Keywords

Resilience - Mindfulness - Breathing - Breath work - Wellbeing

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Michael O’Brien, a qualified meditation teacher, executive coach and endurance athlete, talks about how to stop a bad moment becoming a bad day and accomplishing hard things through mindfulness. Michael shares his career journey in healthcare pharmaceuticals and his personal experience with a near-death cycling accident.

Michael discusses how his perspective on life changed after the accident, which occurred when a driver crossed over into his lane, causing a head-on collision. He shares his bleak prognosis from doctors and how he struggled with anger and uncertainty about his future roles as a father, husband, and employee. He also highlights how a mentor helped him adopt a more positive perspective by emphasising the importance of self-labeling, practicing gratitude, and mindfulness. This shift in perspective helped him overcome his challenges and gradually move forward in his recovery journey, which included both progress and setbacks.

Main topics

The concept of mindfulness and its benefits
Using breath work to manage stress and improve focus and decision-making
The importance of creating space between stimulus and response
Cultivating a more thoughtful and neutral approach to decision-making
The importance of connecting with one's breath for overall health and well-being
Different patterns of breathing
Using shorter mindfulness practices to promote mindful living and improving overall health and wellbeing

Action items

You can find out more about Michael at https://www.michaelobrienshift.com/pause-breathe-reflect/

Michael O'Brien - Changing perspective to overcome challenges

Resilience Unravelled