Posts tagged with "action"

Stress

Leading on from Emma’s blog - A different starting point -

What on earth is going on with our mental health?  Is it just me or is there really an epidemic going on out there? Its called mental well being but from what I’ve seen its most definitely physical in its manifestation. Is it work stress? thinking we should be able to do it all? lack of time and kindness to deal with lifes traumas? our childhoods? grief? the speed and pressures of modern life? Striving for the unattainable or even undesirable? Lackof touch with or relevance to our values? 

How do we manage to drop the stress and focus on living in the present rather than worrying about the past/future?

Its definitely happening and its such a long road to recovery once the synapses have burnt that path, so how do we stop it happening in the first place and failing that how do we help people through it?

Too much talking and not enough action?

or

Too much action and not enough time?

or

what?

Images from a weekend in Glen Tilt

Sorry this post is out of sync but I am enjoying looking back at it. Nearly two weeks ago.

layers

River Tilt . Imagine the resilience of the big rock in the middle

articulation

my spot of luxury 

Contradictions or signs of a working landscape?

Contrasts of Pine against the snowy mountains

 Rapids - NEVER STOPPING, ITS TIME FOR ACTION

Circle of Trust

Since being on the project and working on the process of change I think there is a real sense of development and trust forming within the group and a new way of thinking. The group seems to have this real connection and bond that I have not felt in other groups or in other settings.  There is a complete aura of honesty with one self and it feels right because of the respect and compassion that exists.  This I think has happened because we are removed from our work, our family, our home, our place and our usual thoughts and our usual way of life.   

  For me, the group dynamic is interesting because a lot of what is going on is connected to the people that are going through this process together.  Over the last few days I have heard and learnt so many things that I would never have picked up on had I not been on the Natural change project.  I personally feel different, but I don’t know why or how?  What I do know is that it feels like a greater sense of connection and empowerment to do something about how I am feeling and how we are feeling as a group. 

 As a group we have all spoke quite honestly and shared our secrets that may cause us pain or make us unhappy, sad, stressed and sick.  However,  what is important is that we have all felt that we can be quite honest and true to ourselves and share with one another our story and by doing so we are dealing with our issues no matter how big or small.   This process itself is helping us deal our sadness and pain. This process is not to be underestimated as it is not an easy one or one that is being forced or one that is false.  This process is actually just a really simple one.  The process of being able to heal yourself and others involves simple things like, listening, giving, sharing and taking time to stop and appreciate everything around you.  It involves a process of being comfortable with the basics and immersing yourself in the simple but yet complex elements of Planet Earth.

 Where does this need for action come from?

 And what is the action going to be?

The Big Conversation

Start with a blank sheet of paper.....

Ahead of this second wilderness outing in Glen Tilt with Natural Change I was reading ‘Utopian Dreams’ by Tobias Jones. Thinking about what needs to change in my generation and how renewed ideals can be translated into action, I came across this quote;

“the generation that came to maturity after 1989 have minimal idealism. There might be micro-beliefs, and single-issue-sacred-cows, but there’s no macroscopic, universal, cosmic creed..”

Our group conversation on Friday evening soon began to put that to the test. Starting with a blank sheet of paper, we wrote on it everything that we wanted to change in the world. Poverty, injustice, war, prejudice, ignorance…….Then we linked them together, those that impacted one another, soon revealing a web, none discrete or isolatable, instead a vortex of problems.

At this point it was easy fulfil the ‘minimal idealism’ forecast by Jones. But thinking about the quality of relationship between these interconnected things and that it could be positively redirected by every one of us I felt I could begin to see a universal creed come into play. This creed embraced several themes that could be summarised as:

• Quality relationships: individual, family, community, national
• Overcoming; fear, trauma, instinctive drives that are negative
• Structures that perpetuate status quo and need overturned
• Living a balanced life
• Spirituality driven; our collective consciousness, intentions, faith

We’ve all had those pub conversations when we put the world to rights; this was the ultimate, yet without the alcohol. I didn’t last till 3am but wish I had.

Guilty or not?

I have bloggers’ guilt.  Or have I just been avoiding blogging recently cos I’ve lost the trail…  Either way, I’m back on line cos I’ve had lots of brilliant conversations with you lot - and you’re still commenting on stuff, so I just need to get over it!

The last 2 weeks have been quite strange.  Is it just the unsettling changing of the seasons, or is the time gap increasing between Knoydart and I?  Whatever - but things are slipping, definitely.  Do the effects of the wilderness leave you if you don’t go back often enough?  This is something I hope isn’t true, because lots of conversations with folks have been about how we can bring a bit of the wilderness into our everyday lives, rather than going to the remotest parts of Scotland to find it.

But is this really possible? Moving into the DARK season after one of the coldest weeks ever, how can we still be inspired to go out and find it?

My boyfirend and I took a trip up to Aberdeenshire the other weekend for a night away - I suppose I was trying to regain a bit of that Knoydart feeling - and it was beautiful - especially the stretch from Braemar to Ballater (autumn is amazing up there).  But I kept on feeling guilty because we’d driven up there.  What we learn from nature is key to the future of the human race, but being in nature is detrimental to the future of the human race - vicious circle - no?

How can we enjoy and learn from the wilderness without feeling guilty?

The other thing I’ve been feeling guilty about it lack of action.  I feel in some ways the questions I’m asking are too big for my brain to cope with, which  has partly led to my recent frustration.  I’m having a massive sense of it, but trying to squeeze this in - new job, busy lives, etc. - how can you create action that matters?  And my organisation gave me the opportunity to do this - and I feel very responsible - but the links between health and nature are huge, so what can we do about it?

Had a brilliant conversation with a pal last week and he was quick to point out that this could come across as being a bunch of middle class folk going out and finding themselves in nature.  While I know this isn’t true (we’ve found ourselves already BTW), I think it’s important that it doesn’t come across in this way. Language is so important in whether people feel included or excluded.

Action and focus is what’s needed though - this will be at the forefront of my mind for the next trip away which is looming next week.  Surely they won’t make us do another solo day this time of year????  Better get some more thermals just in case.

The day of reckoning

Ok I’ve got to this point and the Natural Change Project is really going to happen and I’m going! Today was the day of revelation.  What exactly are we going to do?  Would it be Blair Witch or Bushcraft?Thankfully its neither, but a ’soft adventure.’  Although the kit list suggests a battle with nature!

Who else will be going? The hand picked selection of people each with their circles of influence, art, education, media, and…me?  Yes, I’m the charity rep and a good thing too because its going to be all about the ‘value action gap.’ In other words the limits to rationality.  We can give people all the information about issues and it deosnt necessairly lead to action.  So I’m well up for getting over this gap!