WoW Newsletter – August 2021
Welcome to the Wheel of Wellbeing (WoW) – a simple framework designed to improve people’s health, happiness and wellbeing by focusing on six areas – Body, Mind, Spirit, People, Place and Planet. This monthly newsletter provides a roundup of the latest wellbeing tips, activities, research and resources to inspire better health and wellbeing. Tap into them – for yourself, your families, workplaces, schools and communities – and help create a happier world for us all!
This month’s newsletter has been inspired by the everyday acts of kindness, compassion and caring we are witnessing across the world in response to the pandemic.
Why People do Kind and Compassionate Things
Our brains are hard-wired for compassion, to be sympathetic and feel for the suffering of others. Our capacity for kindness and compassion is shaped by evolution to help take care of the carriers of our genes. But just because we have the capacity for kindness, it does not mean that we are always kind. It is, however, something that we can practice, and the good news is the more we practice the easier it gets. Kindness creates a positive feedback loop that spurs us on, it’s contagious, with people experiencing or observing acts of kindness more likely to be kind themselves. And now for the win, win, kindness is good for our mind and body too. Being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain that give us feelings of satisfaction and well-being and causes the pleasure/reward centres in our brain to light up. So, in the words of the Dalai Lama:
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
WoW Days of the Month
Why not use these inspiring international days to create a focal point for wellbeing activities in your school, workplace or community. 
12th August – International Youth Day
The theme of International Youth Day 2021 is, ‘Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health’, with the aim of highlighting that the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people.
19th August – World Humanitarian Day
This year World Humanitarian Day comes as the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Aid workers are overcoming access hurdles to assist people in humanitarian crises in 54 countries, as well as in a further nine countries, which have been catapulted into humanitarian need by the pandemic.
19th August – World Photography Day
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Why not use World Photography Day to inspire people to take notice of their surroundings? Studies have shown that being more mindful of your surroundings can generate positive emotions. And among the other good things they do for our bodies and minds, positive emotions actually increase our peripheral vision – meaning the more you take notice the happier you become – and the more you can see!
Watch and Listen
Train Your Brain to be Kinder
Watch this youtube clip and boost your kindness by sending kind thoughts to someone you love—and to someone you don’t particularly like! And feel better.
Featured WoW Activity
Finding Beauty in Unexpected Places
The places we live and work in can have a significant impact, but how closely do we really look at them? Finding beauty in unexpected places is a great activity to help us focus our attention on what’s around us and appreciate the here and now.
Great Articles and Websites
Greater Good Science Centre: How generosity shows up in your nervous system 
Action for Happiness: How to start a Kindness Project in your school PositivePsychology.com: 13 Most Popular Gratitude Exercises & Activities
I’m FREE!
Please feel free to use all or parts of this newsletter for your websites, blog, social media, newsletter or other communications to inspire your group members
Certain links in this newsletter lead to websites which are not under the control of Implemental Worldwide CIC.. Implemental Worldwide CIC has no control over and accepts no liability in respect of materials, products or services available on any website which is not under the control of Implemental Worldwide CIC. Any opinions expressed in these external links and materials do not necessarily reflect the view of Implemental Worldwide CIC. Some of these links may request additional information and it is at your sole discretion as to if you wish to provide this. Any advertisements or promotional material contained in the links to websites and other materials, are not endorsed by Implemental Worldwide CIC and Implemental Worldwide CIC makes no commercial gains through these links.
I'M FREE!
To register to our newsletter
Leave your email and receive news and useful wellbeing tips!