Kidwelly Wellbeing Festival
A talk as part of the festival's wellbeing day.
A talk with David Oromith
Emotional awareness and balance
Most of us were never taught how emotions work. We get swept along by them, say things we regret, or push them down until they burst out later. This talk looks at how emotions work, from what triggers them to how we act on them, and at practical ways to work with difficult ones. David brings together insights from the Buddhist tradition, Western psychology and modern wellbeing research.
He draws on the Cultivating Emotional Balance programme, developed with his teacher Dr B. Alan Wallace and others, and on his years working in mental health services.
What your audience will take away
How an emotion unfolds
The stages of an emotional episode, and the point at which we can still choose how to act.
Knowing our triggers
The triggers we all share and the personal ones we learn, and simple ways to spot our own.
The pause
Catching an emotion early and making space before we speak or act.
Calming the nervous system
Breathing techniques and other quick ways to settle the body in the middle of a difficult moment.
Working with difficult emotions
Practices for meeting difficult emotions with kindness, and finding what lies underneath them.
After the emotion
Learning from what happened without guilt or shame.
- 1
Before
Our mood, rest and intentions set us up.
- 2
Trigger
Something seems to matter for our welfare, for good or ill.
- 3
Experience
Changes in body, face, voice and thinking. Our thinking narrows.
- The pause
- 4
Behaviour
An automatic reaction, or a chosen response.
- 5
After
What we do next: self-criticism, or kindness and learning.
The five stages of an emotional episode, from the Cultivating Emotional Balance programme, as David teaches them. The pause between experience and behaviour is where awareness gives us a choice.
Where David has given this talk
Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London
A day workshop on emotional balance in 2025, in person and online.
Samadhi
Many times since 2021, on retreats and online courses.
Why book David
Mental health background
David started as a mental health support worker at eighteen and went on to work in Liverpool's mental health services, on the wards and in the community.
Lived experience
At his lowest he was signed off work for months, and he speaks about it openly.
Qualified
He is a qualified mindfulness teacher and a Mental Health First Aider.
Trained in Buddhism for over a decade
His root teacher is Dr B. Alan Wallace, a renowned scholar and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, and David has trained in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition since 2015.
Author and teacher
He wrote A Practical Guide to Mindful Living and Calm Mind, Open Heart, and co-founded Samadhi, a Buddhist wellbeing charity (1207744), where he leads retreats and courses across the UK and online.
Who it's for
David gives this talk to workplace wellbeing programmes, NHS and frontline teams, schools, colleges and universities, and conferences and festivals. It suits anyone who wants to understand their own emotions and handle difficult ones better, at work and at home.
- Workplace wellbeing
- NHS and frontline teams
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Conferences and festivals
- Managers and team leaders
Keynote
20 to 45 minutes
For festivals, summits and conference main stages.
Workshop
90 minutes to half a day
With short guided practices, for 20 to 200 people.
Corporate wellbeing day
Full day
For a team, including lunchtime guided meditations and Q&A.
Reduced rates are available for NHS, charity and educational bookings.
What participants said
“It's comforting to learn a greater understanding of the emotional states and stages that I often experience. Makes you feel less isolated and fosters a greater connection and empathy with others.”
“I found the session really insightful and I will definitely be trying out the methods David mentioned.”
“Excellent session. I look forward to implementing the grounding practices highlighted to support my growth.”
“David's teachings balanced simple, relatable content with deeper ideas that I am still mulling over weeks later.”
“David gives clear instructions for several techniques and sets up a compassionate and supportive environment.”
“It was good to have a reminder that we can make life better, by having a less negative mindset.”
Questions from organisers
How long is the talk?
From a 20-minute keynote to a full-day programme.
Does it include a guided practice?
Yes. The talk includes a guided meditation and short practices people can use straight away, such as breathing techniques for calming down.
Do attendees get anything to take away?
Yes. Everyone gets PDF notes after the talk, including an emotion diary.
Can it be tailored to our audience?
Yes. David shapes every talk with the organiser, for example for a management team, a school staff room or a festival audience.
Online or in person?
Both. Online keynotes and workshops run on Zoom.
Do you travel?
David is based in South Wales and travels across the UK. International in-person bookings are considered case by case.
What does it cost?
It depends on the format, so get in touch for a quote. Reduced rates are available for NHS, charity and educational bookings.
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Book this talk
Tell us a little about your event and we will come back within two working days with availability, a fee and a rough idea of how a session could work for your audience.
