Mental Health Awareness Week

Posted by Nicola Preston Bell in General | 0 comments

I spent a morning with Alex Langridge last week, a Mental Health and Employment Consultant, who was handing out a leaflet on Five Ways to Well-Being. The ideas are so akin to my own way of thinking, as I use the Human Givens Framework with clients, here are the suggestions in my own words.

Feeling Connected

Connecting with people around you, at home, on your way to work, with friends and colleagues, will enrich your life as you develop your sense of being part of a wider community. These are the foundations, the context of your life and nurturing them will help you to flourish.

Move that body

Stay active and celebrate your ability to move, walk, run, dance, cycle! Get outside into the fresh air, preferably where there are plants and choose an activity you enjoy and suits your level of fitness.

Be curious

Mindfulness encourages curiosity, staying open to changes and catching sight of moments of wonder and beauty. Remembering the impermanence of experience and treasuring the lovely moments – a child’s trusting hand in yours, a butterfly on a flower, birdsong. Stay in touch with the world around you and appreciate the fragility and interdependence of each living thing.

Stay open to learning

Always be ready to listen to a different point of view and remember everyone has their story. Try to learn new skills or rediscover old hobbies or interests. Learning new skills is good for your brain and encourages your sense of adventure.

Give

Be kind, not just to those you love, be open to perform random acts of kindness, you might be amazed at how good you’ll feel afterwards! You might find you have a little time to donate a skill or talent to a charity, or join a community group. This can be very rewarding as you look outside of yourself and take your positive mood to a wider audience.