What works for you?

What works for you?

I’ve been on several wellbeing courses in my life and I can’t say every one of them worked 100%. My first dabble into the realms of mental health was Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I had tried it because SO many people raved about it.

Apparently, for some, it was the next best thing since sliced bread.

So I gave it a try, and it didn’t really work for me. Perhaps it was my mindset at the time, or the way the psychologist delivered it to me, but it had no positive effects for me whatsoever. I was still in a negative mindset in the end.

The next venture that opened up for me was counselling. My Doctor allowed me 6 sessions, although it was abundantly clear I needed far more than 6. But this helped a great deal. Counselling helped me to introspect, to realise the person that I had become and how to change anything that I didn’t like.

There was a lot I didn’t like.

Counselling was my stepping stone journey into the micro-analysis of everything I do. And it helped me forage for coping mechanisms buried deep inside me. All in all, it was a success, even although I only had 6 sessions. I had a further 20 when I was able to afford it many years later.

Then there was Psychotherapy. This helped me get in touch with my emotional side. As a man in today’s world it’s not good to be emotional. We still live with the remnants of the Victorian era and the stiff upper lip, where men just deal, and that’s it. I’ve learned since then that I’m a very emotional person. And Psychotherapy has helped me bridge my body with my emotions. Since then I’ve felt more whole and emotionally connected than ever.

Mindfulness is a big player in my world. I don’t think it works for everyone but for me it was a clear cut winner. Live for the moment is Mindfulness’ mantra.

What does that mean?

For me mindfulness helps me concentrate on what’s happening right now. If I were to think too much about my tarnished past, then that would have a negative impact on the ‘now’ and the ‘future’. 

If you asked me what I am going to be doing an hour for now I couldn’t honestly tell you. The future is uncertain. Anything could happen. And if you asked me about my past then I’d have to think of a positive outcome from the situation. My own self-protection system I guess.

What works with you? 

The beauty of the human species, wellbeing and mental health is there’s no clear cut formula. I mean I know I have a formula that works for me, but I expect yours is very different. Or you’re still finding yours right now.

Sometimes the journey to peace of mind is a hard one, but if you haven’t already I’m sure you’ll get there eventually 

Care to share what works with you? I’d be really interested.