Karen Openshaw Consultancy

Here is my latest blog. Very excited about the teacher training course I’ve just begun

Introducing Mindfulness... 8 years on - Karen Openshaw Consultancy I’ve been introducing people to the concept of mindfulness now for 8 years. I am passionate about the practice. And, as a Christian, it has deepened my faith and helped me not just to remain in the present moment but also to recognise that I am present in the presence of God.

Some great resources here on Mental Health awareness day. This year the focus is on the workplace. Supporting people in the workplace with their mental health is such a key part of my work. And such a privilege

happiful.com Happiful exists to help everyone find the mental health and wellbeing support and advice they need. We’re proud to be a Certified B Corp, using our business as a force for good.

I love the work I do and would love to support everyone, everywhere. Realistically, there is only one of me so I can’t. Incredibly grateful for so many organisations offering support. Heard about an initiative I hadnt heard of today ‘shout’ https://giveusashout.org - so much need. Hope this helps someone.

Shout: the UK's free, confidential and 24/7 mental health text service for crisis support Shout is the UK's first and only 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis. Get free, confidential mental health support anytime, anywhere. Text 'Shout' to 85258.

Amazing day at Oxford University at the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation conference. Dr Dan Siegel was brilliant. Learned so much (including quantum physics 😯)

It’s been a very long time since I blogged but here you go …

Brand new page - Karen Openshaw Consultancy Chris and I have done several workshops and teaching weekends at various churches, organisations and retreat houses. If this is something you are interested in or know someone who might be please do get in touch.

We know the unknown can be scary, that’s why we’re trying to demystify what happens at our groups - to hopefully make that first step through the doors easier. 👌

At our groups there’s NO pressure and NO judgement. You can take it all at your own pace. If you don’t feel like talking that session, simply pass our talking ball along.

Open to any man 18+, our groups run nationwide and online every Monday 7-9PM (except bank holidays).

Visit our website to find your nearest location or drop us an email to [email protected] to join online ❤️

Happy All Saints Day friends! I love the idea of this from positively present. I’m not going to go into the science of why gratitude is SO beneficial - but it is! Especially if you say it out loud or write it down! I’m not going to post daily but I’m going to be doing this with a friend throughout November!

Today is World Mental Health today. Yesterday I sent a clip based on this acronym to two of the organisations I work with. I’m also writing a service for Westhoughton Cornerstone this Sunday using this. Before you speak filter your words through “THINK” but also apply it to yourself. Thoughts are just thoughts not facts. Is what you are thinking actually true? Is it helpful or harmful? Is it going to inspire or encourage you into helpful action? Can you just let it go - is it necessary? Is it a kind thought or is your inner critic being unkind to you? Would you speak to someone you love that way?

https://www.cfmcounselling.co.uk/courses/living-mindfully-as-a-follower-of-jesus Very much looking forward to this tomorrow. Let me know if you know anyone who might benefit from a similar event. Church away day etc.

Living Mindfully As A Follower Of Jesus undefined

Self care is very important. Limiting time around people who steal your energy is wise - but it’s equally important to examine yourself. Most people are peace lovers but we need to be peace makers. If you have any responsibility for mishandling a situation you need to apologise and make amends. It doesn’t mean you need to resume the relationship but it does mean you’ve behaved kindly and well and can truly be at peace.

Henri Nouwen is a Dutch Theologian. His book ‘The wounded healer’ is one of my favourites.

Great article from a super online magazine called Happiful. Full of great articles and strategies to live life well. It’s very true that it is the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back” - often in my work it’s the daily build up of irritants that lead to depression and burnout. We ‘cope’ when the big things hit …

Common micro stressors and how to tackle them They’re the smaller things in our lives that pile up to drain us. Spot the micro stressors in your life and take steps to soothe them.

Ooo now I really like this!

FALLACY TIME: I’M ENTITLED TO MY OPINION

DEFINITION AND EXPLANATION: It is true that everyone is (legally) entitled to their opinion. However, “I’m entitled to my opinion,” is often used to shield an unsupported position. And being entitled to your opinion doesn’t mean you’re right, or that anyone needs to take your opinion seriously.

There are several problems with this fallacy.

1. An opinion doesn’t mean what they think it means. Opinions are subjective judgements or viewpoints. When someone claims they are “entitled to their opinion,” it’s often because they are trying to shield factually incorrect assertions.

2. All opinions aren’t equal. Expert opinions are interpretations of evidence based on years of study and experience, and are significantly more robust and reliable than non-expert opinions. “I’m entitled to my opinion” suggests that their opinion is just as good as anyone else’s.

3. We should all be open to changing our minds if the evidence suggests we should. “I’m entitled to my opinion” is essentially an admission that they can’t justify their position… but yet they’re unwilling to entertain contradictory evidence or other points of view.

In the face of facts that contradict a belief, especially one central to our identity or values, we use motivated reasoning to reduce the cognitive dissonance that arises when reality and our beliefs are in conflict. When that fails, our Get Out of Jail Free Card is to defend the belief by rendering it unfalsifiable and therefore immune to evidence. We move the goalposts. Discount sources or deny evidence. Proclaim that it’s our opinion.

It’s important to remember that the purpose of arguing isn’t to be right, it’s to get it right. “I’m entitled to my opinion” shuts down any further disagreement. We simply don’t want to be wrong.

HOW TO COUNTER: I tell my students on the first day of class that they are not entitled to their opinions. (At least not in class!) They are only entitled to what they can support with evidence.

It’s a bit trickier in the “real world.” Remember that people are often unfamiliar with the basics of critical thinking, so they may not be used to having to support their positions with evidence. Consider explaining why “I’m entitled to my opinion” is fallacious, and the benefits of healthy disagreement. The best approach is probably to ask them why they hold this particular opinion, and why they think they’re “entitled” to it.

MORE ABOUT THIS AND OTHER FALLACIES: thinkingispower.com/logical-fallacies/

People find looking into the face of people’s pain so hard that sometimes they turn away … great post by Jane Dixon. I highly recommend her grief awareness workshop to you.

Super article 😊 I hem my day in prayer - morning and evening - that practice helps to ensure the middle bit doesn’t fall apart!

7 things to do each day to benefit your mental wellbeing We're sharing seven tips you can incorporate into your daily routine to help maintain mental wellness

Doing good feels good. Join us for Altruistic August and help create a happier and kinder world 💕🌍

https://actionforhappiness.org/altruistic-august

A really thought provoking article with some helpful suggestions/questions for engaging in controversial debate. Active Listening is a rare skill which needs to be honed and fine tuned. It’s hard to ‘listen’ well(& impossible when we are ‘triggered’ as the ‘thinking’ brain stops working in order to protect us ). Few people listen. They simply hear and wait for their opportunity to speak - or just interrupt, which means they haven’t even really heard. We can all be guilty of this. If we are speaking we aren’t learning. So much of my work is/has been about listening to understand and then, hopefully, having the opportunity to share what I believe/think.

How To Have Hard Conversations About Controversial Topics (and Save the World) Here it goes again. You’re at home, or work, or out with friends. And then someone, a family member, co-worker, an acquaintance, makes a comment about a current event or a particular social i…

‘Kerkgraf’

This word designates the gravesite of one of the greatest artists of all time. The story of how this man was buried there – and what this word means – carries important lessons less about art and far more about life. Let me explain.

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born on July 15, 1606.

Profoundly gifted as an artist, Rembrandt revolutionized new techniques portraying light and shadows. With his unique style, he painted hundreds of portraits throughout his life, became fabulously wealthy and internationally famous. Personally, Rembrandt found love, married, had five children. He was respected at home and around the world. His life was perfect.

And then that perfect life tragically unraveled. Three of his children died in infancy; the two children who survived infancy both passed away before their dad. His wife, Saskia, died in childbirth.

The heartbroken painter was unable to paint for several years and lost favor in high society.

The wealth he amassed depleted in time; the fame he enjoyed eroded during the last decade of his life. And on October 4, 1669 one of the greatest painters in history passed away with no surviving family, with no fanfare and with no assets.

Like all the destitute of his time, Rembrandt was buried in an unmarked grave. The marking for this master and the other castaways buried with him simply stated, “Kerkgraf.” It designated that all those buried here were lumped together in a church owned grave.

Shortly before dying, though, he painted what would become one of his most remarkable and important works.

Earlier in his life Rembrandt painted a rendition of a parable from scripture about a Prodigal Son. Rembrandt painted a young man carousing, a woman seated on his lap, a drink being lifted high in his hand. The Prodigal Son, with his arm on the woman’s back, gleefully stares at us from the canvas, smugly laughing. At the high point of his life, Rembrandt painted himself as the Prodigal Son. It was one of almost one hundred paintings he made of himself.

Years later, after profound losses, and nearing his own death, he returned to the parable of the Prodigal Son and painted it again.

Rembrandt now knew the ache of lonely nights, the sting of empty chairs around the table. He knew struggles financially, he understood irrelevance professionally and he endured pain physically. He knew, in other words, both the joy of life and sorrow of loss.

The painting captures a shattered son returning after squandering his father’s inheritance. The son kneels before his father begging for mercy. He is missing a sandal, has the shaved head of a slave, his clothes are torn. He is broke and broken.

Off to the right stands his older brother. The brother, perfectly dressed, staring down, wringing his hands, judging his younger brother. He is disapproving of the choices his brother made, his decision to home and the manner their father is treating him.

And then there’s the father.

Royally dressed, emanating light, compassionately leaning forward, he envelopes his son in both arms. His left hand is masculine, muscular, large, pulling his child towards him; his right hand is feminine, gentile, loving, soothing his son’s pain.

This masterpiece hangs in St. Petersburg and is widely regarded as one of his greatest paintings. The painting moved me to such a degree that I have a copy hanging in my office.

My friends, when Rembrandt’s life was perfect, he saw himself as a central character in the middle of a party. After a lifetime of experiences, though, he recognized the need for compassion, for grace, for acceptance, for love. It’s the type of moment that can only be captured by someone who knew both the joy and sorrow of life.

Rembrandt knew both well. And so do we.

A paradox of life is that while we may actively pursue fun, ease and success, it’s actually when we get stripped of those things that we recognize how precious life is, what ultimately matters most, and our absolute need for compassion, love, and grace.

We don't know exactly where Rembrandt is buried. We do, however, have the masterpiece he produced at the end of his life as an example of the perfect acceptance and love still possible in our lives.

This is your day. Create a masterpiece. And Live Inspired.

Come through the door at 7.00pm tonight and feel the warmth in the room.

No need to book or register.

We are open EVERY Monday 7pm (except bank holidays)

Open to any man over 18

No pressure to talk, come for a brew, a biscuit or two and see what goes on.

Nothing to lose by giving us a try, possibly everything to gain ❤

No club near you? We have online Nationally drop us an email

[email protected]

https://andysmanclub.co.uk

It isn’t just fight, flight or freeze … I’ve done a couple of courses with NICABM. Excellent.

[CLOSING TONIGHT] How to Identify and Work with Emerging Trauma Responses As a seasoned clinician, you may have several “go-to” strategies you use to help clients who are caught in a fight, flight, or freeze response to trauma.