What you'll learn
- You will have a fuller appreciation of what your life offers
- You will also be better equipped to support others through difficult times and have a fuller appreciation of what your life offers
- The dangers associated with turning away from death will be explored
- You will understand what is meant by ‘enriching life’
Requirements
- All you need for this course is an interest in getting the most out of your life
Description
Death is something that we all have to face sooner or later. ‘I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it’ is a common response to this inevitability. Reasonable though this may seem, we may actually be short-changing ourselves in adopting it. This is because facing up to the reality of death can actually enrich our lives by helping us to appreciate how precious life is and how important it is to make the most of it while we can.
These are challenging issues, but that makes it all the more important that we think them through, which is exactly what this course is about. It is divided into five video-based lessons that explore the significance of three sides of facing death. First, it looks at why it is important to be ‘death aware’. Second, it provides an overview of the issues involved in facing someone else’s death – for example, when we learn of the death of someone we care about or find out that someone we love is dying. Third, we explore some of the key issues involved in bereavement. Finally, we focus on our own mortality and why it is pointless and self-defeating to try and evade the fact that we are finite creatures, that death is part of life.
There is also a module companion workbook that you will need to print out before you start the course. It contains space for notes plus an exercise relating to each of the three lessons. This is an important resource for you, as it will help to extend and consolidate your understanding and provide you with a set of notes to act as a reference source for future development.
Who this course is for:
- Anyone who wants to get the most out of their life, but especially people who are supporting others who are dying or grieving
Instructor
Dr Neil Thompson is a highly experienced tutor and trainer. He is highly respected for his ability to explain complex ideas clearly and effectively. His gentle voice and unhurried approach are widely appreciated by online learners as will as attendees at his conferences and workshops.
He is an independent writer, educator and adviser based in Wales. He is also a visiting professor at the Open University in the UK.. He is a well-published author with over 200 publications to his name, including over 40 books, several of which are bestsellers. He has been a speaker at conferences in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Greece, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Hong Kong, India, the United States, Canada and Australia.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Higher Education Academy and the Royal Society of Arts, and a member of the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement. He was formerly the editor of the US-based international journal, Illness, Crisis & Loss and now edits the free e-zine, THE humansolutions BULLETIN. His main interests are in the field of well-being: equality and diversity; conflict management; stress; loss, grief and trauma; and reflective practice. He is a sought-after conference speaker, consultant and facilitator.
He also works with Vigoroom UK, a sophisticated employee wellness platform geared towards promoting healthier, happier and more productive workplaces.