There was a time in my life when I had so many reasons to be happy. I had a wonderful husband, a healthy newborn son, and I was living in a beautiful place. From the outside, my life looked pretty good. And yet, I was constantly complaining. About little things. About situations that didn't go […]
Imagine walking past the same tree every morning. You've passed it hundreds of times. You know exactly where it stands, how its branches stretch across the pavement and how its leaves move in the wind. But one morning, something different happens. You stop. For the first time in months, you notice how beautiful it is. […]
We often assume that thinking about what could go wrong is negative thinking. But is it? Imagine two people facing exactly the same challenge. Both recognise that something might go wrong. One thinks: “This probably won't work.”“Something always goes wrong.”“What if I fail?” The other thinks: “What could go wrong?”“What can I do about it?”“How […]
Most of us think of memory as something connected to the past. We remember conversations, experiences, places, mistakes and achievements. Our brain uses those experiences to help us understand what is happening now and anticipate what might happen next. But there is another fascinating capacity of the brain: We can mentally represent experiences that haven’t […]
We’ve all heard it: “Think positive.” Having a difficult week? Think positive.Feeling overwhelmed? Focus on the good.Worried about the future? Change your thoughts. Positive thinking can certainly be helpful. But if it were enough, many of us would have solved our biggest challenges simply by repeating positive affirmations in front of the mirror. The problem […]
Do you find it harder to read a book without checking your phone? Do you open your computer to complete one task and, 20 minutes later, discover that you have checked your email, replied to a message, watched a video and somehow ended up scrolling social media? You may start wondering: What is happening to […]
Close your eyes and become completely absorbed in a good piece of music. Or remember a time when you were driving and suddenly realised you had travelled several kilometres without consciously thinking about every turn. Your brain did not switch off. Your attention simply changed. This gives us a useful starting point for understanding hypnosis. […]
Imagine receiving a 10% pay rise. You feel happy. Your work has been recognised, you are earning more, and life feels a little better. Then you discover that your colleague received a 20% pay rise. Suddenly, your 10% doesn’t feel quite as good. But what actually changed? Nothing. You still have exactly the same pay […]
What if lasting well-being wasn't something you had to wait for—but something you could train? For many years, scientists believed that the adult brain was essentially “fixed.” Once we reached adulthood, our brain structure and many of our behavioural patterns were thought to be permanent. Today, neuroscience tells a very different story. Research over the […]
Whether we look at this through psychology or through the lens of how attention and behaviour work, it raises an important question: How can your brain move towards something you haven't clearly defined? Your Brain Needs Direction Imagine getting into your car, opening the GPS and saying: “Take me somewhere better.” Better where? The beach? […]
Have you ever noticed that once you decide to buy a particular car, you suddenly start seeing that model everywhere? The cars were always there. Your brain simply started paying attention to them. The same principle applies to your goals. Your brain cannot organise itself around a destination it cannot clearly see. That's why one […]
Imagine two people. The first is about to walk into an important business meeting. The second is waiting backstage before delivering a keynote presentation to hundreds of people. Both notice exactly the same thing. Their heart is beating faster. Their breathing has changed. Their hands feel warmer. Their stomach feels different. Yet one thinks, “Something […]
For thousands of years, paying attention to something unexpected could mean the difference between danger and safety. Today, your brain responds to notifications in much the same way it once responded to movement in the bushes. Every vibration, alert, or pop-up whispers the same message: “This might be important.” Your brain listens. Even when it […]
Most people love to talk about happiness, success, and the moments when life unfolds exactly as planned. But what happens when it doesn't? What happens when someone disagrees with you? When a plan fails? When a relationship disappoints you? When circumstances move in a direction you never wanted? The answer to these questions often reveals […]
Chronic stress is not just something you feel — it can become a pattern your brain repeats. Paula Fernanda explains how stress, overthinking and emotional overload can keep the nervous system stuck in survival mode, and how practical brain-based tools can support healthier patterns.
