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Melissa Hughes
Jan 63 min read
The Power of "No" — Your Secret Superpower
In a world that feels like it demands more and more, saying "no" may be your secret superpower. Here are 6 simple ways to harness the skill
Melissa Hughes
Dec 11, 20244 min read
Why we Fear Change (and how to overcome it)
The brain hates change! We typically react to new experiences with fear. There are some easy ways to overcome that fear and embrace change.
Melissa Hughes
Nov 20, 20243 min read
The Power of Hope
Hope is powerful. It doesn't just profoundly change the way we see the world, it also changes the structure and function of the brain.
Melissa Hughes
Mar 22, 20242 min read
How Fear Hijacks the Brain
Have you ever had a "what was I thinking moment?" that you regretted later? Chances are pretty good that you were not thinking at all.
Melissa Hughes
Mar 4, 20243 min read
Leveraging Stress for Success
We all experience stress and the psychological effects it has on us. But what if we could actually use stress to our advantage?
Melissa Hughes
Feb 23, 20243 min read
The Power of the "Pet Effect"
Since the mid-1980's, there has been a wealth of research comfirming the positive physiological effects of social interaction with animals.
Melissa Hughes
Jan 19, 20243 min read
Quit your bitching; Complaining makes you dumb.
The average person complains about 20 times a day. Research shows that it negatively affects more than our mood. It actually makes us dumber
Melissa Hughes
Dec 15, 20233 min read
Pay Attention to What You Pay Attention To
Is your glass half full or half empty? What we pay attention to has great influence over our thoughts, behaviors and brain chemistry.
Melissa Hughes
Nov 4, 20234 min read
Brain Overload? 5 Ways to Reboot
The human brain is amazing, but you don’t have to be a neuroscientist to know when you're on overload. Here are 5 scientific ways to reboot.
Melissa Hughes
Oct 21, 20234 min read
Do the Hardest Workers Kill Company Culture?
Engaged employees increase revenue and create a profitable company. But the hardest workers may actually be killing organizational culture.
Melissa Hughes
Sep 1, 20233 min read
6 Simple Immune System Boosters
Chronic stress depresses the immune system and increases the risk of several types of illnesses making you more susceptible to viral illness
Melissa Hughes
May 31, 20232 min read
The Emotion that Protects Relationships from Stress
Recent research shows that there is one emotion that protects relationships against the normal stresses and strains of relationships.
Melissa Hughes
Apr 8, 20234 min read
The Stress of Uncertainty
Most of us are creatures of habit. When life throws a curveball, the stress we experience impacts our physical and emotional health.
Melissa Hughes
Mar 17, 20232 min read
The Vagus Nerve: Your Secret Superpower
Research shows that our longest nerve in the body has superpowers - both mentally and physically. 6 ways to engage your vagus nerve.
Melissa Hughes
Jan 13, 20234 min read
Building Resilience to Bounce Back from Adversity
What makes some people fall apart and give up while others are able to bounce back stronger than ever? The answer may surprise you!
Melissa Hughes
Oct 22, 20203 min read
All Threats are NOT Created Equal
The primary goal of the brain is to predict how to minimize threats and maximize rewards. This is why the brain hates uncertainty.
Melissa Hughes
Aug 11, 20205 min read
6 Simple De-Stress Strategies
We all know that stress is bad for us physically and mentally. Calm your mind and reduce anxiety in minutes with these simple strategies.
Melissa Hughes
Aug 10, 20203 min read
This is why we LOVED Grumpy Cat
Research shows that warm fuzzy images of animals and babies can make us happier, increase our resilience to stress and prime our brains for
Melissa Hughes
Aug 10, 20202 min read
A 60-Second Brain Hack for a Competitive Edge
New research shows the vagus nerve can not only help up pump the brakes on stress but also give us a cognitive competitive advantage.
Melissa Hughes
Jul 6, 20205 min read
Stop Stress Eating and Crush Those Crazy Cravings
When we’re stressed, the brain thinks it needs extra fuel to fight the stress . Cue the cravings and the extra pounds.