In Emotional First Aid we have created a way of understanding our emotional worlds that is accessible to all and memorable. Building upon ancient traditions and wisdom from cultures around the world, we view life as a constant journey. Not necessarily from one point to another but with there being constant movement and change.

We explore what it is to be a human being, a homo sapien. With there being over 8 billion of us on the planet with a history that goes back around 300,000 years and, with us all sharing 99.9% of our DNA. Making us all more or less the same, however with our complexity and diversity making everyone of us, at the same time, unique.

Our training asks people to imagine looking at a map in the dark with a torch. That, when the torch is close, all that you can see is a single feature, a village, part of a city or a specific landmark. However, if you are able to lift the torch whole new features and possibilities come into view. In life, there are times when events and experiences push our torches down, restricting our view and perceptions. If however we are able to raise them, we increase our options and our ability to make choices. Something that we hope our training will offer people.

The light that we aim to spread is therefore directed towards, what we call peoples Life Landscape, their unique map. One that displays where they came from, where they are and where they may be going. One that features the landmarks on their journeys and the features that have helped or hindered them.

A significant aspect of all Life Landscapes is then climate. Like the climates that affect our planet, all Life Landscapes have climates. The events and occurrences over which we have no control. With climates sometimes being constant and predictable, but also for all of us the chance of them being violent, unforeseen and unforgiving at times. With this understanding of climates and Landscapes, Emotional First Aid enables people to recognise and appreciate the skills, strengths and survival strategies that they have developed as they have tried to navigate their emotional worlds.

Using the Three C’s of Compassion, Curiosity and Creativity as a compass, we help people to prepare for their journeys. Helping them to pack their Bag For Life with new skills, knowledge and insights, as well as taking the time to appreciate how amazing and skilful they already are.

As people embark upon all their many life journeys, Emotional First Aid can be a guide that helps them to keep their torches high and be a light for others when theirs becomes heavy or where they find themselves in adverse climates. As Maya Angelou has said; “we can be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud.”