Bestselling author, speaker and business beatnik Chris Baréz-Brown has a rather unusual view of the world: he knows that everybody is perfect. As we grow, develop and socialize we can lose touch with that brilliance and often become somebody we’re not.
Chris founded his company Upping Your Elvis in 2009 to help people reconnect with their inner genius and become confident in being who they truly are. Described as a ‘long-haired twinkly-eyed cross between Richard Branson and a wizard’ (Guardian), Chris has written the bestselling books Shine: How to Survive and Thrive at Work and Free: Love Your Work, Love Your Life. In 2016 he became a columnist for Psychologies magazine and launched his year-long mission: The Great Wake Up!
www.thegreatwakeup.com
PENGUIN LIFE
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Penguin Life is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.
First published 2016
Copyright © Chris Baréz-Brown, 2016
The moral right of the author has been asserted
Any references to ‘writing in this book’ refer to the original printed version. Readers should write on a separate piece of paper in these instances.
Cover design by Hampton Associates, Aberdeen
Designed by Hampton Associates, Aberdeen
Colour reproduction by Born Group
ISBN: 978-0-241-97743-9
To all the crazies, the weirdos and the freaks. To all those who don’t fit in but stand out. To everybody who knows that this is the most extraordinary of lives and it’s happening right now.
To You: the awakening.
Introduction
Breathing
Learn to Breathe!
Kill Your Television
Clean Up Your Act
Travel into Space
Tune In
Notice What You Notice
Cook from Scratch
Get Lost at Lunchtime
Walkie Talkie
Make a Plane and Then Free It
Spielzeug
Power Up
Bathroom Buff-Up
Draw Life and Get the Picture
Plug In
First Ten Minutes Outside
Spread the Love
Dress the Same
Slow Down
Walk in the Woods
Listen to Your Body
Follow Your Body Clock
Live on Just £5 a Day
Write a Song
Stand Up
Say Yes
Really Feel It – Emote Like Elvis
A Little Holiday from Bread and Dairy
Be Someone Else
Journal
Steal Back Time
Lost in Music
Be Lost in Music
Make a Cup of Tea
What I Love/Hate About Me
Sunrise or Sunset
Fight the Amnesia
Digital Detox
Give It Some Chant
Climb a Tree
Eat When Hungry
Untold Story
Do Something New
Just Say No
Dance
Add an Hour to Your Day
Excitement and Gratitude
£50 Million
Stare at the Sky
Live Like a Pig
Own It – No Excuses
Giggles and Guffaws
Smile
Right a Wrong
Do Something Big
Guerrilla Planting
Stay Still and Soak It Up
Write a Letter to Someone You Care About
Why Now?
And Soon We Will Die
Wakey Wakey
Acknowledgements
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