patrickfrombelfast

[patrickfrombelfast]

Hey everyone check out a snippet from my live stream on sunday night where we discuss the character of Anna May Wong and the changing role of women in society since the 1940′s

[patrickfrombelfast]

hey everyone check out a brief snippet from my live stream on sunday night where we discuss open relationships and show marriages.  

[patrickfrombelfast]

Hey everyone check out a brief snippet from my livestream on Sunday night where we discuss the netflix show “Hollywood,” and it’s homosexual themes; the homosexual relationship between Rock Hudson and Archie Coleman and the sexual harassment from Jim Parson’s character Henry Wilson. 

[patrickfrombelfast]

Hey guys check out a brief snippet of my live stream where we discuss the netflix show Hollywood and the character of Camille Washington and Racism

[patrickfrombelfast]

Hey guys check out a brief snippet of my live stream with Lyndsey where we discuss the hit netflix show Hollywood.  This video talks about the characters Rock Hudson and Jack Castello.  More vids like this to come

[patrickfrombelfast]

My nature appreciation for today.. Everyday it is important to take some time in nature and appreciate the birds singing and the beauty of the greenery.. If you want to see more go over to my YouTube channel Patrick 4444 and watch my 'meditate with me' videos where I will guide your breathing in the back drop of the birds singing.. Like the video comment and subscribe #thankfulmoments #thankfulmeditation #mindfulnessbelfast #mindfulnessnorthernireland #mindfulnessireland #mindfulnesscommunity #northernirishbloggers #northernirishyoutubecommunity #northernirishbeauty #northernirishyoutuber #irishselfimprovementnlogger #irishhealthblogger #irishbloggersconnect #irishyoutuberstag (at Belfast) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_hcOjpDqAu/?igshid=51w8w7huif1q

[patrickfrombelfast]

Hello everyone check out my latest youtube video/ vlog “Meditate with me, a five minute breathing exercise.” Go over to the video Like the video, comment and subscribe.  Tell me about your experiences with mindfulness and meditation and suggest any mindful/meditation exercises that I should introduce into my self development journey.  Thanks very much!!!

[patrickfrombelfast]

I love wildlife.. It's incredibly beautiful.. If you have a moment today appreciate the wildlife that lives all around us it is truly wonderful and miraculous.. #thankfulmoments #thankfulmeditation #meditationnorthernireland #meditationbelfast #northernorishblogger #northernirishbeauty #irishselfimprovementnlogger #northernirishblog #northernirishyoutuber #northerhirishyoutubers #northernirishyoutubecommunity #irishhealthblogger #irishbloggersconnect #irishyoutubers #irishmeditation (at Belfast) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_fEEh7hE7M/?igshid=rhjqq2vcqa6

[patrickfrombelfast]

Hello everyone check out my latest youtube video meditate with me.  Go over to the channel and subscribe if you would like to see more videos like this.  

[patrickfrombelfast]

Hello everyone! This is my ukulele.. I'm incredibly thankful for my ukulele for bringing me joy and happiness one yet another wonderful day in Belfast and keeping me company while in isolation.. My ukulele and I are working together to improve the enunciation of my speech as singing is a much more enjoyable way to do this than vocal training exercises.. If you have a second try and think of something that your incredibly thankful for. If you don't maybe you'll make a little time later #thankfulmoments #thankfulmeditation #mindfulnessbelfast #meditationbelfast #meditationnorthernireland #northernirishbloggers #northernirishblog (at Belfast, N.Ireland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_XUH8Uh756/?igshid=p472bq4cme0m

[patrickfrombelfast]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Patrick 4444 (@fourfoursyoutube)

Not a bad moment for some presentness meditation. If you want, Take a moment and appreciate something beautiful. Like the blue sky or some birds singing. #presentnessmeditation #thankfulmoments #thankfulmeditation #meditationbelfast #meditationnorthernireland #belfastblog #belfastblogger #belfastbloggers #irishbloggersconnect #irishhealthblogger (at Belfast) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_SNXArBLoN/?igshid=4ij5knhy7dyq

[patrickfrombelfast]

If you saw my Instagram yesterday you'll know that I'm in the process of giving up sugar. There are many reasons for giving up sugar which I'll write a blog about later on today. See my Tumblr. Although many of us need a crutch to help with this and this is where chromium piccolinate is helpful. Chromium can help to reduce appetite and increase energy and reduce cravings for unhealthy food. I take it while fasting although, if I were strictly adhering to the rules of fasting I wouldn't. Do what works for you. #givingupsugar #givingupsugarishard #givingupsugarforlent #givingupsugartomorrow #givingupsugarforgood #givingupsugarforamonth #givingupsugarfornewyears #givingupsugarforcharity #givingupsugardayisgettingcloser #givingupsugarreallyworks #northernirishbloggers #belfastblog #belfastbloggers #belfastblogger #irishblogger #irishbloggers (at Belfast) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_RptdXDv9q/?igshid=1x2ml14dawhjc

[patrickfrombelfast]

I've been taking these throughout the day as they are a pro-biotic.. Which is helpful for digestive problems, and sugar addiction.. Apple cider vinegar is also great for reducing appetite if your fasting (as I am) and is great for skin complexion. There are many health benefits to Apple cider vinegar go over to my blog or YouTube channel to find out more #probioticsupplements #belfastblogs #belfastbloggers #selfimprovementdaily #irishselfimprovementnlogger #irishhealthblogger https://www.instagram.com/p/B_PuHSOBIdZ/?igshid=1jw8l1oges8mv

[patrickfrombelfast]

Acknowledge the monkey, accept the monkey, forgive the monkey, forget the monkey: repeat; a mindfulness mantra

I’ve been engaging more and more in mindful/ meditative practice since the lockdown.  Usually I go outside into the garden and engage in a breathing  or present awareness exercise.  There are many breathing exercises available online but to get you started a simple one is breath in for seven or eight seconds, and breath out for seven or eight seconds.  I find personally that the more structured the exercise the less beneficial and organic it is, but you may benefit from one of the many guided mindful meditation meditations available online.  One that I’ve used in the past is here. 

A present awareness exercise is simply appreciating something in the moment trying to silence distracted thoughts about the past, the future, or anxiety about things that are outside of your agency.    I’ve made a concerted effort over the last couple of weeks to depoliticise my life and to take win back agency where possible.  To engage in present awareness meditation set a timer on your phone and appreciate the blue sky, a plant, or some flying birds.

Many mindfulness advocates talk about the monkey brain; the narrative part of the brain, which commentates on what is going on compels you to action.  By itself the monkey brain isn’t a bad thing, the monkey brain is who we are and is our inner narrative.  In excesses, our monkey brain is responsible for much (if not all) of the of the stress, anxiety and depression that we feel in our contemporary world.   

During meditation therefore I use the above mantra; “Acknowledge the monkey, accept the monkey, forgive the monkey, forget the monkey: repeat;”

Focussing on one task for an extended period of time is difficult, more difficult that you’d expect in you’ve never practiced meditation.  Practitioners train for years and few would call themselves experts.  But during meditation no-one is judging you and you’re not competing with anyone.  If you become distracted “acknowledge the monkey.”  Many people with anxiety and depression are in the habit of thinking of any transgression as a “failure.”  In mindfulness there is no exam, you’re not being judged, self actualisation and improvement are the goal, and it takes a lifetime.  

“Accept the Monkey,” brain is part of who you are right now.  Try  to learn to love your monkey brain and accept it; but know that in this moment, during this exercise, you have no need for it.  Accept and love yourself and your monkey brain, for you are both valuable.   

“Forgive the monkey,” you’re human, return to your breathing exercise, or present awareness training.  There are few things that you can excel in straight away, we all have to train and learn.  If you were lifting weights you would expect an injury if you were to lift a heavy weight without training.  Nobody runs a marathon when they first decide to go for a jog; “Forget the monkey and repeat.”  Return to the breathing exercise; don’t be surprised if you can only focus for five or ten seconds if you’ve never practiced; this is a difficult skill that you’re introducing into your life; but an important one.

Think of meditation as exercising the muscle of presentness, training the monkey brain, much like you would train a dog not to bark all night, you are training your mind.  Body builders are never happy with their strength, they are always practicing and improving.  This is not a practice that you will never master, instead it is improvement and fulfilment in itself.

I often find that ideas come to me when meditating, i may start to write them down in the future to see if any of them are useful and aid in my productivity or self actualisation journey.  This is a similar phenomenon to “sleeping on a problem,” with many anecdotes of creative genius coming to people in their sleep. 

Anyways thanks for reading the blog please like, comment and subscribe to the blog and follow my social media below, if you want to come along with me on my self improvement journey.  

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe6dVRDpE5qQF3pUolkCoEQ?view_as=subscriber

https://www.instagram.com/patrickfourfourfourfour/

[patrickfrombelfast]

My latest health tonic.. Bone broth; available on Amazon.. I'm trying to reduce my caffeine intake with the aim of reducing my stress levels anxiety. Bone broth contains 16 essential amino acids and a good mineral content.. It's also quite tasty as a substitute to tea or coffee to have at any time of the day.. This bone broth contains turmeric which is a powerful anti inflammatory and help with sleep. Subscribe to my blog and YouTube channel to find out more #selfimprovementdaily #belfastblogs #belfastbloggers #northernirishbloggers #irishhealthblogger #irishselfimprovementnlogger (at Belfast) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Kz1-DBMeN/?igshid=8vdm8evfe53z

[patrickfrombelfast]

Following through on starting a habit: a micro blog

I just wanted to write a quick micro-blog to let you know that (yesterday and today) I have followed through on keeping up on my new habit of of working out closer to home, performing some body weight stretches and calisthenics; two or three times a day, for 2-5 minutes at a time. As i continue to follow through on adapting this habit into my life, i hope to do calisthenic/ bodyweight  for a longer period of time, perhaps three times a day.  Then to do calisthenic (pilates/yoga/HIIT) two or three times a day for twenty minutes at a time. 

Weight loss, better body composition and strength are the goal and I continue to practice fasting everyday (I’ve already fasted for 15 hours today); diet is 60% of a weight loss regimen.  Beginning habits is not easy (and a little embarrassing) as I lack the composure of someone more experienced, but with acceptance, I go on knowing that tomorrow, I will be further along my journey than I am today.  For that I’m thankful, and excited!

I will probably  come around to buying equipment to improve with eventually, but practicing with body weight at first, allows me to practice good form in a slow and deliberate way.  I believe that it is important for people starting a workout regime to practice deliberate form, because bad form is a habit that hard to break without professional guidance; you can also risk injury. 

My advise is to do one exercise with deliberate form.  Have an expert (on youtube or google) explain the correct form of one exercise, and do that one exercise until the movement becomes automatic.  Use it as a mindful practice, focus on that form of that exercise, focus on the stretch, breath through the stretch and focus on the stretch.  Perform the stretch slowly, endure the discomfort of the stretch and breath through it.  Learn to enjoy the discomfort of the stretch.  If anything is painful stop doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong or expecting too much of yourself.  

I look forward to tomorrow (and later on today) when I will be better at calisthenic/ body weight training than I am now.  

Thanks for reading my blog, please like comment and subscribe and follow my instagram and youtube links below.  

[patrickfrombelfast]

The power of habit; HIIT, yoga and pilates

I’ve been thinking alot about positivity and negativity over the last couple of days and I’m sure I’ll come to write a blog about that soon.  

For today, I just wanted to write a couple of micro blogs and get back into the habit.  In the power of habit Charles Duhigg writes about power of doing small things every day in order to reinforce action and accomplish success.  

Over the last few days I’ve fallen out of the habit of blogging and this is a habit that I want to continue as it’s giving me alot of catharsis at this time of covid-19.  I also think that its introducing constructive activity at a time when there is less and less to do.  

The habit (or habits) that I’m wanting to introduce into my life now are High intensity interval training, calisthenics, yoga and Pilates.  I am finding that going out on long cycles every day is burning me out a little.  I am  therefore seeking to introduce an element of cross-fitness into my life, in the hope that it improves my cycling or just broadens my horizons.  Strength training and stretch training are both good as a relaxation exercise and strength training can help to increase testosterone production in men which has a litany of benefits, including a more calm demeanour, higher sex drive and sex appeal to women, improving confidence and assertiveness and many many more. 

Today I endeavour to do a small amount of calisthenic stretching and maybe an abdominal exercise to start the habit.  The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and i take that step today.  

I hope this blog has been helpful to someone else hoping to begin a constructive habit in the unusual times; I’m sure I’ll let you know across my social media sites how I am getting along with my building up my new habits, it’s another lovely day in Belfast, perhaps a day for shorts!!!

Thanks for reading my blog please like, comment and subscribe for more.  

https://www.instagram.com/patrickfourfourfourfour/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe6dVRDpE5qQF3pUolkCoEQ?view_as=subscriber