Talk and Walk, Durdham Downs, Bristol (2026)

02/06/2021

There is a concept that has been around for thousands of years that has the power to bring hope where hopelessness has taken hold. It was one espoused by Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher in his teachings recorded in The Enchiridion almost 2000 years ago when he said “Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things.”
Take two people facing an exam. Imagine they are virtually clones of each other - they have the same intellectual capacity, they have studied the same amount, have the same dreams riding on the outcome of the exam. One is thinking “I’ve done all I can for this exam, worked hard and now it’s time to show all I know.” The other is plagued by thoughts of “I should have studied more, the exam is bound to bring up the bits I missed, there’s no way I’m going to get the result I need.” Same situation, different thoughts and consequently different feelings. The exciting part of this is that, while we cannot necessarily control the external things, we can take control of the way we view them.
More recently Viktor Frankl echoed these ideas in ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ (1946) which describes his survival of four concentration camps during the Second World War and how he found hope in the darkest of times. He summed up the authority we have over our own lives in this famous quote: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” We don’t always get a say in what happens to us. What we do get to choose is how we respond.

26/05/2021

Do you need to achieve something great for your life to be worthwhile? Do you think everything you do should be perfect, or as close to it as possible? While core beliefs like this can spur us on to being successful and realising our potential, they also risk burdening us with unobtainable demands that can sometimes lead into depression. For some people, there is great liberation in realising that it is actually ok to be a run-of-the mill, bog standard, ordinary person. In fact, it is even ok to fail. The moment that epiphany hits can be one of exhilaration, one that for me was so significant that I felt I had to come up with my own word for it - ordinaphoria. It is the letting go of the pressure to shine, to make a mark, to stand out from the crowd with what you have achieved. It is the shedding of the achievement addiction and the celebration of the ordinary.

16/11/2020

The links between exercise and mental wellbeing are becoming increasingly accepted and understood. Research consistently reveals a number of benefits that exercise brings us, both physically and mentally.

I have been a keen runner for over ten years now and, like many others, have found it to be an amazing base layer that undergirds the way I think and feel. My experience resonates with all the studies I have been reading recently and I would like to highlight a few of the ways exercise can have a positive impact on our daily lives:

The Chemistry
Any sort of exercise releases endorphins that are mood enhancers. It is rare that you will return for a run or a workout thinking "I wish I hadn't bothered doing that."

Self-esteem boost
Going out and doing something that felt like it was going to be hard can be a great way of feeling better about yourself. Over time, regular exercise also has the potential of helping you achieve goals you never thought possible.

Time to think
Activities such as running give space to think and process thoughts that may be causing stress or worry. Sometimes the knottiest problems get freed up while treading the streets.

Time not to think
The rhythmic motion of walking or running combined with being outdoors offers the perfect environment for mindfulness practice. Focusing on the different senses and living in the present moment can reduce stress levels dramatically.

Doing it together
Exercise presents the perfect opportunity for social contact. Maintaining and strengthening realtionships during shared activity not only promotes wellbeing, but also can create an environment for sharing and opening up about personal difficulties with a supportive friend. There is also the potential for tapping into new social networks. As an example I have found the running community a very welcoming group of people and have made many new friends through it.

There are probably more reasons but those seem more than enough to warrant strapping on a pair of trainers and venturing outside.

Address

Durdham Downs
Bristol
BS91FG

Telephone

+447455269185

Website

http://www.talkwalkrun.co.uk/

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