Archetype. Willy. Armistice. Guts.

01. PSYCHOLOGY - Joe Gaunt

Carl Jung (Part 3 of 3) – Archetypes and Personality Profiling

I need to start this week with a disclaimer that this subject has been the subject of endless books, businesses and careers and today's overarching explanation is just an introductory overview.

Jung himself wrote many books on this subject and these works and resulting impact on future works are exactly why I wanted to introduce him to you.

So here goes.

Jung believed that we all share certain universal patterns of behaviour, which he labelled ‘archetypes’.

These are fundamental, recurring symbols or motifs that appear in our dreams, myths, and stories across different cultures. Some of the key archetypes include:

• The Hero: representing courage, determination, and the drive to overcome challenges.

• The Wise Old Man: symbolising wisdom, guidance, and knowledge.

• The Mother: nurturing, caring, and supportive, but also sometimes smothering.

• The Trickster: mischievous, disruptive, but often a force for change and creativity.

These archetypes are expressed not only in storytelling but also in our personal lives. For instance, you may find yourself drawn to the qualities of a Hero when facing a challenge, or embody the nurturing qualities of the Mother in relationships.

Many modern personality profiling tools, like Insights Discovery or the MBTI, draw from Jung’s work on archetypes. For example, Insights uses four primary colour-coded energies - Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue. All are linked to Jungian personality types and archetypes. By understanding your dominant type (e.g., introverted-thinking or extroverted-feeling), you can gain insight into your strengths, potential blind spots, and how you interact with others.

How Personality Profiling Can Help:

1. Self-awareness: Profiling can reveal your core personality traits, helping you understand your natural preferences and tendencies.

2. Interpersonal effectiveness: By understanding how others might differ in their communication and problem-solving styles, you can improve your relationships and teamwork.

3. Personal growth: Profiling can highlight areas for development, encouraging you to embrace the parts of your personality that may be underdeveloped or overlooked.

I have done the profile many times over different stages of my life and always find it impactful, interesting and revealing. All leaders on our new Leaders programme will receive a comprehensive profile and review and if you are interested in working with us for your team please feel free to reach out to me.

So in summary, Jung’s exploration of archetypes, introversion and extroversion, the Shadow, and the Self offers a powerful framework for understanding who we are. Through embracing both the light and the shadow within ourselves, we can move towards a fuller, more authentic existence.

02. HEALTH

Gut

This week I was sent a batch of Willy’s ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) to sample by a guy called Guy.

What a Guy!

I’ve been aware for some time of the important role our gut plays in promoting and protecting both our physical health and our immune system and so I’m keen to give their products a try.

As always, I’ll report back in a future issue.

Did you know that research has revealed that a healthy gut microbiome—the community of bacteria in our digestive system—can play a role in reducing chronic health risks like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

This is especially important for men who statistically suffer from those conditions more often than women - men are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack than women for example.

Studies have shown that an imbalance in gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis, is linked to increased inflammation, which can also lead to various health problems.

A study published in Nature Medicine found that individuals with diverse gut bacteria had better metabolic health and reduced levels of inflammation, both of which are crucial for reducing heart disease risk and maintaining stable blood sugar levels.

Guy, the guy from Willy’s, sent me over some daily wellness shots, Kombucha and some of their amazing looking ACV concoctions which you are able to add directly to drinks, meals and even over fish and chips (winner winner fish and chip dinner!).

Fermented foods and Kombucha are especially good for promoting healthy gut microbiome.

I already use foods such as kimchi and sauerkraut in salads (M&S stock some really nice ones if you’re interested) as these foods contain beneficial bacteria that aid digestion and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have been linked to a reduction in obesity and inflammation.

Kombucha and probiotic wellness shots I might drink occasionally but I’m looking forward to implementing it into my daily routine. Why?

A 2019 study published in ‘Nutrients’ reported that Kombucha could improve gut microbiota diversity and promote the growth of probiotics, which help balance harmful bacteria and reduce inflammation. For men, this can lead to better digestion, improved immune function, and reduced oxidative stress.

So. We all understand and therefore focus on our health in terms of fitness and strength and most of us follow a healthy diet the majority of the time.

Some might even go further and dial in their macro-nutrients, sleep and hydration.

Don’t neglect the stuff going on deep inside your body too. We could all benefit from this all-round inside and outside approach to our health as we mitigate the common health conditions which have been some of the biggest killers of men for decades.

Trust your gut.

The Iraq War 2003 - I’m in the centre with the shades and grenade launcher

03. MINDSET - Mike Bates

Armistice

This week we all remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Not only those who sacrificed their lives but also those who sacrificed their livelihoods in service to our country.

I was invited onto a live military leadership podcast a few months ago. On the show was former S.A.S Commander Tom Petch, the first female Typhoon fighter pilot Helen Seymour and me.

I was asked by someone in the audience what was the one thing that I had I learned leading in the military and Intelligence fields of the MOD that I didn’t expect to learn.

My answer?

‘That no one really cares’.

Now before you think I’m sad about that fact or think that this is about to sink into some sort of nihilistic and malevolent rant, let me explain what I mean.

We all expect that our time in service to our country will mean something and that the legacy of that service will live on long after we hang up our beret and boots.

The fact is however that once we are no longer a part of that group, that band of brothers, that Corps then we are very much on the outside and can only look back in from a distance.

There is little to support the transition of servicemen or women from the comfort and security of the institutionalised world of the military out and into the unpredictability and insecurity of civvie street.

Sure, you stay in touch with some mates (not all) and have your memories and medals to reflect back on but I feel that there should be more done to support and celebrate those who serve within the U.K.

This issue is even more amplified upon leaving the world of MOD Covert Operations in which I led and served for a further 15 years.

Quite literally, one leaves those organisations and the door is shut, bolted and you are forgotten. No support, no thank yous, no connection - it’s also highly likely that your friends and former colleagues will either choose or be told to drift away from you now that you are in the open.

One might even become the target of those organisations we once sacrificed to serve.

The hunter becomes the hunted.

All this is to say that for so many, the promise of a life-long connection to one’s service and the identity that brings more often than not simply fades away.

Thank goodness therefore for our own pride and memory.

I was on an internal flight in the U.S some years ago and we we’re about to taxi to take off when the Captain came onto the radio.

He welcomed us all on board and informed us that the flight was full save for one seat remaining in first class.

The Captain then called the name of a passenger sat a few rows in front of me and asked him to stand up.

We were told that this passenger was a former soldier who had served in Iraq.

The next thing that happened took me completely by surprise…

Every other passenger on the flight stood up and cheered and applauded the veteran. Quite remarkable scenes.

Then, as the noise died down, the Captain took to the radio again and invited the veteran to enjoy an upgrade to the final remaining first class seat on the flight free of charge in recognition of his service.

Now, that is a very American thing to do but I think they do this stuff much better than we do.

The act of service to one’s country is held in the very highest of regard by the American people and for that reason it really means something to have served.

Everyone cares.

I’m not calling for first class travel or standing ovations for our service personnel and I’m certainly not calling for this selfishly.

I do however think that we could do better to remember those who serve more often than for 2 minutes just once every year.

Without the sacrifices and service of others we might not have the rest of the year at all.

P.s - I would personally extend this act of remembrance and service to include blue light services, our NHS and everyone who contributes in some way to the health and wellbeing of all of our country and those we share it with.

At NXT45 we will be releasing special offers for tickets to our events in support of all of our veterans.

We will remember them.

04. QUOTE

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them” – Laurence Binyon

08. TIP

Want to improve your gut health without increasing your sources of fermented and probiotic foods?

Here are the top 5 things that damage our natural internal equilibrium:

Alcohol - Drinking too much alcohol can form ulcers in the gut or prevent existing ulcers from healing.

Lifestyle - Stress, poor sleep quality, and lack of physical activity can all harm your gut bacteria.

Diet - Low fibre & high sugar diets (think the standard American diet) can initiate gut inflamation and damage the balance of internal health.

Antibiotics - Take these only when really needed and prescribed. These will damage gut microbiome in only a few days.

Red meat - Too much red meat can increase N-nitroso chemicals which may damage the lining of your bowel.

Gut these (get it?) from your lifestyle to see big benefits.

Dawn Coffee & Chat at The Hundred 2024 - Tickets available for 2025 here

We believe that when men live happier, healthier & more fulfilled lives…everyone wins! - NXT45

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