psychology

Improve Concentration with Mind Exercises

3:00AM Tamar Weinberg | With the right type of thinking, you can vastly improve your concentration skills. Exercising your mind takes time and commitment but will ultimately translate to a sharper focus. To align your mind with your body and bring a heightened awareness for a much deeper concentration, go to a completely isolated room. Sit on a chair or on the floor with your spine erect. Breathe deeply and relax your body. There are many exercises you can attempt to improve your concentration, and the Ego Development blog suggests several. One such exercise requires full body awareness. More »

Fight Back When You Are Intimidated

2:00AM Tamar Weinberg | If you’ve felt intimidated in non-violent situations and didn’t know how to respond, bear in mind that the goal of the intimidator is to take power away from you. You should stand firm and have confidence: do not let him usurp that power. If you are unable to respond because the person is cutting in with additional questions, assume control of the situation and respond slowly that you’re not finished explaining your side of the story. Do not shout back. Instead, employ subtle humiliation. For example, if some is hot-tempered and wants to resolve an issue immediately, calmly respond that you will when the individual cools off. Never let anyone take charge of your emotions. You’re the one who is in control. How do you prevent others from assuming your power? Share your tactics in the comments. The Art of Verbal Intimidation: Learn it and Fight Back [Jay Morrissey] More »

Learn to Profile People

6:00AM Tamar Weinberg | Machiavellian psychology suggests that if you profile people around you, you’ll be less inclined to be involved in personal conflicts. How do you achieve this? First, you need to be receptive to the act of reading people and focus your energy on the task. Once you’ve reached this awareness, understand what you are looking for and master the act of listening. Keep the conversation flowing by asking questions. Make sure to be cognisant of any slang, exaggerations, sarcasm, self-criticism, or gossip, as these characteristics can define the person you are profiling. Pay attention to body language and whether acts are consistent with what is being said. Watch out for mistakes, because if repeated often, the excuses are no longer valid. More »