness
2. Reinterpret the meaning or significance of
events
3. Selectively focus your attention will lead to
positive changes in the brain, most
importantly...

19. Mindfulness works
These brain changes result in:
● Decreased distress, anxiety and depression
● Allowing for more rational decisions/actions by
increasing voluntary, conscious emotion
regulation (and symptom management)
Modalities can include meditation, labeling affect,
reframing or selective attention

20. Mindfulness works
Understanding that your brain has been
activating in unhelpful ways and that you,
through mindfulness and related skills, can
change how your brain function in positive ways.
This helps people become more motivated and
empowered to change their brain to work for
them, rather than against them.

21. Overview
● Introduction to mindfulness
● Deceptive brain messages
● Meta-cognition, meta-attention, meta-awareness
● True self
● Your mind
● Your 'Wise Advocate'
● Mindfulness defined
● How it works
● Benefits of mindfulness
● Practice
● Q&A

22. The Virtual Masterclass Series
Develop new techniques for
taking control of your brain,
changing bad habits & ending
unhealthy thinking in this five
week masterclass.

23. Why attend?
● Exclusive access to both of us for
five weeks
● Become more mindful in your work
and life
● End the negative self-talk
● Increase your confidence, productivity
and happiness
● Connect with like-minded people
● Access to webinar recordings

24. The Virtual Masterclass Series
Commences Monday November
12th at 6:30pm (Pacific time)
Class runs at 1:30pm Sydney time on Tuesdays.
Commencing November 13.
Classes run weekly at the same time each week.
If you miss a class, you can catch up by watching
the recording.
$389 standard price
$289 for today's webinar registrants

26. Thank you
● Order a SIGNED copy of 'You Are Not Your Brain'
at www.josephine.com.au
● Order 'Simple Meditations for Busy People' for just
$7.99 at www.josephine.com.au
● Register for the workshop using the code
MIND2012 to take advantage of the special offer.
Offer expires in 24 hours, so be quick!
● Register at: www.jeffreymschwartz.com