Life can feel like a lot sometimes.
And by ‘sometimes’, we mean ‘roughly 98% of the time (with a 2% margin of error)’.
There are the news cycles that make you want to put your head in the sand/bottle, to-do lists that technically classify as novellas, and then the small matter of being a moral, up-standing citizen of the world.
If reading that makes you want to lie down then cue, The School of Life; an organisation that exists to make the daunting bits of life feel more doable.
Co-founded in 2008 by philosopher and author Alain de Botton, The School of Life has spent the last 16 years spreading its teachings that aim to help us live calmer, wiser and more fulfilled lives. For those adverse to formal education, don’t panic. This school eschews rigid syllabuses and dogmatic lesson plans and instead delivers empowering messages on emotional growth through books, podcasts, articles and films. And while self improvement might sound a little ‘woo woo’, The School of Life lessons feel more like chatting to a friend over a coffee.
The School of Life
Between March and June, The School of Life is hosting a new programme of in-person ‘Experiences’. There’ll be drawing as therapy to help unlock your mind through sketches (no artistic skill needed), workshops on ‘Managing Change’ and ‘Difficult Conversations’, a ‘Teddy Bear Evening’ exploring childhood stuffed animals’ impact on emotional development and even a four-day ‘Residential Retreat’. During the four-day getaway, set deep in the bucolic Somerset countryside, guests will have the opportunity to unwind, switch off and focus solely on healing and growth. There’ll be therapeutic groups, journaling, art therapy, music therapy, dance and movement therapy, writing therapy, and EMDR.
The in-person series will culminate in June with an event in partnership with The How To Academy on the theme of ‘Developing Emotional Maturity’. During the evening, Alain de Botton will ponder the big questions – what is emotional maturity? Why does it matter? How does it come about? And how can we – through gritted teeth, tears and considerable contemplation – bag a little more of it in our lives. While this might not sound like a rip-roaring way to spend a night for some, it is sure to be mind-expanding and particularly with the backdrop of Central Hall Westminster’s palatial amphitheater.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your freshly-sharpened pencils and a new notebook in readiness for a truly emotional education.
NOTE: The School of Life In-Person Experiences will take place between 12th March and 16th June in venues across Central London. Ticket prices range between £29.99 – £78.99. For more information and to book tickets, visit The School Of Life website.
For anyone who can’t make the events? The School of Life has plenty of books, as well as cards and games to help you and your loved ones. Shop the whole collection on The School of Life’s website.
