Douglas Silas,
Specialist SEN Solicitor 7th March 2022
In this week's SEN Update (apart from my: 'Thought Of The Week'), you will find sections entitled:
I know how busy everyone always is, so please feel free just to read the sections that are of interest to you or read everything; the choice is always yours.
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
Many people think that the mind is the same as the brain. However, I think that they are two different things, as the mind is more emotional and not usually logical, whereas the brain is more logical and not usually emotional. Today, I want to focus on the mind. Sometimes fears are just things repeated by us so many times in our minds that they then feel like facts to us, but it is usually just our own emotional voice that is frightening our mind. If you start to imagine things in your mind, you also have to separate between what is real and what is fantasy. This can be hard though, as you may want something so badly that you will do anything in your mind to convince yourself of it being true. As I have said before, we usually overestimate our abilities because of our enthusiasm for something. We also have to be careful, as the mind can be so easily manipulated by others. For example, somebody can plant a false memory in our mind, which we then think is true, especially if it is repeated. We also often confuse the reality of what happens in our lives, with the fiction that we see or read. They are different things though, as things we see or read are made up in a writer’s mind, which we then think is actually real. We often forget that a writer is usually writing everybody’s lines and so controlling a situation artificially, as people do not always do or say what you expect them to do or say in real life. Although we may then think, if watching a documentary, that it is reality, we forget that somebody is still controlling us, by carefully editing things and only letting us see what they want us to see. Yet the mind being easily manipulated is also helpful, as it can also be quickly put into a mood that makes you want to do something. For example, you can find a routine to follow, or music to listen to, which then prepares your mind to do something. You can also make yourself do something by dressing in a certain way, visualising something, or even just seeing something that you have put there to remind you of it. You need to open your mind up to a world of possibilities, as your mindset dictates how easy something is going to be for you. So, if you think that something is going to be hard, it will then usually be hard, but if you think that something is going to be easy, it will then usually be easy. You also should not try to clutter up your mind with too many emotions and just try to relax sometimes. People seem to have forgotten it seems about the joy of peace of mind! You can even change your mindset by placing yourself in a different environment, the most obvious examples of this are being prepared to work when you are at work, being prepared to relax when you are at home and being prepared to sleep when you are in bed - I could go on! It is also important to remember that your mind and body are inextricably intertwined and need to work together. Somewhat paradoxically again, the best way of being active in the body is to be as still as you can be in the mind and the best way of being active in the mind is to be as still as you can be in the body. But often, your body is in one place and your mind is in another, so they are actually working against each other. Finally, you always need to keep an open mind if you can, especially when thinking about other people. You always need to be prepared to change your mind when you find new information and you also have to remember that no two people have the same interpretation in their mind of how something is, so your version of what you read or see, may be very different from what somebody else reads or sees, but you aren’t necessarily right and they are not necessarily wrong! So, this week try to think about what I have said above and try to discipline your mind, particularly because when the mind is not directly concentrating on something, it often starts leading you astray by daydreaming about fantasies.
SEN NEWS
Nothing really for me to report on in SEN News this week, as (quite rightly) a lot of news attention is focused on the awful events unfolding in Ukraine, so please forgive me not highlighting anything here this week.
NEWS ONLINE
In terms of other news, I'm also afraid that there is nothing really for me to report on in News Online this week, so please forgive me for also not bringing you anything here this week.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Again, aside from clicking on the relevant links for more information, I would also remind you of the very useful resources and information provided on the following websites: - IPSEA - Council for Disabled Children - Special Needs Jungle I would also highlight again the magazines: SEN Magazine and Autism Eye which are both very helpful to any parents or professionals involved with children/young people with SEN. With best wishes Douglas
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