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Writer's pictureCath Shaw Brave As Fuck

Hello My Name Is Cath

Updated: Sep 1, 2021



I start a MSC in mindfulness at the weekend (with 65 others including a buddhist monk from Thailand and a Brazilian diplomat-so international-I LOVE it!). And I have just overcame enormous self doubt to post exactly what I felt like writing in the 'social singing bowl' where everyone is introducing themselves. This is what I wrote:


Hello

Have really loved reading everyone’s comments and feeling super inspired to be starting this course with you all! Agree with Lorna-have never been so excited about a reading list!!


I live in very hipster Govanhill in Glasgow though am from Argyll. I was brought up in Carsaig Bay on a small sheep farm overlooking Jura and Barnhouse, the farmhouse on Jura where George Orwell wrote 1984! My family still live there and I visit regularly. I managed to spend a month there this summer.


I was first introduced to mindfulness as an over-worked, super stressed local authority social worker. Tara Brach’s book, Radical Compassion helped me to gain some wisdom and sanity after the standard 7 year period of social worker “burn out” and be able to return to work.In 2017, I was working as a criminal justice social worker and was so heartened when mindfulness was introduced by Community Justice Scotland as part of a trauma informed approach. I was taught to use basic settling techniques during CPO supervision and was struck by the incredible space that was created by these practices.

 As a social work practice educator, I am really interested in the working environments which social work students and practitioners are experiencing and the ways in which mindfulness can enhance these environments. Having experienced some pretty toxic working environments, in February this year, I set up Lunch Space to encourage kinder work spaces. We meet at lunchtime every 2 weeks (weekly via zoom during lockdown) and share guided mindfulness practices (a current favourite is Jon Kabit Zinn’s awesome mountain meditation).


I have also recently committed to writing 100 posts over 100 days in a blog called Brave As Fuck (I am Glasgow based lol). Inspired by shame researcher, Brene Brown’s message of Choosing Courage Over Comfort, these focus on a daily act of choosing mindfulness and open-heartedness over fear and staying small. This has been a terrifyingly vulnerable yet outrageously rewarding venture and I have just written my half way 50th blog. Can’t wait to get started on this programme-see everyone at the weekend! Cath 😊


Felt slightly sick after posting this and was thinking oh god what if they think I am a total dick who just goes on about herself? Then I just thought-so fuck. I am just telling my story in efforts to connect with others. #beingmyself #authenticityrocks #braveasfuck.

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3 Comments


joanncolburn
Sep 04, 2020

Aw bless bless bless you can absolutely take these very true comments with you if you need it to remind you....

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Cath Shaw Brave As Fuck
Cath Shaw Brave As Fuck
Sep 04, 2020

Oh Joan! I have missed you! Can I take you everywhere with me to provide comments like this one?? I am SO taking a screen shot of this one to look at it when I need courage over the weekend! 😂💓💓

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joanncolburn
Sep 03, 2020

It's a brilliant intro, it's funny, honest, passion filled and courageous. It jumps out that you have self-awareness in abundance and you are a strong and confident individual who recognises that expressing vulnerabilities isn't in any way weak. You will love this course and this course will love you ♥️♥️♥️

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