Wellbeing - Foundation Workshop: Beginner's mind, Neuro-plastic Brain

Foundation Workshop: Beginner's Mind, Neuro-plastic Brain

The brain takes the shape whatever the mind focuses upon – Dr Rick Hanson

Because of the risk/problem focused nature of legal work, lawyers may have developed a mental habit of “negativity bias”, and the legal minds may have been wired neurologically for a higher propensity for stress and negativity.

However, what if we can re-wire our brain by changing our mind?

In the past scientists used to think that human brains become hardwired once we are adults. However, thanks to the new discoveries in neuroscience, now we know that our human brain is rather plastic.   According to neuroplasticity, neurons that “fire together, wire together”.  Repeated mental activities (sustained thinking and belief patterns) result in repeated neural activity, which eventually cause neurological changes to the brain.

With this new understanding of the relationship between mind and brain, we are empowered to change, as each one of us is a work in progress and has the capacity to self-transform.

What will we cover?

In this session, we will explore how we can change our thinking for the benefit of our brain health, especially for lawyers to re-wire its brain from negativity to more positive. 

• Core concepts in neuroplasticity and their relevance to our daily lives
• Lawyers’ double “negativity bias”
• What Beginner’s Mind means and when and where it is needed
• Practical tools to change our mind for cultivating a more beneficial and positive mindset

This workshop is experiential in nature, so we will learn through reflective discussions, creative meditations and various play exercise to embody the understanding for ourselves. 

About Elva Zhang

"Yesterday I was clear, I wanted to change the world;

Today I am wise, I change myself"

- Rumi

Formally an international student from China, Elva is an Australian-qualified lawyer with a Master of Law (LLM in International Economic Law) from Geneva, Switzerland.  Highly skilled in cross-border transactions and disputes especially China-related matters, Elva currently works as Corporate Counsel for a global shipping line.

In addition to being a lawyer, Elva is the founder of Peace Lab (www.peacelab.com.au), a boutique consultancy that curates and facilitates experiential workshops by synthesising Eastern wisdom teachings and Western science theories as a unique agent for well-being, human potential and positive changes.

A long-term meditator, trained in laughter yoga and passionate about ancient philosophy and neuroplasticity, Elva specialises in combing creative meditation, mindfulness, play and laughter yoga to create fun and purposeful workshops. 

As a practising lawyer, Elva enjoys working with high achieving and high performing teams, companies and organisations. Through tailor-made and experiential workshops, Elva shares practical and effective tools on how we can succeed with peace, purpose and happiness, because it is her strong belief that well-being is the precursor to success, not the other way around.