Dr. William Van Gordon
@Van_Gordon_W
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Chartered Psychologist & Associate Professor of Contemplative Psychology @DerbyUni. Author of: The Way of the Mindful Warrior (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers)
Derby, England
Joined June 2018
@elonmusk True. Most people aren't aware of the extent to which they have allowed themselves to be brainwashed. But the good news is that although not easy, this process can be unwound such that the mind becomes orientated towards basic goodness and seeing clearly.
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Just published with Matt Furnell. Our book chapter discusses Buddhist & Psychological perspectives on pathways to enlightenment (in @IntechOpen's forthcoming volume on "Happiness and the Psychology of Enlightenment"). @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych
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Wise words. Greater peace in society stems from peace at the level of the individual. There is no other way. Even just one person who truly practises meditation can bring about profound change.
Today, on World Meditation Day, I call upon everyone to make meditation a part of their daily lives and experience its transformative potential. Meditation is a powerful way to bring peace and harmony to one’s life, as well as to our society and planet. In the age of technology, Apps and guided videos can be valuable tools to help incorporate meditation into our routines.
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@narendramodi Wise words. Greater peace within society stems from peace at the level of the individual. There is no other way. Even just one person who truly practises meditation can bring about profound change.
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Just published in Mindfulness with Matt Furnell & James Elander. Prosocial behaviour & self-connectedness were greater when #mindfulness was combined with wisdom practices such as #impermanence & non-attachment. @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych Free access:
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My latest article for @PsychToday discusses how people tend to ignore the inevitability of #death and how being mindful of #impermanence can be life transformational. @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych
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"While many egotistical people are perceived to have a superiority complex ... psychologist William Van Gordon argues that they’re also often inherently insecure". My perspective on the ego is included in this recent @YourTango article which relates to how being egotistical can stem from being #Insecure (also available via @MSN) @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych
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5 Tips for Effective Meditation (based on my blogs for @DerbyUni and @PsychToday): 1. Follow Every Breath: A breath never repeats itself and so if you are not aware of it, you have missed it forever. Sit still and focus your attention on the movement of each breath in and out. Observe all parts of the breath, including the space between the in-breath and out-breath and between the out-breath and in-breath. 2. Sit Like A Mountain: Sit with your back straight but not stiff, either cross-legged on the floor or on a chair with feet flat on the ground. Relax your shoulders and keep your hands in a comfortable position, perhaps on your knees or in your lap. Allow your posture to be stable, confident, and relaxed, just like a mountain. 3. Acknowledge Distractions: When your mind drifts away (which is natural), acknowledge the distraction without judgment or frustration. Gently guide your focus back to observing your #breathing. 4. Practice Regularly: Try to practice #meditation each day or several times each day. Consistency helps in strengthening the #neural pathways associated with focus and #mindfulness. 5. Enjoy the Practice: Meditation is a way of exploring the vast expanse of the #mind, which is inconceivably bigger than the universe. Smile, be inspired and enjoy the journey! @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych
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RT @DerbyUniPress: How can daydreaming help wellbeing? @DerbyUni’s Professor William Van Gordon (@Van_Gordon_W) talks about the benefits…
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My comments are included in this @TheSun article published over the weekend on how #Daydreaming can improve #wellbeing, where I caution about the risks of excessive daydreaming to escape life's problems @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych #Mindfulness #Happiness
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Enjoyed giving an invited talk yesterday at the 47th International Annual Conference of the Society for Psychical Research, about my research into #meditation-induced near #death experiences. Great event! @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych @DerbyUniVC @SPR1882
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RT @DerbyUniPress: .@DerbyUni’s @Van_Gordon_W comments on human’s perception of their physical appearance for a piece in the @Independent…
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Enjoyed giving a remote live keynote speech yesterday evening at Stanford University's 11th Annual Contemplation by Design Summit. Some excellent questions & great to hear 2500 people attended the Summit this year (hosted by @StanfordMed) @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych @DerbyUniVC
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RT @DerbyUniPress: Ever disliked a photo of yourself? @DerbyUni expert @Van_Gordon_W explored the psychology behind this phenomenon with @I…
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Just published in @JDisorders with @PaulDBarrows1. Our paper explores the increasing convergence between #quantum #physics and ancient #Buddhist #wisdom concerning the nature of #mind and #reality. @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych Free access here:
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My comments in The Independent over the weekend on why we dislike how we look in photos have also been picked up by Yahoo News, MSN and New Delhi TV @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniVC @DerbyUniVC
I'm quoted in this article in the @Independent today on the #Psychology behind the tendency to dislike how we look in photos. @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych @DerbyUniVC
#beauty #photomodel #image
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I'm quoted in this article in the @Independent today on the #Psychology behind the tendency to dislike how we look in photos. @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych @DerbyUniVC
#beauty #photomodel #image
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Just published in Discover Psychology with @PaulDBarrows1 and @ProfPaulGilbert. Our paper explores current trends & challenges in EEG #research on #meditation and #Mindfulness. @DerbyUniPress @DerbyUniPsych
#Wisdom #compassion #Buddhism Free access here:
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RT @DerbyUniPress: "Although having a lie-in might be a good idea occasionally, try to avoid increasing your overall amount of weekly sleep…
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