The world has been transforming over the last number of years. The entire political landscape seems vastly different in just the last 12 months. Marginalised groups and groups that are the victims of racism, sexism and all other forms of discrimination are fighting back in the form of protests. Since social media has evened the playing field of worldwide communication,…
Life brings with it unbridled joy and deep, dark despair. Sometimes it brings both simultaneously. The truth is that much of your success and well-being in life depends on your ability to handle the dark times and appreciate the joy. There is no fairness in life. Bad things happen to good people and good things often happen to bad people….
Handling Technology Anxiety I’m very aware of the irony of some of the suggestions that may follow and the fact that you are reading this on a computer, tablet or phone screen. Modern technology is a big part of the way we live these days. Your ability to get more done, reach more people and spread your ideas is dependent…
How to make 2017 simply brilliant Every New Year’s Day, millions of people across the globe engage in a tradition known as ‘New Year’s Resolutions’. With a wink and a smile they pick something they are going to stop doing, start doing or change and they vow to make it happen. Usually it is a matter of days or weeks…
23 TED & TEDx talks to watch over Christmas So, with all of my TEDx talk shenanigans over the last few months I figured it might be useful to share some great examples of TED and TEDx talks with you. A TED or TEDx talk usually takes between 3 and 18 minutes and attempts to convey one key idea which is…
Recently, I’ve been reading a lot of blog posts and articles on ‘Fake News’. It seems that in both Brexit and the recent American Election, there has been a proliferation of made up news where websites have concocted an imaginary piece of news which then goes viral and is taken as true by millions of people. In this post, I…
In this age of propaganda, we find ourselves influenced not only by the voices of traditional and social media, but by our own inner voices. In this unique piece blending science and inspiration, Psychologist and Performance Poet, Owen Fitzpatrick, shares his own heartfelt journey through depression and low self-esteem. He describes the key to taking back control of our minds…
How to win the war of your mind My experience in doing a TEDx talk was wonderful. Having applied a number of times in various countries, I finally got the opportunity just a few miles from where I grew up. The way it was organised was terrific, the audience were wonderful and it was a real privilege. The idea I…
One of the things that I think can make a big difference to people is when we find simple ways of teaching them important concepts. Recently, in preparing for a presentation, I came up with a simple way of teaching three of the most important concepts that I believe helps people to deal with their problems in the most effective…
A few days ago, I delivered a talk to the Irish Cancer Society at their annual event. There were approximately 600 people in the audience and I was speaking to them for thirty minutes. The audience mostly consisted of those struggling with cancer, cancer survivors and their families. A significant portion of the speech was to be about motivation and,…