Read our posts about Soul

18Mar

Wellcome Book Prize 2015: Do No Harm by Henry Marsh

Louise Chunn

books, career, culture, Wellcomebookprize

Soul

This book may not sound like an easy read. Chapter after chapter about the triumphs, tragedies and tribulations of a London-based neurosurgeon as he looks back over 40 years of treating serious accidents and illnesses. Blood, bone, brain and many tears. Doctors live with life and death decisions every day; they seem to be able to cut themselves off the human tragedy. But some, like Henry Marsh, can use what they see, hear, and ultimately do, to open us up to essential truths about life and what really matters. That’s why this book has made the shortlist of...
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09Mar

Wellcome Book Prize Shortlist Announced

Welldoing

books, culture

Soul

This year’s Wellcome Book Prize shortlist is an amalgam of non-fiction and fiction books that as head of judges Bill Bryson said today, are “all accessible, engaging and beautifully written”. Deciding on the six books that would make the shortlist was “like being in the world’s best book club”, said the best-selling non-fiction author. The prize, which was relaunched last year with the strap line “books for the incurably curious”, is for publications that engage with some aspect of medicine, health or illness. As Ken Arnold, Head of Public Programmes at the...
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07Mar

Why We Need International Women's Day

Terri Apter

men, society, women

Soul

Explanations of women’s under-representation in science, technology, engineering and maths (only 14% of women entering University choose science related subjects, compared to 39% of boys) are usually stacked up like layers on a wedding cake. The bottom layer, the stodgy foundation, is about “hard wiring”.  Fortunately, claiming that gender career segregation is down to differences in women’s and men’s brains is now high risk; though this claim has helped launch one Cambridge professor as a star, it has also brought down one Harvard president. Girls opt for...
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06Mar

Healing Music

Terry Snow

creativity, music, wellbeing

Soul

Music often strikes a chord with us deep down, even if we don't understand why. Terry Snow explores the healing power of music composition and listening.
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04Mar

A Happier, Healthier You: The Welldoing How To Guide

Welldoing

anxiety, books, depression, mindfulness, wellbeing

Soul

This is just a quick post, to proudly announce that we have published an eBook: A Happier, Healthier You: The Welldoing How To Guide We have collected contributions from a wonderful array of experts, psychologists and writers, who offer their best advice on subjects that will – we hope – serve to make life less stressful and more enjoyable and balanced for you too. This How To Guide is all about your mind and body, with advice ranging from how best to start the day, how to build inner strength, how to find the job you love - and everything in between. And it's...
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27Feb

Expressive Writing for Mental Wellbeing

Dennis Relojo-Howell

anxiety, creativity, depression, wellbeing

Soul

Expressive writing , sometimes called written emotional disclosure, is a fancy term for such a simple act: expressing oneself through writing. Most of us have done it at one point in our lives through keeping a journal or a diary. But of course, with modern age, it is now being done with a keyboard. To some extent, keeping a personal blog can be considered as a form of expressive writing. Tracing the roots of expressive writing Expressive writing is a therapy introduced by Pennebaker and Beall in the late 1980s. Their pioneering work (Pennebaker & Beall, 1986)...
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24Feb

Why You Need to Switch Off

Karunavira

mindfulness, self, society, stress, technology, wellbeing

Soul

We all recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance, but many of us still find it hard to switch off, even while we’re on holiday. A recent survey revealed that while the three main reasons for going on holiday were to spend time with loved ones (50%), to get some rest and relaxation (34%) and to take a break from work (22%), over two thirds (69%) continued to check their work email, with just under half (44%) admitting to checking in once a day or more. Why do we continue to act in ways that we know are not good for us and what is the impact of a...
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16Feb

The Basics of Mindfulness: Why Does it Work?

Andres Fossas

compassion, mindfulness, wellbeing

Soul

Andres Fossas continues his basics of mindfulness series, this time revealing why this practice is so effective and beneficial.
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13Feb

10 Ways to Sweep Yourself Off Your Feet This Valentine's Day

Anonymous

love, self, single, tips, wellbeing

Soul

Sigh. It’s V-day. Plastic, commercialised love is all around. No, maybe that’s not entirely fair; why shouldn’t couples have a day to show some (cheesy) appreciation? But for people who don’t fit the cookie-cutter template it can be frustratingly difficult to avoid Valentine's day. Many people feel increasing pressure and self-criticism for not being partnered up this February 14th. I don’t see that hypocrite Cupid flying around with his girlfriend or boyfriend all the time, but somehow we’re all supposed to feel that way on this day. Here’s...
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07Feb

Craftivist Collective: Craft for Wellbeing

Welldoing

creativity, culture, wellbeing

Soul

As the name suggests, Craftivist Collective, founded in 2009, is a movement which seeks to combine craft and activism. Their aim is to provoke awareness and discussion of issues surrounding local and global poverty and injustice. The World Health Organisation includes “contributing to society” as one of their paths to wellbeing. This was the focus of the most recent Craftivist exhibition, which was held in Aldgate East in London. The project, titled #wellMAKING, was the culmination of more than 50 ‘stitch-ins’ held across the nation. It’s goal was to...
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