The document discusses mindfulness and its application in business and personal development, led by Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz and Josephine Thomson. Key concepts include understanding deceptive brain messages, the importance of meta-cognition, and the role of the 'wise advocate' in decision-making. Mindfulness is presented as a practical approach to increase awareness, manage emotions, and foster positive changes in brain function.

1. Mindfulness,
the Brain & Business
Managing and leading
others with the brain in
mind
Dr Jeffrey Schwartz &
Josephine Thomson MCC
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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.
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3. Overview
Key concepts:
● Deceptive brain messages
● Meta-cognition; meta-attention; meta-
awareness
● True self
● Your mind
● Your 'Wise Advocate'
● Mindfulness – definition
● How mindfulness works
● Benefits of mindfulness
● Guided practice
● Q&A
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4. 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.
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5. The brain puts out the call, the
mind decides whether to listen
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6. ● 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
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8

7. 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.
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8. Your Wise Advocate
The aspect of your attentive
mind that can see the bigger
picture, including your
inherent worth, capabilities
and accomplishments.
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9. 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.
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10. 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
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11. 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
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12. 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
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13. 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
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14. Mindfulness
A practical way to learn
mindfulness...
Use the Four Steps
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15. *

16. Mindfulness
Let's practice
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17. 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…
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18. 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
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19. Mindfulness works
Understanding that your brain has been
activating in unhelpful ways and that you,
through mindfulness and other therapies, 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.
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20. Overview
Key concepts:
● Deceptive brain messages
● Meta-cognition; meta-attention; meta-
awareness
● True self
● Your mind
● Your 'Wise Advocate'
● Mindfulness – definition
● How mindfulness works
● Benefits of mindfulness
● Guided practice
● Q&A
*

21. Thank you
● Sign up for our next webinar if you haven't
already done so: www.jeffreymschwartz.
com
● Order a SIGNED copy of 'You Are Not Your
Brain' at www.josephine.com.au
● Pre-order the 'You Are Not Your Brain' 2.5
hour workshop recording (filmed at Mind
and Its Potential Conference last year) at:
www.jeffreymschwartz.com
● Register your interest in attending one of the
upcoming workshops online. Registrations
open next month
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