Seeking meaning in the modern world
Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June 2016
– Trinity College, Dublin
Joe Griffin's suggestion for this year’s conference theme couldn’t be more relevant in today’s troubled world – as a recent human givens blog post highlights, meaning isn't just crucial for our mental health, it's crucial for our very survival too.
'Seeking meaning in the modern world'
Few leave this world without experiencing some level of suffering.
Since it is meaning that makes suffering tolerable (which is perhaps why we are driven to seek it) the theme of this weekend has critical relevance in these unsettling times.
We search in all directions for significance: in the language and behaviour of people around us; in nature; beauty; weather; science; religion; the arts; our work and play and in the pace of change. Without realising it, all the time we are looking to see if what has happened, is happening or might happen will impact on our ability to get our innate emotional needs met.
In modern times the old certainties have waned and the absence of adequate answers to the questions 'What is the purpose of living?' and 'What should I do?' and 'Why do I exist?' haunt many, giving rise to the 'illness' of meaninglessness, as illustrated by the upsurge in depression, anxiety, addiction and extremism in all its forms.
This conference explored meaning from many angles: Why do healthy children find the world intrinsically meaningful yet some of them grow up to become cynical and bored, or even kill themselves? And why do others end up finding meaning in crazy cults or by adopting destructive views that generate violent conflict and terror?
And why do our greatest moments of happiness seem to arise when we feel connected by love to others and the universe appears imbued with meaning, inspiring a sense of fascination, mystery and awe.
Explore our articles and interviews
3 ways to relax immediately
Do you feel overwhelmed with life? Like you are paddling hard just to stay afloat?
A much-changed practice
GP Mona Mahfouz shows how dramatically the human givens approach has altered the way she works
Are we brave enough for our new world?
Julia Welstead considers the impact of coming out of lockdown...
A devastating death
Janine Hurley describes how the HGI Ethics Committee helped her cope, professionally and personally, when, tragically, a client killed herself.
Shining Bright Radio Interview
Listen to Brian Greene’s interview with Denise Winn (Human Givens College tutor and psychology journalist, editor and author) as they discuss how the human givens approach is used for successfully treating depression.
"I went away with so many ideas"
How one session of human givens therapy was enough to transform the life of Sarah, a depressed single mother.
20 years of the human givens
We take a look at what's been achieved since two pioneering psychotherapists put a name to this powerful understanding of human nature and mental health...
Sound sense
Much more is gained from hearing and telling stories, rather than just reading them, says Pat Williams.
Latest Tweets:
Tweets by humangivensLatest News:
HG practitioner participates in global congress
HG practitioner Felicity Jaffrey, who lives and works in Egypt, received the extraordinary honour of being invited to speak at Egypt’s hugely prestigious Global Congress on Population, Health and Human Development (PHDC24) in Cairo in October.
SCoPEd - latest update
The six SCoPEd partners have published their latest update on the important work currently underway with regards to the SCoPEd framework implementation, governance and impact assessment.
Date posted: 14/02/2024