Anthony Sigrist

03/10/2025

🌟EMPATHY 🌟

I love this RSA Short on empathy narrated by Brene Brown. Ive used it numerous times in teaching as part of wider discussions about frame of reference and barriers to non judgemental listening.

I am sharing it again today with some reflections Ive had regarding the manner in which I increasingly see poor or polarising behaviour discussed in all forms of media and which has caused me to reflect more deeply on the relationships with empathy so often portrayed.

When I was a police officer, a personal sense of professionalism required me to remain outwardly non-judgemental in the face of distasteful and often harrowing human behaviour. The more I became exposed to this, the more I allowed the outward sheild to give way to curiosity about what is contributing to certain behaviours in human beings. This isn't easy, to be curious you need to get beyond those inner voices and social rules that increasingly expects us to simply marginalise certain people or behaviours. But when we succumb to this we must accept we are denying ourselves an opportunity to learn.

The vulnerability I have felt at times when stepping beyond revulsion and simple denunciation reminds me of Brene Browns messaging about empathy. Even in the video you can see how nuanced giving and receiving empathy can be. The animation shows two kind looking characters hugging it out in a hole together. The imagery evokes a real sense of relatable grief, an emotionally unobstructed pathway to empathy. But what about the times when that hole is really dark or the person sitting in it is unkind? They may be angry, aggressive, offensive? They may have dug that hole themselves. Are they still suffering? Can we still relate? Is it the same?

We all dig our own holes sometimes, whether or not we deserve to sit in them is a shifting judgement depending whom you speak to. Ive sat in a few over the years, I have to say I've learned very little from festering in them, and lots from the people who showed me a way out.

I really believe in the power of empathy to drive change, but only if we are prepared to run the hard miles as well as the easy ones. Marginalising and dehumanising people whose behaviour doesn't match up to your standards is a safe option. It reinforces our values and reassures our communities. It probably wont help much in bridging division.

Humans have to find a way of engaging with difficult discussions and people more constructively. This I believe is the pathway to change.

In the finest traditions of critical debate, I'd love to hear your views on the subject. Are some red lines just too hard to get past?

What is the best way to ease someone's pain and suffering? In this beautifully animated RSA Short, Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuin...

16/06/2025

🌟Mens Health Week🌟.

A bit late now but a call to action for men of a "certain age".

This I reflected back on what Health has looked like and meant to me over the years.

I set a high bar early in adolescence, as an athlete, I pushed my body and mind to their limits, driven by a desire to win. It was hard to sustain and as I moved into working life, that competitive spirit tempered and found new forms — milestones and achievements like climbing mountains, fulfilling a childhood ambition to earn a black belt, and learning to snowboard.

As I turned 50, the focus began to shift. I’d grown sedentary, with more and more of my time spent in front of a computer. A brush with high blood pressure served as a wake-up call. I realised that if I want this body and mind to carry me into the many plans I have for retirement — and beyond — it’s going to need more than fitness. It needs investment and a sustainable approach that synergises physical and mental wellbeing to build resilience and restore the joy that comes from the discipline of doing things well.

Having a sickeningly fit 18 year old son has helped a lot (that competitive spirit never dies) and working out together I find he pushes me harder than I could push myself. Never the less, the commitment is mine alone. To move more, to take time to recover mentally and physically and to act with greater intention. In the same way I approach leadership this is underpinned with honesty, humility and an willingness to fall, learn and rise. Progress, not perfection.

If you’re on a similar journey — rethinking how you care for yourself in midlife — I’d love to hear how you’re approaching it.

14/10/2024

It’s a rare gift for me these days to spend time being inspired. The advances in scientific understanding of acupuncture in the last 10 years is phenomenal but it’s useful to remember that what we don’t know still outweighs what we do!

23/08/2024

Our BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture Course Director Tony Sigrist and the NCA team are looking forward to meeting potential students at the upcoming introductory next Saturday - although not sure he will be at the door! This is a fantastic opportunity for people exploring a career as an acupuncturist to find out more. If you are attending - we look to seeing you - there are still a few places left if you would like to attend so head to our website to book.

23/08/2024

I find this poem incredibly grounding.

In my clinical practice, I've observed that one of the most prevalent sources of stress is money.

Unless you step back occasionally it’s easy to miss the fact that money is essentially a social construct, a complex way of ordering (and controlling) the 8bn humans who now occupy our planet.

Cultivating a healthy relationship with money, and more widely “ownership”, can be very challenging in a capitalist, consumerist society. However, shifting our perspective to focus on the natural order of things, rather than the constructs we've created, can serve as a powerful reframing exercise.

14/06/2024

STOP TELLING MEN TO OPEN UP!

Apparently it's hashtag this week. I have to say, I haven't seen much about it but when I probe through the social media discussions, including those from big charities, I find it is yet again dominated by the same messages with glib advice for men to just "open up more". If only it was that simple.

Ive included some words from Brene Brown below that I think can capture the experience of opening up, certainly this is my personal repeated experience of being vulnerable. Most people just can't handle it. (Note I say most not all).

Instead of reinforcing negative stereotypes about closed off men, effectively blaming them, how about we educate the world to be better listeners and empaths? Trust me, people will talk when someone is actually prepared to listen!

22/10/2023

Sporting tribalism is fascinating. Seeing the way people speak about (and think about) other people purely on the basis of where they were born.

How can we ever hope to unite and tackle global problems when we still form opinions on people because they were born in the same place as other people who did terrible things a long time ago?

27/09/2023

🌟 AUTUMN 🌟
As Autumns approaches, it is a poignant time for me to reflect on why I have a regular focus on breathwork as part of my own wellness routine.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine Autumn is the time associated with the Metal element which plays a significant role in maintaining balance and well-being.

Metal governs the Lungs and Large Intestine, influencing our respiratory system and elimination of waste. 🌬️💩

A harmonious Metal element can support a balanced mind, clear thinking, and the ability to let go of what no longer serves us.

Breathwork particularly can nourish the lungs and promote mental clarity.

A regular breathwork practise not only benefits you by it’s own processes, but also in the sense of self that emanates from the discipline of self development.

Do you have a breathwork practise? What technique do you use? Have you seen any benefits? Would love to hear your experience

29/04/2023

🌟R E F L E C T I O N🌟

For a number of years now I have ended my week and started my weekend with a coffe on the trailer in Ely, overlooking the market with the backdrop of Ely Cathedral behind.

I often share my photo. It is after all a breath taking view. I rarely share my thoughts.

It’s more than just a coffee, or a moment. It’s a time I set aside for myself, a time to make sense of how my racing mind keeps pace with a crazy world. I’ve sat in this trailer contemplating all sorts over the months/years. Life, death, spirituality, politics, work, existence. I’ve been here in sadness, in joy, in anger and everything in between. Nothings too deep. I don’t always find answers, but I normally find calm, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

We see so little of the world and peoples lives, it’s always worth remembering that beneath the surface the layers stretch for miles.

This coffee for me is more than just a transaction or a weekend treat. It’s medicine for the mind.

Where do you take your moments?

18/10/2022