My brother and I attended a small private school in London in the 1960’s. A punishment and reward system was the underpinning of the school environment. It was a time where the physical punishment of children was commonplace in an attempt to get them to comply. Standing in the corner At primary … [Read more...]
There is wisdom in the way the body moves
The body is an essential aspect of who we are and how we show up in our world. How we breathe, walk, stand, sit, use gestures, express ourselves and dance, influences who we are. Body awareness and conscious movement increase our emotional intelligence. Dr. Arielle Schwartz says "Sensing our … [Read more...]
How to handle anger
What is Anger? According to the Collins online dictionary "Anger is the strong emotion that you feel when you think that someone has behaved in an unfair, cruel, or unacceptable way". Dealing with and knowing how to handle anger can be difficult, but anger is a part of the myriad of emotions and … [Read more...]
How to express yourself clearly and get your needs met
A guide to honest communication. Have you ever kept your mouth shut just to keep the peace? Or felt that your opinion didn’t matter. Or simply just ‘let things go’ to not have an argument? This may happen at home, with friends and family, in the workplace or both. How can you move from holding … [Read more...]
Communicate compassionately with yourself
Cultivate empathy and compassion Have you ever made a commitment to stop doing something you consider unhelpful or unnourishing in a relationship only to find yourself slipping into old habits again and inevitably feeling disappointed with yourself - I have! Set yourself realistic expectations for … [Read more...]
Tips for bringing peace to difficult situations
This time of the year is rich with familiar activities that can trigger starbursts of memories, which contain happy and sad moments. Ralph Waldo Emerson said: "You have done what you could—some blunders and absurdities have crept in. Forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You … [Read more...]
How to say No!
Do you say yes when you really mean no? I've been thinking about this lately, ever since M told me he said yes to his brother moving in with him when he really wanted to say no. He told me he had to say yes because his brother had nowhere else to live. It can be tough to make a decision when … [Read more...]
NVC – Put your giraffe ears on
Is feedback hard to hear? NVC can help NVC (Nonviolent communication) can help us to communicate and relate in a more collaborative way. Imagine you take a job that you have the skills and experience for and after some time working within the organisation the feedback that you get, or that you … [Read more...]
Why empathy matters in schools and businesses
Empathy – the 'E' is for exceptionally enterprising environments The world is waking up to the notion that the way we relate to each other at work, in our families and communities really does matter, which is good news for the increase of empathy in schools and business. Neuroscience has proven … [Read more...]
Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world
Nelson Mandela showed that it is possible to make a difference in our world. I've had two encounters recently that caused me to reflect on the history of apartheid in South Africa. The first was that I felt moved by the content in some letters I found in my father's memorabilia. He was a Jazz … [Read more...]