“To do what?” you might ask.
To recharge. To reset. To reassess.
That is where I was not too long ago. And not for the first time either. I was burned out. I felt powerless, exhausted and lost the way to myself. Even though it is hard to be in that place or, rather, pitfall, I know that is where I needed to be then to ignite a change, because the old me, old habits, old behaviors, did not serve me anymore.
“So how come that you experience such turmoil in life? Aren’t you a mental health and well-being professional, after all?” you might wonder. Yes, I am AND I am a HUMAN. And as such, I experience hard times as well. I am not immune to it either. I learn most about myself in hardships. I don’t like the process, but I certainly benefit from it! I believe that is how we build emotional resilience, foster personal growth and positive change, and eventually live a full, complete, and authentic life.
What does it take? How to achieve that sought-after well-lived life?
Revisit the reasons behind each action – it is a great exercise to stop sometimes and ask mundane questions to ourselves. Why do I do what I do? What is the purpose of doing it? Is my action serving me and my goals in life? It is important not to fall into the convenience of doing things, rather correct and replace as necessary.
Don’t be afraid of emotions – especially the negative ones! Pop culture and social media are flooding us with all kinds of perfections, causing many people to shun, mask and avoid distressing, depressive or negative feelings. Embrace your negative feelings: acknowledge, accept, and understand them as normal, transient, and valuable aspects of the human experience.
Develop your coping strategies – yes, there are techniques and strategies that work, but I also think that what works best differs from person to person. That is that art of mental health and well-being to research, explore and find those that work for you. When you ask, “what did I learn from this experience?” it helps to reframe valuable, but often painful, experiences in ways that help you become more resilient.
So, experiencing ups and downs in life have made me a better mental health and well-being counselor. I can relate to overcoming struggles in various life situations and I can guide you to dig yourself out of the hole you find yourself in. It often is hard to see how to get through the situation you are in, but you can do it! I will walk with you and hold your space so you can find the solution and act on it. You deserve to recharge, to reset and to reassess! If you need a guide, I am here for you.
Photo credit: lureofadventure
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