Hundreds of Financial Planners packed out the main hall at the IFP conference this morning to hear how their "inner pharmacy" can help improve their business and daily lives.

Dr James Rouse, founder of Optimum Wellness Media, told delegates about his work on "the neurobiology of high performance", discussing the human body's natural chemicals and how these are stimulated by what we do.
He said everyone has "all these phenomenal chemicals that want to work with you" inside their bodies and explained how his work was about encouraging the right habits to bring these out.
He told delegates that the outlook of the mind can be potent, with optimism having the power of to be an anti-inflammatory agent in the body.
He spoke the importance of creating about an inverse sense of paranoia – thinking the universe is conspiring to in your favour, rather than against.

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He also discussed mindfulness – the art of living in the moment rather than anticipating the future. Dr Rouse suggested delegates should try to do one thing well for themselves before 7am each day– to effect "changes in the trajectory of neurochemistry".

He said that could be breakfast or – to the amusement of delegates - giving someone you live with a seven second hug.
He said this provides "a whole pharmacy of optimism".
Many people who end up with heart disease have the "fix mindset", he said, meaning they say to themselves: "I have to be perfect, I can't screw up."
He said people will be happier for not being in this mentality and not thinking of themselves as an expert but rather a student of life.
He spoke about cortisol levels and how breathing from our chests, rather than stomach, will increase stress, anxiety and depression.
He said: "Belly breathers are the longest living, happiest people going. They build serotonin (a neurochemical) all day long. Self care is the most powerful form of health care."
Having grit – doggedness, persistence and optimism in spite of setbacks – is now seen in the USA as key to success in business, he said.
He spoke about food and exercise, claiming that not taking care of blood sugar is a precursor to dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
He said there were two categories of food – first and second.
First food is family or what gives you purpose, second food is carbohydrates, protein and fats.
He said: "If you don't come and carry that energy of positivity and live into home what's it all really about."
He said doing exercise does not mean doing a triathlon, just perhaps doing some interval walking – changing speed and stride.
Dr Rouse asked the delegates to stand up and get into a classic yoga pose – one of a number of interactive points in the session, which sparked laughter from the audience.