“Addressing what it means to be human in an environment of uncertainty and unpredictability, while at the same time introducing skills that encourage and promote a healthier attitude towards conflict.”
Training the mind to transform adversity into Wellbeing.
We offer a variety of Seminars and Workshops designed to promote and expand what it means to be well-balanced in a landscape of constant demands. There is no ‘technological fix’ for the discomfort & hardship we experience in our various situations. Therefore we need to undertake a fundamental reorganisation of the approach that has guided us to this point. Within business, as in any organisation, there are relationships that weave our world together and we need to become sensitive to that again in order to develop and harness our capacity for moving forward in a vibrant and creative way, as opposed to always just adjusting to pressure.
What is the Insight to Wellbeing Initiative?
On a personal level many things go astray, our efforts to complete projects are constantly challenged and disrupted by sickness, mental distress, fatigue and eventual burnout .
So, rather than be surprised when these upheavals occur in both our private and public lives, LET’S CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR CHANGE.
Jangchub Lhamo, your course leader, is a Māori and Samoan woman with an abiding interest in the interrelationships within ethnicity, gender and hierarchical systems existing in both public and personal relationships. Jangchub is particularly interested in bringing these workshops to a culturally diverse range of organisations.
How does the Initiative work?
The integral nature of Wellbeing encompasses four main topics:
Mindfulness.
Meditative Reasoning.
Cognition/Comprehension.
Examination and Investigation.
These are inter-dependent components that support a structured and life-long relationship with Wellbeing. We refer to them as “The Four Topics”.
There is increasing incidence of burnout in the workplace. Due to the distracted nature of our minds, we find it difficult to have direct and unmediated contact with objective facts, circumstances, situations and people. This adds to the complexity of our experiences and often leaves us feeling stressed and helpless.
The Four Topics offer a wholistic method that, when practised in combination, can restore resilience, creativity and a stable experience of Wellbeing.
The Four Topics can be offered as singular modules or as a workshop series that teach us how these apply as fundamental principals to greatly reduce the incidence of burnout.
So, what is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness brings attention to how our thoughts and emotions impact our experiences and is also a tool that helps to manage the effects of the symptoms of anxiety, pain, depression and so forth.
The practice of mindfulness is crucial in terms of developing unobstructed awareness. As we know, our lives are shaped by our levels of attention or inattention.
When the mind is either agitated (too busy) or lethargic (foggy or tired), our focus becomes impaired. For many our focus is impaired most of the time.
It is up to us to make changes that will diminish our lack of awareness, lack of insight and lack of attentiveness.
To do that we practice Mindfulness.
Can you explain what meditative reasoning is?
Meditative reasoning or the ‘Psychology of Meditation’ plays an important role in sustaining the endeavour of being well.
Within the Tibetan Buddhist system the word for meditation is "Gom" which simply refers to “becoming familiar”. This particular form of meditation is over 2,500yrs old and has now been adapted for a more secular and contemporary environment.
Meditative reasoning or the ‘Psychology of Meditation’ plays an important role in sustaining the endeavour of being well.
Within the Tibetan Buddhist system the word for meditation is "Gom" which simply refers to “becoming familiar”. This particular form of meditation is over 2,500yrs old and has now been adapted for a more secular and contemporary environment.
Recent scientific data and research affirms that the practice of meditation both logically and naturally cultivates familiarity with one’s own habits and assumptions. It is not simply a tool for relaxation and calmness, though this is a beneficial side effect.
Meditation can greatly enhance one’s capacity to work with tension, anxiety, anger, self-doubt and so forth. In this method, meditation is very much related to the discovery of ourselves.
Meditation allows us to realize that our thoughts and emotions are not solid entities. They are transitory and constantly in motion, but within that transitoriness there is also a profound stability which supports the longevity of Wellbeing.
Why do you talk about Cognition / Comprehension?
When we refer to Cognition, it is used in a broader sense than is usually the case. Cognition incorporates all aspects of the mind in terms of feelings, emotions, thoughts and so on.
To cognise is not purely a sensory or conceptual matter, but it relates to all aspects of our psychophysical wellness.
We ask the question - “To what extent should we rely on our feelings and senses? How much should we rely upon the emotional way we construct the world? How reliable is our conceptual frame of reference?'“
Why is Examination & Investigation important?
Examination & Investigation helps us to see things more clearly without any kind of subjective biases or over conceptualising.
At the same time we can discriminate without pigeon-holing the world around us - without putting any kind of subjective judgements onto it. This is essential so that we are not condemned to repeat the same habitual responses over and over again.
It is easy to fall into a state of inertia where things remain the same and this robs us of our creative potential.
The aim of these workshops is to draw attention to what is unexamined by bringing a refreshing approach to analysis.
Can you tell me more about your Seminars & Workshops?
Our seminars & workshops on Insight into the nature of Wellbeing are adapted to work in a variety of settings. The seminars are suitable for in-house Wellbeing programs in most kinds of workplaces from the health sector, to boardrooms & government organisations. We also feel these courses would be beneficial to those in the Justice system. These courses are designed to support a resurgence of inner resourcefulness.
Individual seminars are modular and can be offered on a single aspect of the four topics or be integrated into a workshop series that covers all four topics and offer further opportunity for reflection. We are open to discussing the needs of your organisation and tailoring classes to suit. The workshops introduce the field of Wellbeing and the aspects that underpin the longevity of Wellbeing in varying levels of depth.
Participants will gain an understanding of how the kinds of suffering that lead to burnout arise and be equipped with tools that lead to lasting change.
As lasting change is often not made in a single day, we recommend regular classes over multi-week periods to ground and develop the aspects this program offers.
A suggested format for workshops is holding a 2 hour class once a week for 5 weeks. This would cover one module each week - Wellbeing, Cognition / Comprehension, Examination & Investigation, The Psychology of Meditation plus a fifth module which covers the integration of all four topics.
The seminars can lay the ground for further discussion with a sense of inquiry, playfulness which also challenges the way in which we see things. Workshops include experiential as well as instructional elements and give participants time for questions and reflection.
Please be in touch with us to discuss how we can work with your organisation to bring the opportunity of lasting change to your people.
