BBC Radio 4 - In Pursuit of Happiness

Here's a chance to listen to a really interesting - and not uncritical - discussion of wellbeing, aired last Friday on Radio 4. This will only be 'live' for a few more days, so listen whilst you can...
In Pursuit of Happiness

Untangling the Twists

My dad died when I was eight, and my second dad died just before I turned eleven. My mum re-married and I had another step-dad by the time I was thirteen - but, although I didn't hate him, I couldn't bear to let him get near me emotionally, as I was convinced that he would die too... so I pulled up the metaphorical drawbridge and hid behind my fists... 


The day I returned to school after my second dad died I went up to the biggest kid in the playground and started laying into him like a snarling whirlwind. A teacher separated us and slapped this big, hulking innocent round the face, saying, "pick on someone your own size". My mummy always reminded me that I was the spit of her dad - a self-obsessed abusive bastard of a man. She told me that all of her children were a disappointment to her - especially me. It was a relief when I was kicked out at of 'home' in my late teens, as being homeless was the better option. 


In this piece I'm going to share a little bit of how I begin to make sense of all that now that my life has a sense of meaning and purpose. Learning is also about living NOW and learning to love oneself...


I have a torn photo of me as a toddler gently stroking a sparrow with my pudgy hand. All too soon this soft hand, expressing a gentle touch, would become a pulverising fist. I loved creatures which flew - birds and butterflies. I was entranced by their flight, their freedom; I knew these things to be miraculous, and I was compelled to reach out to them. 

By the age of twelve the boy with a gentle touch was priming mouse-traps with bread to trap and maim birds. In my twisted way I thought that hurting something I loved would confirm the fact that I really was bad. It was, looking back, an act of quiet desperation. But, for all this rage and destructiveness and self loathing, I was still a child; albeit, a child without a childhood.

One of my poems about this period in my life-course ends with the line - "... and I was only as young as I was allowed to be." Here are some memories from way back then... 

" Whack! I swung round and, as a reflex, landed a piss-baller of punch into his solar plexus. I knocked him unconscious, and it was just him and me. So he was lying flat-out, kind of twitching and convulsing. He came round after a little while. I helped him up, and he shook the tweetie birds out of his thick skull."


That's a description of me decking a P.E. teacher. I was about fourteen at the time. I was the youngest brother from a family of boxers. I exercised obsessively: between 500-1000 sit-ups and press-ups a day; 45 minutes skipping; 5 miles at least five days a week. Raw eggs and milk and white horse oils for my aching muscles. I was in permanent training... training, that is, to run away from myself. 

Here are another couple of glimpses of me back then...

" When I got time to say it, I'd calmly whisper to opponents,
'What you need to know, is that I don't care if I live or die.'
I'd always be looking into their eyes as I spoke. This would give me an advantage, as they would then tend to guard their head, and would be particularly vulnerable to body-punches."

I had no peace of mind - especially after the age of twelve. I couldn't sleep, and 'cause I had to share a bedroom with my brothers, I'd sit on the bog and read a dictionary [remarkably, I've still got it, all torn and tattered!]. You see, I felt that I didn't have enough words to ARTiculate myself. If I got more words in my head, then perhaps I'd be able to start speaking and stop hiding behind my fists. Possibly then I'd become truer to myself, because in some vague - and terrifying way - I knew that my public persona was a sham. 


Inside, I felt numb and alone and scared. My mum was constantly telling me that I was shit, and was forever pointing out all the things I couldn't do. The pressure was always on my brothers and sister to demonstrate 'loyalty' to her. We were actively encouraged to grass each other up, and I seemed to get the fag end of the deal, because I was struggling to be alive. During this period - in some ways my darkest days - I felt an incredible discontinuity between the inner world of my head, and the outer world around me. It was like I needed a social decompression chamber in order to move between these different worlds."


I recently got back in touch with my best mate from these times. He sent me a list of over 50 kids I'd smashed up (detatched retina; broken ribs; K.O.; K.O etc). Where I grew up we didn't play fight. 

I can't help wondering who that was back then. Who the hell was that boy? He's me, and he's not me. I've got the words from that dictionary, but I have none of the fury any more. That's not a bad exchange I suppose. Through a lot of hard work I have made myself better, and it has allowed me to become the silly-wise-foolish-shy show-off I am today.

So here I am now; I still can't sleep, and I'm using the words handed to me by that scared, hyper-sensitive "psycho-boy" to try and untangle our story. Here I am, a First Class graduate who teaches history but wasn't allowed to do an History O-level (GCSE in new money) because I was deemed to be too thick. 


To some extent I'm resigned to the fact that I'll always be recovering from those dayze. However, life is good for me now - and, although I sometimes look back, this is the time I would rather live in. I am surrounded by Love, and am grateful for that. It didn't just happen that way either. My process of recovery was assisted by some very good people along the way who believed in me when I most definitely didn't believe in myself. I'll also take some credit for making some good choices. 


Nowadays, I chose to use the sometimes painful experiences of my life course to inform my 'empathy bank'. I try and make something good and positive from all of those tangled twists. Things can get better.

Emotional Resilience

Copywrite: Francesca Arnold, 2010

In the past I have been guilty of perhaps underplaying the value of emotional resilience. Following the research in the Foresight report, 'Mental Capital and Wellbeing', we can picture our minds as being like bank accounts in the following sense...
Living in ways which enhance our wellbeing means that we are banking mental health assets; assets which, when the set-backs life deals hit us, can be called upon and 'spent'. In other words, in hard times mental capital allows us to cope, and in better times it allows us to flourish.

I am mindful of this because of a simple everyday incident which I experienced earlier today. I was in a supermarket, buying some milk. There was an unattended push-chair in the aisle. I calculated that I would just about be able to get through the gap, so I sidled my way past. As I went I inadvertently nudged the pram with my bag. In response, the mother of the baby in the pram began to shout at me. 

A few years ago I would have been devastated by this incident. It would have rolled around, being replayed in a hideous squirming loop in my head for ages after. However, having been using the Five Ways and 'banking' that mental capital I was emotionally resilient enough to deal with this incident calmly. 

Instead of panicking I walked back towards the irate parent and apologised thus:

"I'm so sorry. You see, I sometimes forget how fat I've become and I simply miscalculated the space available to me. Is your baby okay?" 

Imagining myself into her place, I can quite understand her anger at some seemingly indifferent lunk-head barging his way past her baby. Fair enough. I'm glad to say that the baby was fine, and the mother was placated. Indeed, we even shared a smile at that point. And, of course, there are so many other alternative futures which might have been played out if I had chosen, say, to give her verbals back. In this instance we both walked away with our brain chemistry restored and even - dare I say! - enhanced. 

These daily interactions are the stuff of which our lives and societies are made from. Our choices in how we conduct ourselves are important. When it comes to nurturing wellbeing my advice is, act locally. Sometimes it doesn't take a lot to change things for the better.

Thanks for taking the time to visit me here. 

Colin

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I felt well being a Human Library Book

Today I had the opportunity to be a 'book' for the Human Library . A Human Library is, "a mobile library set up as a space for dialogue and interaction. Visitors to the Human Library are given the opportunity to speak informally with “people on loan”; this latter group being extremely varied in age, sex and cultural background" [see Human Library.org].


On this occasion, I was talking about my journey from long term illness back to paid employment; and from the 'white knuckle ride' I experienced initially, returning to work with a memory impairment, to my present circumstances, where I feel much more comfortable, both, in my job and in my skin. 


I was 'loaned' three times and had conversations with folk who otherwise would have remained perfect strangers. My 'Readers' couldn't have known this, but prior to the session I was experiencing one of my periodic 'lows'; a 'condition' which sometimes creeps up on me, riddling me with self-doubt. 


However, I can tell you, this experience was transformative for me. Only three conversation later and I was flourishing. In the language of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing, I was using three of the 5 wellbeing 'ways' - namely, give, keep learning and connect. 


The Human Library isn't only a wonderfully 'organic' way to challenge prejudice and stereotypes, it is also a very powerful wellbeing 'tool' - powerful, in a good way, for everyone who takes part (and I speak advisedly, having been a borrower in previous events). There is a lot of power in creating a conversation; in making contact and communicating your story, and sharing time with others. 


If you are interested in being involved in a Human Library event, contact 
Oz Osbourne or Nick Little.


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Smiling Despite Your Self

When my youngest daughter was a little pin-dot she would sometimes get an attack of the glums; an attack so powerfully projected and pervasive that it would bring the whole household 
d
  o
        w
            n....


One of the wellbeing ways I used to lift her - and us! - was to create poems and songs which would make her smile despite herself. Here's one such creation from that time:

Take care my bunny
Please mind that lip
It's pouting so far now
You might go and trip

Beware the Gloomy
The Gloomy is glum
And so are the rest of us
When the Gloomy is done

Dark are the shadows
Where Gloomy has been
Beware the Gloomy
This Gloomy is mean

Sad little Gloomy
Covered in gloom
Moaning and groaning
Alone in her room

Come on out Gloomy
into the sun
There's fun to be had
This day's just
Begun!

Shamelessly derivative, inspired as it was by the poetry of Colin McNaughton. Nevertheless, it really did work, and I remain very fond of this poem. Growing up shouldn't mean that we can't be playful. Of course, wellbeing isn't about being relentlessly happy twenty four seven (heaven forbid). We experience a range of moods, and our highs are defined in relation to our lows. However, it is about being aware of ways through which we can increase our emotional resilience, and improve our general sense of wellbeing. 

Beware the gloomy!


Colin Howey <*((((><(

Valuing Each Other

I have been working with a group of unemployed people who have just completed an eight week Adult Education employability skills course called 'Your Aim Your Gain'. In a conversation, the tutor and I agreed that the group had bonded really well, and that it seemed such a shame that - due to the realities of funding - the course would be coming to an end. We decided, therefore, to encourage the students to form their own informal network and stay in touch. I am really pleased that this suggestion was met with enthusiasm, and that they intend to meet in the city centre on Thursday mornings.


Connecting is absolutely vital for people who are unemployed. Not only is the experience often so isolating and disempowering, it is also that work is a vital source of identity and status for people. The group have been working to develop skills to identify skills and aptitude in their peers, and I am hopeful that this process will continue between them. I certainly know that most jobs I've got have been as a result of someone else seeing that I'd be good at it, whereas I'd only see potential barriers. The ability of people to value each other, and give others status is really important.


I have also talked about the Five Ways to Wellbeing with this group, and they were all very interested. I think that if you give folk a practical and understandable set of principles (a 'toolkit') then they may be able to develop the personal resources to develop emotional resilience, even during these hard times.


Colin Howey <*((((><(

Ready to go again...

Well, it has been a while since I last posted anything here. I have been ill recently and needed to take some time out. However, I am feeling better now and I'm ready to continue working to promote wellbeing.

During my recuperation I travelled with a good friend of mine and spent some time exploring some of Norfolk's wonderful medieval churches. I found that taking the time to spend quality time like this was really restorative. You might be interested to read the following piece I wrote about an incident with a Wren trapped in a church...
Birds with Broken Wings

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Winter Wildlife Wellbeing Wander

Just before Christmas I organised a 'Winter Wildlife Wellbeing Wander' on Mousehold Heath. This was aimed at individuals who might be easily labeled by negatives; former offenders, unemployed people, alcoholics - or, in some instances, folk with combinations of the above. For me, this offered an opportunity to bring people together to do something positive and life enhancing (albeit, a bit chilly at times!). Even in snowy conditions (see photo, above) eight people turned out - which I was really pleased about.

An Adult Education tutor partnered up with one of the City Council Mousehold Heath Wardens to 'lead' our ramble through this winter wonderland. However, before I describe some of what transpired on this day, I want to focus on another individual. You see, I also invited a man (let's call him 'M'), currently living in short-stay supported housing, to come along and share with us his knowledge of living off the land. M had been bought up in care (I struggle not to put that c word in inverted commas!), and, at the age of sixteen, was relocated hundreds of miles out of his area, ending up in Yarmouth, where he was left to fend for himself. He went on to become a career criminal, eventually serving a sentence for murder. In his own words, he currently "drinks to be normal" and is an alcoholic.   He has been homeless. Lots of labels there then - lots to pathologise.


However, seen in another light, here is a man who has served his time and is now attempting to listen to the 'better angels' of his nature. He loves his dog, and, spent last summer walking the coast of southern England with him as a trusted companion. When I sat down with him and listened to his 'journey' I was struck by the history in his head, and, also, that he has expertise which should be shared.


Anyway, M came along with his dog (who also had an excellent time, by the way!), and told us loads of fascinating stuff about surviving in the outdoors. I was fascinated when he smelt the presence of a fox; reminding me that a lot of us tend not to be open to learning through our range of senses. Later, when I asked him how he felt about having been our teacher, he was really enthusiastic and energised.  I think that one of the reasons for this, is that the experience had given him status. That is to say, he had internalised the respect and approval which we had given him, a process which enhances ones sense of self. Whereas previously he had achieved this through violence and domination, he was able to connect in gentler ways, and feel the respect of his peers.


As we ate our picnic outdoors in the snow, we all discussed how amazing it had been to be witness to the beauty of the freshly fallen flakes. As well as the formal learning, we took time to stop and look at the world around us; to breathe in the cool fresh air. Although Mousehold Heath is surrounded by an urban area (of Norwich), we were in a green and white space, away from cars or bustle. We saw Robins and Blackbirds and animal tracks, and heard the calls of countless other creatures. I offered a supportive arm to one of the group who I had met on a couple of occasions, but who, for whatever reason, had never spoken to me. I said to him that if I fall he's going too, and vice versa and he laughed. Later, he confided a secret to me - a recognition of trust and connection that warmed me. As a group we walked for about an hour and a half in total.


I also spoke to D, who is a man in his 50s, currently unemployed, and quite isolated and lacking confidence. He told me that it was great to get out and be in the company of others; meeting new people and learning new things together.


At the end of our wintery ramble I asked for some feedback from the group, and then reflected back to them how everyone seemed to be more relaxed and fulfilled, and suggested to them that this was because we had done at least five good things together...


Connect
Take Notice
Be Active 
Keep learning
Give


In conclusion, here are some of the elements that, in my opinion, made this a success:

• The experience was facilitated in a relaxed manner
• Folk were invited to contribute, and given space to stop and take notice, without undue pressure
• We were in wonderful surroundings
• All of the Five Ways were in play here, and were 'revealed' retrospectively
• We had feedback mechanisms which allowed participants to let us know how they felt about our ramble
• We brought together a diverse range of people and engaged them in an active and positive experience where their contributions are encouraged and recognised

Although wellbeing is for all, I am committed to working alongside folk who, for whatever reason, may be struggling.  Recently, I was being interviewed at an awards ceremony and was asked what I do. I hadn't rehearsed a speech, and my spontaneous reply turned out to be a summary of my values and approach...

"I want to provide learning which is people-shaped. I also think that one of the most powerful things I can give is to have positive expectations of others when, perhaps, they don't - or can't - give this to themselves... yet."

Colin <*((((><(

Norwich Cathedral - a WellBeing resource...

I recently 'gave' WellBeing 'tours' of Norwich cathedral, which were offered to folk I work alongside. It was just before Christmas and I wanted to give folk something unique to me. Working as an historical educator and interpreter who has done a lot of work in the cathedral I wanted to share my particular perspective with others. Although my focus was historical - in particular, exploring the contributions of ordinary people to this grand building -, I also wanted to demonstrate what a fantastic wellbeing resource the cathedral - and similar buildings - are for the people of Norfolk.

I always think that the Five Ways are best illustrated retrospectively; that is, once they have been experienced. Accordingly, I was able to draw out the following elements to our experience within the cathedral:

Connect:

We came together to share some quality time and explore this building together

Take notice:

We were able to appreciate the beauty of this special place, and were also invited to slow down and look within.

Be active:

We spent nearly an hour rambling through the building. Gentle exercise I know, but nonetheless, genuine exercise

Keep learning:

We learnt from each other as we passed through the building. For instance, in this exchange, a young girl was able to point out a mason's mark that I had never noticed before

Give:

We gave our time to each other; shared insights, laughter... comfortable silence.

This is a building which - regardless of whether you have Christian faith; faith from a different tradition, or no faith - does things to you - if you will allow it to...

The spire and the ceilings encourage us to look up and experience a sense of awe and wonder. The more intimate spaces of the side chapels, and darker east end, prompt more reflection and, possibly, introspection. The candles invite us to be lost in the dance of their flame.

I would encourage you to explore this and other special places. These 'sanctuary spaces' are, potentially,  such a powerful wellbeing resource!

A Wellbeing Workplace...

I feel that we need to make our working environments, both, more brain and planet friendly. Why, for instance, do we insist on having static meetings? There is an old phrase that says, "it is solved by walking". Some of my best eureka moments have been when walking along in conversation with someone else. The sky is a brilliant roof - much better and more likely to inspire than some dismal strip-light!

The trouble is - to extend the walking metaphor - we tend to fear an untrod path. However, when we dare to do different, and experiment a bit, the results can be amazing. For instance, I recently completed an intensive teaching qualification, writing several thousand words in a day. I did it by working in twenty five minute bursts, punctuated by ten minute breaks. The 'breaks' when, ostensibly, I wasn't working often proved to be the time when I experienced those moments of synthesis and inspiration which a nose to the grindstone culture so efficiently stifles. The optimal performance of the human brain is sustained for less than half an hour at a time.

Why then all the dreadful long meetings? It reminds me of a thought from the wonderful Ken Robinson video I posted here recently.  I think that this fear of rest and relaxation stems from an attitude to people equivalent to the strip-mining of our planet - and, as with such reckless plundering, it is equally unsustainable. A well chaired meeting with regular breaks and changes in the mode of delivery - visual, aural, read/write, kinaesthetic - is bound to produce more of value in less time. And perhaps in those 'breaks' we might get to know each other - and ourselves - better. We might CONNECT and GIVE and KEEP LEARNING, TAKE NOTICE. If we walk and talk we might even BE ACTIVE. In other words, as the Foresight Report has established, if we build these five 'ways' into our daily lives our wellbeing is likely to improve.

I have been experimenting with this in my own working life, and have found that when colleagues and partners are amenable to playing with some of these ideas, we're achieving more and feeling better for it.

It ain't rocket science folks!

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A Wise Wellbeing Woman...

This video was recorded recently by my friend Finbarr. Here, he interviews his nan, Hilde - a wise wellbeing woman if ever I saw one!


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People-Shaped Society...

Living a way of life that is unsustainable, and doesn't actively give value to happiness, contentment, creativity and fulfilment, requires the creation of a new 'common sense'. Wellbeing activists are involved in being part of a profound practical exercise of revaluation. We propose that, actually, it's important to recognise and celebrate the whole person. It's vital that we make our communities people-shaped and planet-friendly. As one of my favoured fantasy dinner guests once said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" (Eleanor Roosevelt). 

Specifically then, Ken Robinson speaks here about this re-valuation in relation to education systems which, globally, de-value creativity - a process which not only runs counter to human happiness, but also diminishes the capacity of societies to create good business in a changing and competitive world. 

I'm with Ken - let's break free of these 'mind-forged manacles' and remember how amazing and creative we  (adults) once were, and follow the children's lead and work to re-discover this sense of wonder. In the way we choose to conduct ourselves in our daily lives, we can make such a positive difference. It isn't a dream - it can be done. I encourage you to take time to watch this...

PS This is also very funny!

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The Wellbeing Challenge

During some recent wellbeing training we were asked to think of something that represents a 'dream' for us. Working in pairs, we then challenged each other to actually make this dream reality. Now, my 'dream' might not seem that amazing or untouchable, but it's something I've put off doing now for many years. I think it's something to do with worrying about making a fool out of myself, and fearing that I will not being able to remember the moves. My dream was to learn Tai Chi. I was challenged by Pat, my partner in this challenge venture, to do something about it.

I'm happy to report that I joined a class last Saturday, and although I did feel a bit lost working alongside experienced practitioners, I enjoyed myself and learnt about 10 seconds of continuous Tai Chi - yes, a whole ten seconds!

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Thanks Andrew for being the catalyst, and Pat for telling me to get started. I'm sure that this will really help my wellbeing.

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Wellbeing Training - Thanks to Everyone I Met There...

Yesterday, I was given the opportunity to attend some really interesting wellbeing training, and I've just posted a thank you on my GET page. Click on the fish below to view the message...


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Sign of Positive Changes...

Photo kindly provided by HelenofNorwich

Helen, from the 'Norwich Wellbeing Network' on Facebook messaged me with a wonderful local example of community action which enhances wellbeing.  


Here's what she said:
"There are lots of people wanting to see change and little things make a difference. For example someone put a pub/church sign on a lamp post outside the Whalebone [see photo, above] and this led to the vicar and the publican having a carol service in the pub this year on the 17th Dec!"


FYI: the Whalebone pub is located next to Sewell Park on Magdelan Road in the north of Norwich.


What a lovely idea! Thanks for sharing this with us Helen.


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Be Kind to Yourself

You're no good to anyone else if you're not good to yourself. I am speaking, both, to myself here, and to lots of the activists I meet; as well as to the many and varied folk I encounter through my work, who are often very adept at beating themselves up and running away from themselves. Perhaps I am speaking to you?

We need to develop the skill of treating ourselves with kindness. We need to GIVE to ourselves in order to give of ourselves - and it doesn't just happen. This self-nurturing element is definitely an aspect of the Five Ways to Wellbeing which I need to work on. I hope that, CONNECTing with the support of other people, I will learn how to GIVE this peace of mind to myself.

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A chain of curious accidents...

Isn't it interesting how one thing leads to another. Yesterday, struggling to suppress my asthma in a meeting, I coughed and tweaked a muscle in my lower back.  Today, I was hobbling into town, when I met a friend/co-worker in the community, and realised that I'd left my wallet home. She very kindly lent me a fiver (GIVE).

Later, due to discomfort of my back, I went to cafe in the Forum for a cuppa, which was made possible by the aforementioned lend. I was sitting making phonecalls with bits of paper and laptop strewn around me. A woman on the table next to me had overheard a conversation I had where I mentioned Wellbeing and we struck up a conversation (CONNECT and, as it happened, KEEP LEARNING). This led to her GIVING to me = Wellbeing enhanced, thank you very much!

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A Sixth Way to Wellbeing...

I fully understand why the positive mental health practices espoused in the Foresight report had to be distilled down into a manageable number, but I don't see any reason why we shouldn't personalise the message a bit.

I have been thinking about my own personal wellbeing values. I think that CREATE would be on my list - so now I have Six Ways to Wellbeing. Why so? Well, the creative expression renders the inside out - and in getting a bit of you out there, it can be cathartic. It is also empowering. In a society where we are often encouraged to be passive consumers, how liberating it can be to actually make something. It creates a sense of control. Creating is also about giving 'voice' to your uniqueness, and celebrating it.

POSTSCRIPT: following a brief discussion about this with other Wellbeing activists this evening, I'd like to add that, in my opinion, creativity extends beyond artistic creativity. It can also, for instance, include the ability to systematise things. Indeed, even seemingly routine activity can be made playful in keeping with wellbeing principles - click HERE for one experiment in this area...

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Join us on Facebook

Hello,

I just want to plug our new Norwich Wellbeing Network Facebook page.  CONNECTing is good for us, and, although face-to-face is always best in my opinion, there is definitely a place for some virtual meeting of minds and sharing of ideas.

Click on the word HERE to get to the page.

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On Reflection...

Today, I observed a little girl who was mesmerised by the reflection of the sky in a puddle. I am glad to say that her carer - presumably, her Gran - gave her space to enjoy this long moment of wonder. I exchanged smiles with the woman as we looked kindly upon this beautiful and simple scene.

I treasure moments like this. It astonishes me how we 'grown-ups' get lost in the tick and tock of the clock. There are so many everyday miracles which are lost to us when we don't take notice.

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