If you are like me and finding it very hard to believe that we are already in April and this is my sixth blog! I can almost taste the sun, sea and sand between my toes! I hope you all managed to be a little kinder to yourselves during the challenging times that Covid-19 and restrictions brought in March but fear not, I am here to help and I have an idea that may or may not help from April onward! Restrictions or no restrictions this can apply.
Today, in modern society, we are susceptible to an ever-changing, fast-paced world where we find ourselves vulnerable to the content of other people’s lives, beliefs and values, which flood through our phones and therefore our brains, often on a daily basis. As a result, we constantly compare our lives to the lives of all those around us, be they real life friends or internet friends. We go through routines that we may or may not like – without ever considering if it is getting us closer to where we want to be. But how often do we take time to slow down and really consider our thoughts? Too often we go to bed with our thoughts, predominantly negative, running wild, our minds buzzing with ideas, that are often forgotten about in the morning.
Enter – The Journal
Journaling can be one of the best tools for success and the more basic the better. If you are brand new to journaling I recommend starting with positive thoughts under three headings;
-Yesterday I enjoyed/am glad that…
-Today I am excited for…
-Three things I am grateful for…
It is that simple!
Wake up every morning, reach for your journal and pen and start the day with some positive thoughts. Even if you had a terrible day the day before, hopefully you will be able to find some good part of the day. Same if you are dreading the day ahead for whatever reason.
Practising gratefulness is a powerful tool to ground yourself and appreciate what you have. Sometimes you might find yourself struggling for things to be grateful for, but being grateful for simple things i.e. your morning coffee, or having a roof over your head and it is okay to be grateful for material things too. As long as you are being genuine to yourself.
When you become more experienced with journaling, you may find you become more comfortable writing freehand, writing about your thoughts, both positive and negative. This can help you examine your thoughts and block out all the unnecessary stuff you might have going on. It will bring clarity and it might even help identify areas of your life that you want to make changes to.
On a more serious note, if you are feeling down on a regular basis, or feel like you are stuck in a rut that you just cannot get out of, it is worth speaking to someone about how you are feeling. Reach out, do not suffer alone & remember…
“It’s Okay not to be Okay & It’s absolutely Okay to ask for help!”
The article is written by Leanne, Trainee Counsellor at The DMC Clinic. If you would like to discuss how any of the topics mentioned above are impacting your mental health, please contact The DMC Clinic to arrange an appointment.
