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 "Longford Acorn CDP (Community Development Project) places significant emphasis on enabling people who are socially excluded to address the issues which affect them. This affords the project a clear understanding of the many needs and issues within the community setting. It enables the project to address and respond to these issues in a strategic, sustainable and meaningful way.
Longford Acorn CDP believes that by working as partners with local people through the inclusion of their own experiences, values, attitudes and skills into the planning and implementation of strategies and initiatives it will enable communities, to develop long-lasting solutions within their own communities.
It was in this context that we invited Des Canning to speak to a group of 20 participants most of whom are front line caring staff and volunteers to talk about Mental Health and Well-Being. The emphasis was on caring for ourselves the carers. If we cannot do this for ourselves how can we do it for others?
There was an overwhelming positive response to Des's presentation. He got us to examine our own responses to situations that cause us to stress and enabled us to view things in ways that are more rational and positive. What I found particularly useful was the way Des applied 'The Four Agreements' by Don Miguel Ruiz as follows:
Be impeccable with your word - Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
Don't take anything personally - Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.
Don't make assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
Always do your best - Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse and regret.
Everybody in the group could identify that they tended to take things personally and to make assumptions. However being aware of this now will enable us to catch ourselves when we do and change the script!
So on behalf of Acorn CDP and the recipients of Des's workshop.
I want to say a big thank-you and we will be back for more!"
Josephine Stroker, General Manager, 
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"The Stop Smoking Programme provided by Des Canning for Staff Members at Meteor Mobile Communications proved to be a hugely successful and worthwhile experience.
"From the world around you or sometimes even from a painting or photograph or a story you've read, you can obtain much inspiration. Inspiration is difficult because it may come from so many different places! 
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