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Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Elegant Challenging

Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – Elegant Challenging

When people act or speak in discriminatory ways, bully people or behave disrespectfully towards others, it can be very tempting to ‘have a go’ at them, to give them a piece of your mind. While that reaction is quite understandable, it can be highly problematic. This is because there is a danger that the person who is behaving irresponsibly will see you as the unreasonable one, to see you as the person who is behaving inappropriately. This can just make a difficult situation worse. ‘Elegant’ challenging, by contrast, refers to challenging inappropriate behaviour tactfully and sensitively, so that you are giving the other person no ammunition to fire back at you. Skilfully pointing out why what somebody has said or…
Dr Neil Thompson
January 18, 2023
Help children understand bereavement and support their grief

Help children understand bereavement and support their grief

When processing the death of a loved one, children may have trouble sleeping, have an increase in anxiety or begin to feel indifferent about their lives. Being able to talk and ask questions will help them express their feelings and worries. Child Bereavement UK supports children and young people up to the age of 25 who are bereaved of anybody important to them. “Our underlying advice, regardless of age, is to give opportunities for children and young people to talk and to ask questions about death and to provide them with honest answers” explains Clare. “It's really important to normalise grief. Grief is a natural and normal response to the death of somebody important to you, no matter who they…
Dr Neil Thompson
January 18, 2023
Seth Godin’s blog – Our dreaming opportunity

Seth Godin’s blog – Our dreaming opportunity

School and work push us to avoid real dreams. Dreamers are dangerous, impatient and unwilling to tolerate the status quo. Existing systems would prefer we simply fit in. The dreams we need to teach are the dreams of self-reliance and generosity. The only way for us to move forward is to encourage and amplify the work of people who are willing to learn, to see and to commit to making things better. It turns out that reading and writing are the cornerstones of this practice, now more than ever. These are the two skills most likely to produce exponential results. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
January 18, 2023
Spotlight – Anti-racism for Beginners

Spotlight – Anti-racism for Beginners

There is no room for racism in a civilised society. The recent surge of interest in anti-racism is very much to be welcomed, but we have to guard against oversimplifying some complex and sensitive issues. This book, from the author of Anti-discriminatory Practice and Promoting Equality, provides an important foundation of learning that will be helpful for anyone committed to a genuinely anti-racist approach to practice. Available from https://nti.coderra.uk/shop/ or Amazon
Dr Neil Thompson
December 13, 2022
Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – More is not necessarily better

Neil Thompson’s Lessons for Living – More is not necessarily better

In our consumerist society we constantly find ourselves under pressure to earn more, buy more, achieve more. So much these days seems to depend on quantity, with relatively little attention being paid to quality, particularly quality of life. The idea that ‘more is not necessarily better’ is not only something to bear in mind for ourselves and our own well-being, but also for the people we are trying to help or support. While there is much that can be done to help people who are lacking in material resources we should not lose sight of the fact that there should also be ways in which we can help people enrich their lives in other ways Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
December 13, 2022
Being around birds can boost your mental wellbeing

Being around birds can boost your mental wellbeing

We already know that nature can have a positive impact on our mental health. Gardening, being in green spaces, and being around water can all improve our wellbeing. This became particularly clear during the pandemic, when many people in cities had limited access to nature. Yet while green spaces such as parks and gardens are frequently cited as being good for our mental health, there has been little research into the impact of wildlife on our mood. A new study in Scientific Reports finds that seeing and hearing birds can have a positive impact on our wellbeing, even for people who are experiencing symptoms of depression. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
December 13, 2022
Five ways of dealing with uncertainty

Five ways of dealing with uncertainty

Whether we’re trying out a new hobby for the first time, attending a job interview or simply spending time with people we don’t know, uncertainty can leave us feeling unsettled, restless and sometimes even physically uncomfortable. When we’re anxious or upset, it’s important to recognise when we can take a moment to stop and reflect. Spending time feeling, identifying, and learning how to manage our emotions doesn’t just help us calm down in the moment, but can also help to build resilience over the long term. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
December 13, 2022