Welcome to another year!
If you’ve made new year’s resolutions, you may have chosen to work on improving yourself this coming year. Maybe you chose to do more stuff you love doing. Maybe you chose to get in shape. Maybe you even chose to work on your mental health.
Like a lot of resolutions, one of the key things we see is people starting off strong and dropping off after a month or two of work. It’s why one of the things we focus on is the journey itself, especially during times like this when people are getting started on their mental health journeys. We love to remind our clients that mental health is a journey and not a destination.
Like with choosing to get in better physical shape, mental health is about daily effort and continued improvement. There are bound to be times when it’s hard and you want to give up. That’s why we share things like these with our clients.
Give yourself grace and room to grow
Just as we don’t expect immediate perfection when embarking on a physical fitness regimen, we should treat our mental well-being with the same patience and understanding. There will be ups and downs, moments of strength, and times of vulnerability, but it’s through these experiences that we learn, heal, and ultimately thrive. Embracing this ongoing process, and showing ourselves compassion during moments of struggle, is a crucial part of nurturing our mental health and well-being. When we give ourselves grace, we are taking away the false expectation of perfection and giving ourselves the opportunity to be better the next time.
Don’t lose sight of yourself
In the quest for emotional well-being, it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of healing or improvement. You may get excited about changing everything you can possibly change, but that isn’t good. You need to remain grounded in your sense of self, your values, and your authenticity. Changes are harder to keep if they are not grounded properly. And change alone is not what we are seeking. We are seeking to improve and be a better version of ourselves, not just a different version.
Keep your values, sense of self, and your goals in sight so you don’t lose what makes you, you.
Failure is not the end
We may encounter setbacks and challenges in our mental health journey. In fact, it’s more likely that you will encounter a time when you feel like you’ve gone backwards.
However, it’s in these moments of perceived failure that we often find the most valuable lessons and opportunities for growth. Instead of seeing setbacks as roadblocks, we should view them as stepping stones, recognizing that they are essential components of the journey toward better mental well-being. Failure is not the end of your story; it’s a chance to learn, adapt, and continue moving forward.
In Conclusion
As we step into a new year filled with aspirations for self-improvement and better mental health, it’s crucial to remember that this journey is a lifelong commitment. The common pattern of starting strong and then losing momentum doesn’t have to define our path. Remember, this journey is a testament to your resilience, capacity for growth, and commitment to nurturing your mental health. And you don’t have to undertake this journey alone. In fact, it’s best not to. That’s why you are always welcome to come and sit by our fireplace. We’re always ready to listen and help you on your journey.
