137: How You Can Feel More Alive in Your Work (feat. Michael Ashcroft)
The Knowledge with David Elikwu
Unlocking Mindfulness through Awareness and Choice
This chapter focuses on the Alizana technique, a mindfulness practice centered on enhancing awareness over physical movement. It recounts Frederick Matthias Alexander's journey and his development of inhibition to improve vocal struggles, illustrating how awareness empowers mindful decision-making.
David speaks with Michael Ashcroft, a writer and Alexander Technique teacher who previously spent 10 years consulting on clean energy innovation.
A lot of Michael's work centres around helping people expand their awareness. He's written several essays and posts I've loved, particularly about the concept of grinding, and how paying attention to our awareness can help us maximise our creativity, productivity, posture and physical engagement.
We talked about:
🔄 Corporate to Self-Employment – Freedom, ambition & avoiding burnout
🤔 Mindset & Decisions – Priorities, big choices & challenges
🧠 Awareness & Focus – Attention, non-fixation & efficiency
🎨 Productivity & Structure – Creativity, discipline & idea management
📝 Writing & Self-Discovery – Process, organising & personal growth
🥷🏽 Missionary vs. Mercenary – Mindset & long-term fulfilment
📜 Full transcript:
https://theknowledge.io/michaelashcroft-4/
📹 Watch on Youtube:
🗣 Mentioned in the show:
Alexander Technique | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Technique
KPMG | https://kpmg.com/xx/en/home.html
Escape from Freedom | https://amzn.to/3PtObCp
Erich Fromm | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Fromm
NaNoWriMo | https://nanowrimo.org/
Jonny Miller | https://www.theknowledge.io/jonnymiller/
Luca Dellanna | https://www.theknowledge.io/lucadellanna/
Ergodicity | https://amzn.to/47TWBd8
Christine Carrillo | https://www.theknowledge.io/carrillo/
The Carbon Trust | https://www.carbontrust.com/
Perceptual control theory | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perceptual_control_theory
Frederick Matthias Alexander | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._Matthias_Alexander
Richard Wiseman | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wiseman
The Luck Factor | https://amzn.to/3PpX1Qe
Six degrees of separation | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation
Dzogchen | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzogchen
Hooked | https://amzn.to/3PtSU5w
Nir Eyal | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nir_Eyal
Sam Harris | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Harris
Psycho-physical Unity | https://mouritz.org/companion/article/psycho-physical-unity
Hunter S. Thompson | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_S._Thompson
David Kadavy | https://www.theknowledge.io/kadavy/
Duolingo | https://www.duolingo.com/
Notion | https://www.notion.so/
James Altucher | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Altucher
Andrew Huberman | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_D._Huberman
Paul Millerd | https://www.theknowledge.io/paulmillerd/
Pathless Path | https://amzn.to/3i4LF7J
Khe Hy | https://www.theknowledge.io/khehy-1/
Rules Aren't Real | https://www.theknowledge.io/issue68/
Swimming and thrashing | https://www.theknowledge.io/swimming-vs-thrashing/
Tim Ferriss | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Ferriss
👤 Connect with Michael:
X/Twitter: @m_ashcroft | https://x.com/m_ashcroft
Course: Alexander Technique | https://expandingawareness.org/courses/
Website: Expanding Awareness | https://expandingawareness.org/
👨🏾💻 About David Elikwu:
David Elikwu FRSA is a serial entrepreneur, strategist, and writer. David is the founder of The Knowledge, a platform helping people think deeper and work smarter.
🐣 Twitter: @Delikwu / @itstheknowledge
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