BE KIND TO YOURSELF.

Today I feel guided to write this particularly after having a conversation with a friend I made during my recent time in a private hospital.

I have had mental health issues for the majority of my adult life and used my experience of mental health issues to work in a career where my focus was to help other’s whom also had such issues.

Admittedly I had to grow and learn a lot from life to then be able to help others. It took me on a journey, that has been windy, at times unexpected and ultimately very fulfilling. I have gained a lot of wisdom and a sense of self worth thriughout my journey and I certainly have met a lot of interesting people and had interesting experiences too.

The main lesson I have learned is that people whom experience a lot of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues are often suffering and don’t know how to be kind to themselves. I have met many people that I have counselled whom did not have the ability to be kind and gentle with themselves and would emotionally beat themselves up over things that were beyond their control.

I learned the hard way that if I wanted to be kind and empathic to others I first had to practice a little self love and be kind and empathic towards me first and foremost. This isn’t easy when the whole world seems to be telling you how bad and awful you are. It takes time and a lot of patience to learn to be kind to yourself. It took me about 5 years of having mental health issues for me to wake up to the fact that I could change the way I felt by believing I was a person whom had value and self worth and wanted to give back to the world the love some very special people had shown me. Maybe, just maybe I wasn’t such a bad person. Maybe just maybe if I show a little self belief, people would believe in me. Guess what? It worked.

By learning that I was a worthwhile person, and learning to think kindly of myself, my life began to grow and change and in time I was able to show my love and empathy to those around me who needed it. It’s not always easy. At times it is bloody hard, but it is at those most trying of times that we must stop and think and consciously change our thought patterns to be a little more kind and positive to ourselves.

This has the power to start healing and change our lives for the better. Bad thoughts begone. You ain’t going to get me down no more. Tell yourself you are a good worthwhile person of value and a little sunshine will come into your life.

I guarantee it works. Try it.