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Inscaping Retreat in Nairn will help you create positive change


By Rachel Smart

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Les Morgan. Picture: Callum Mackay..
Les Morgan. Picture: Callum Mackay..

Life these days can be non-stop, stressful and overwhelming for many.

With the world accessible to us at the touch of a button, it can be hard for people to relax, turn off and enjoy life.

Many look outward to escape, trying to find reprieve from the rat race, and ever depressing state of the world, as depicted by the media.

They numb their discomfort with alcohol, gambling, work, TV or many other “escapisms”.

Les Morgan of Q-Four, an ex- Moray Council chief executive, is however, providing another option for people: “Inscaping”.

Les will take 10 kindred spirits on their longest journey – inwards, during a four-day retreat this October at The Invernairne in Nairn, on the beautiful Moray Coast.

Having lived a turbulent and sometimes violent childhood as a teenager, Les turned to sport as an outlet to harness his energy and anger.

His PE teachers instilled in him importance of dealing with the person (emotional intelligence EQ) over dealing with the pupil (IQ) for the first time.

Inspired by his experience and personal struggles at the top in the public, private and third sectors, Les established QFour and for the last 20 years has worked with corporate and personal clients, focused on what he sees as the crucial factors for success and happiness: leadership, values and trust.

His Four Quotients model is the foundation for this: PQ – Physical – To Live – Human-Living; IQ – Intellectual – To Learn – Human-Doing; EQ – Emotional – To Love – Human-Being; SQ – Spiritual – To Leave a Legacy – Being-Human.

Using these principles, he coaches, guides, listens and facilitates chief executives across the European, Middle East and Africa region in a range of business sectors for Global Young Presidents Organisation (YPO).

The impact Covid is having on individuals and organisations, compelled Les to act to offer something quite unique.

Les said: “We’ve got a beautiful place here in Nairn, and I’ve distilled everything that I’ve learned over the years, into a four-day programme.

“We keep looking for something outside ourselves, but until we look inside, we aren’t going to find what we want to become, authentic and balanced.

“It’s time to Inscape and not Escape.”

Explaining the importance of the retreat and why people should take part, Les said: “People need support and connection with others – we are so disconnected.

“People are lost – I call it ‘busy-ness’ not business.

“Many, take time for others, but you cannot give properly to others if you don’t balance yourself first.

“How many of us take the time out to become more self-aware – the start of all and any change?

“This retreat will give you the opportunity to Inscape in a psychologically safe environment, to self-reflect, and be fully supported to improve your self-awareness, understand your personal values and discover who you really are, underneath the masks you have built.

“The first thing we will do is break the normal cycle of what people do.

“We will talk about human beings not the IQ busyness of human doings.

“People will receive feedback from others on the course, in a way they have never had before.

“That will lead to the only thing that will create change – emotional connection.”

Les Morgan. Picture: Callum Mackay..
Les Morgan. Picture: Callum Mackay..

The retreat includes silent walks in Ancient Caledonian Forests, beautiful beach walks along the Moray Coast and a self-exploration day at Pluscarden Abbey, founded in 1230 to spend time with the monks.

Les explained: “Most people will only change after they have had a serious, or even near-death experience.

“It normally takes pain or discomfort to change – this retreat will enable you to want to change (inside out), rather than feel like they need to due to an external crisis (outside in).”

Les believes from his many years of working at similar retreats across the globe for business leaders, that this will lead to real transformation for individuals, as they take the journey inward, rather than the often habitual escape or avoid, outward.

“People should invest time to have a happier, healthier, more contented life,” he said.

“Most people dull their pain by doing other things, but you have to be comfortable with discomfort.

“Only through discomfort can there be any growth.

“This will be an invaluable investment which will reap rewards on an individual, family and career basis.

“This is about living a fuller, more self-aware life – not about the old divisive IQ work-life balance.

“I talk about life-balance not work/life balance. Work is part of life and a very important part”, he said.

“The big moments on the retreat will be people’s own key moments of self-discovery.

“I’m excited – as so many people have always said I should run my own retreats; having facilitated at other retreats for over eight years globally.

“It’ll be lovely to do something where I live in Nairn and use local facilities.”

The inaugural highland Inscaping Retreat will run from Wednesday, October 26 to Sunday 30, then January and March 2023.

The cost is £1550 per person which includes: single room luxury en-suite accommodation; all meals, snacks & drinks; workbook; special journal; and transport to & from airport or station.

Full details of the retreat can be found at www.qfour.net with booking information, or contact Les on 07770 903266 or les@qfour.net to book your place.

A breakdown of the week:

  • Pre-retreat: Preparatory reading camp; listening material is shared the prior week.
  • Day 1: Exploring Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, Perceptions, Values and Lifeline.
  • Day 2: Going deeper in the morning, an afternoon silent walk in an Ancient Caledonian Forest and exploring emotions.
  • Day 3: Visiting Pluscarden Abbey, hearing the Benedictine monks, exploring something that has existed since 1230, understanding all four quotients.
  • Day 4: Who are you really, what is important, goal setting, identifying a support network to assist you in your changes – celebration.

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