#itsthelittlethings

January is Mental Wellbeing Month. Not to be confused with Mental Health Awareness Month which is May annually, but January kicks off the year of mental wellbeing. Ever since I was little I loved writing. I always had a diary and a journal and even though some of my writing didn’t make sense to some people, it made sense to me.
Last year, when I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, I didn’t know how to cope properly, and early on in therapy I was told that sometimes it’s best to get it out on paper. I started writing and blogging and tried to find some way to manage my way in this world.

I started to share my story, what I needed from the world, what the world needed from me and what I recognize in my disease to be a benefit to myself (because there are some benefits to having BPD) and what are hindrances. Over time, with therapy and my meds and writing, I began to change. Then I began to see myself truly as an addict and alcoholic. Then began my next step to wellbeing. I accepted that part of my brain and my personality and moved forward with that ‘title’ and decided to do something about it. I began going to meetings, I started writing about that, my disease, my addictions, my demons and I allowed myself to be vulnerable and open and honest. I wasn’t and am not ashamed of that side of me. There’s no reason to be. It’s who I am, and it’s also what made me this clearer version of me now. I am grateful for that dark and blurry side. I’m full of labels, and although the luxury labels are mixed in, my other labels are ‘Borderline Personality Disorder’, ‘Addict’, and ‘Alcoholic’.
For me, my mental wellbeing began with sharing my story.

There are 4 steps encouraged to improve your mental wellbeing. The first one is writing. If you feel comfortable sharing your story, or bits of it, writing either privately or publicly is a great way to do so. It helps get it out of your head and onto the paper and if doing so publicly (either on a Blog, Instagram through photos, Facebook through posts or another media) you can help break the stigma around mental health. More and more people are helping to bring awareness and wellbeing to mental health and it’s magical to see the stigma being broken each and every day. 

The second step recommended to improve mental wellbeing is engage in mental health conversations. This is a very important one as it will help not only other people who are struggling, but yourself. So everybody wins!
Find spaces to initiate safe conversations for everyone about mental health. This can include diagnosis, sobriety, parenting, therapy, suicide prevention, etc.
Be sure that you have someone nearby that is qualified to handle the heavy stuff in case there is someone that needs it, but starting conversations is one way to open the wellbeing of others and yourself. Start talking. If you feel more comfortable just starting off small and simple, gather your friends and have talks over tea or coffee every other weekend and talk about how your weeks have been – or sit with your spouse every Friday night on the couch after the kiddos have been tucked in to do a mental health check in. There are lots of avenues you can take, depending on your comfort level of discussions and where you are on your own journey. I will say that once I began to open up and feel the clarity on my own path, I could barely shut up. I want to talk and share and listen all the time. Mental wellbeing is such a passion of mine, I want it to be for everyone!

The third step recommended for mental wellbeing is truly what I am here to talk about each and every blog in some form or fashion. Lead by example: Practice Self-Care. You can’t pour from an empty cup in dealing with your wellbeing, be it mental or physical, so you must take care of yourself first. We have gone over some ways to handle your self-care but let’s revisit some. One of the things I haven’t mentioned is taking a ‘mental health day’ from work or school. Those are always fun and much needed. And I don’t mean a day to run around and go from doctor appointment to doctor appointment. I mean, a day to go from spa appointment to spa appointment. Another way is to meditate, or visit with friends over a long lunch, or take time for YOU.
Self-care days for your mental health are outside your normal busy day routine and meant to fill up your cup of health and wellness.

The fourth and final step for mental wellbeing is to join a community nearby that might fight your same fight. For me personally, aside from my AA meetings, I recently joined a group in my hometown of other recovering addicts that get together outside of meetings and workout, do arts and crafts, volunteer at events and other great donations of time and fun. Likewise these exist for other struggles. I encourage you to check websites that interest you in your area. It can be very freeing to connect with others in your community not just with struggles like you/us, but to meet over activities that don’t necessarily revolve around those struggles. You will find that having fun will allow for a new connection more naturally!

As you gather your plan for the remainder of this month and for the year, remember, filling your cup with the little things will allow for a more full cup of variety of health than filling it with big things. It’s the little things in life that count. Taste the variety of health. Change it up each day and see what you can do to help yourself and others through this mental health wellbeing journey.
#itsthelittlethings

The goal of these blogs is to set intentions and to manifest a beautiful and purposeful life! To find beauty in the ugliest of places and to find light in the darkest.
Come with me on this journey as we discover a pathway to healing, health, purpose and joy!
And remember: Don’t take life too seriously, no one gets out alive!