Diary of a Psycho Therapist
Gratitude
You hear it all the time… If you have an attitude of gratitude, the benefits to your physical and psychological wellbeing can be enormous. People constantly offer inspirational quotes about what it takes to be grateful in the modern world. Melody Beattie once said, “Gratitude turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity.”
Letting It Go
Life is a balance of holding on and letting go. “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” It’s not easy to learn to let go. But there is a thing about our hearts and our lives: we either collect dust-gatherers that fail to fill our lives with meaning or we hold things that really fill our lives with something of great value.
Notice Nature
Notice nature and try to make a habit of connecting to the nature every day. Stop to listen to the birdsong, smell the freshly cut grass, take care of a house plant, notice any trees, flowers or animals nearby. Take a moment to appreciate these connections.” “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” Nelson Mandela
The Power of Emotional Resilience
Have you ever wondered how some people are less affected by difficult situations and life changes while others crumble under the same pressures? Although it is important not to measure someone’s resilience against our own, at times, we can’t help but to. It is safe to say everyone responds to challenges differently – for as the saying goes, ‘what is good for Peter isn’t good for Paul.’
Domestic Abuse and Mind Myths
Did you know each year, nearly 2 million people in the UK suffer some form of domestic abuse? 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will suffer domestic abuse at some time in their lives. For every three victims of domestic abuse, two will be female and one male (Mankind, 2016). Domestic abuse can occur in same-sex relationships, between intimate partners but also family members.
Dedication
Dedication is a complete and wholehearted fidelity. The act of binding oneself emotionally, physically and spiritually to a course of action and seeing it through. To be dedicated is to be focused and committed to a cause, a goal or a purpose.
Compassion
Compassion is the feeling that we experience when we are confronted by the suffering of another and motivated to relieve that suffering. Though related to altruism, it isn’t the same thing. Altruism is a selfless concern, although both concepts are certainly intertwined. Compassion often gets confused with sympathy or even empathy. Whilst sympathy says, ‘I care’ and empathy strives to ‘feel’, compassion works towards ‘alleviating’ the suffering of another.
A Balancing Act
Balance, like the great philosopher Aristotle has said, is finding the middle ground – the golden mane between two extremities. The idea sounds simple and yet unlike many of the simplest things in life, finding balance can be the hardest.
The Art of Acceptance
Grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. When I first discovered acceptance it was a novel concept. I thought: what do you mean accept? Unconditionally? Completely? Good stuff and bad, without a fight??
Who are you calling mad?
Who are you calling mad? Me? Yes me! Well, maybe I am! The thing is that mental health exists on a spectrum just like physical health, so what we invest in our mental health can make a real difference on the days we practice self care and self compassion. The days that are all too much will pass too. We know this because they do… every time!
