Sophie Sabbage defines ‘transformation’ as ‘the shift that doesn’t shift back again’, but that word has been so overused and under-delivered it now qualifies as a ‘jargon’ word with little substance or meaning. The personal growth arena is flooded with ‘mindset coaches’ and ‘transformational’ practitioners promising lasting behavioural change. But, in reality, this is a relatively rare accomplishment – one that requires work, courage, commitment and no small amount of pain.

In this session, Sophie will:

• Address why one of the most powerful words in the English language (transformation) has been stripped of its true meaning and power;
• Outline some of the most resisted and neglected factors for lasting change (behavioural, psychological, cultural) that she has discovered in her work with tens of thousands of individuals and some leading organisations;
• Explain why change is often necessarily incremental and why we need to embrace this instead of expecting seismic shifts that human beings are not designed for;
• Highlight some of the shadows being cast by the self-help movement in this area;
• Share personal examples of transforming in response to adversity and of changing slowly, layer by layer, in other areas of her life.
• Provide information about how you can create lasting change in your life AND accept the changes that need to unfold over time (even in our instant gratification culture).

There will then be time for questions, dialogue and a deeper inquiry as a group.

Have you ever come up with amazing New Year’s resolutions such as losing extra weight, starting saving up money, starting your own business, make a bitcoin osto, exercising regularly, changing your career, eating much healthier or quitting smoking? You pumped yourself up with great enthusiasm and thought things are going to be very different this year. Fast forward – what happened a month down the line?

If you are like the majority of us, you’ve probably gone back to where you started. We form habits subconsciously without even realising it and yet we often struggle to change them. Although our brains have an enormous ability to change (neuroplasticity), following old habits require much less energy and effort. Also, our brains resist a sudden change and we get emotional conform from following the same old ways. Therefore, creating a lasting behavioural change is not easy.

If you are fed up with this yo-yo effect and want to gradually create a lasting change, then you might want to consider learning from a neuroscientist and performance coach Dr Gabija Toleikyte about what conditions does your brain need to activate neuroplasticity and create a lasting behavioural change.

In this talk you will learn:

• Which parts of the brain are responsible for creating and maintaining old habits?
• Which parts of the brain are required for creating a lasting change?
• What is neuroplasticity and when is it active?
• A brain-based explanation on why we fall back to old habits
• Brain-based practical tips on how to create lasting behavioural changes.

Why should aspirin be expensive?

Why are branded analgesics more effective?

The psychologist Nicholas Humphrey argues that placebos work by prompting the body to invest more of its limited resources in recovery. He believes that human immune systems evolved for an environment much harsher than the one we are currently living in, so we have evolved capabilities to ‘trick’ our unconscious into believing the conditions for recovery are much more favourable for our immune system to work at full tilt.

The ministrations of doctors (witch or NHS), exotic potions (homeopathic or antibiotic), or the caring presence of relatives and friends can all create this benign illusion. Yet policymakers hate the idea of any solution which involves unconscious processes. If you suggested that the NHS invest more in elaborate drugs packaging, they’d have conniptions.

Too little is spent researching the placebo effect in proportion to its importance. Why is this?

In this talk, Ogilvy Vice Chairman Rory Sutherland will explore how we can hack the amazing power of placebos for changing behaviour; both on a personal, and societal level.