Mindfulness in NZ

Many New Zealand men are struggling to find the guidance they need to maintain a healthy state of mind or reach their full potential. In some case men are taking their frustrations out on others, or are becoming so isolated that they kill themselves. It's about time we start talking about what's going on and share what works. Sam O'Sullivan, a trained Clinical Psychologist, is adventuring into stunning locations to film how we can focus our awareness calmly while being active in daily life. He's also having a conversation with Kiwi men about what they do for their mental wellbeing, and together they're exploring what it takes to be a man in modern New Zealand.

Through his work as a Psychologist Sam discovered that many Kiwi men don't relate to sitting still and "not thinking". However, he noticed that many men had found their own ways to focus on the moment and feel calm through outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, swimming, walking, and many different sports.

These men didn't always understand exactly what they were doing to get into a calm head space, or how to remain calm during challenging situations like dealing with difficult relationships or loss. This led Sam to come up with a concept he calls Focused Awareness, which is all about learning to calmly focus on the surrounding world through our senses, or physical sensations in our bodies, or thoughts in our minds while going about our daily lives.

He realised that he couldn't stop there as men won't use the skill of Focused Awareness if they don't feel like their mates and love ones are accepting of it. Many men are not talking about their mental health to others because of our culture of being hard men who don't express feelings. So, Sam decided to start The Conversation and ask other men about what they think it takes to be a man in modern New Zealand. Sam thinks it takes strength and skill to express vulnerability in a safe way, but we'll only find out what it really takes by asking the men in our communities.

What's the strategy for this project?

Right now Sam is travelling around NZ in his van and collaborating with fellow creatives Elle Hocking, Phillipe Menoita, and Dane Scott to film short episodes of Focused Awareness and The Conversation, which will be released on Facebook, through YouTube, and on the MindfulnessNZ website. The aim is to spread awareness, involve communities, and get the information out there. He's hoping that the project gets noticed by potential funders who will be interested in supporting the kaupapa and give him the means to create a full length documentary.

How will your donations be used?

Sam's asking for $6000 to help him meet his survival needs for the next 6 months while he travels the country filming, to provide some financial support to the wonderful videographers collaborating with him who have been giving their time for free, and to partially cover some of the other costs such as petrol, filming gear, and website hosting. If his goal isn't reached then the money will come back, but if it's exceeded then the additional funds will go to further support collaborators, covering more of the costs, and most importantly reaching out to more people in need.

Thank you so so much!