October 10, The World Mental Health Day 2021
October hosts a special week that is dedicated just to mental health awareness, and on Sunday, October 10, we celebrate a day of mental health. October 10 is celebrated as World Mental Health Day! On this day, October 10, we reflect on not only our mental health but on those around us. It’s so important that we understand the resources around us and share them with those in need.
“Never give up on someone with a mental illness. When I am replaced by “We”, Illness becomes Wellness”- Shannon L. Alder
Make sure you are checking in on loved ones and doing a mental health check on yourself every day. Each day ask yourself on a scale from 1-to 10 how are you feeling? Have I been maintaining a good sleep routine? Have I been in contact with someone at least once a day? Have I been eating 3 balanced meals a day? Once you have assessed where you are at and how you are feeling, you must then get to work, using the tools we have discussed, educating yourself, and finding your motivation to thrive.
This leads me to our next tool on October 10, World Mental Health Day 2021: The Hammer.
Mental Health Tool – The Hammer Launched on October 10
The Hammer is a tool used to deliver a weighted impact to a small area with a driving force. The Hammer reminds me of our motivation and drive. Our purpose, the reason we get up, the reason we want to feel better and be better. Each day we have decisions to make that will lead us down a certain path and ultimately brings us to our purpose. My Grandpa was a man that created motivation inside me, he had that driving force necessary to make me feel that motivation I needed to keep pursuing what mattered to me. He had a very stern voice with a consistent tone that made you listen and learn, making him the “hammer” in my family.
I have heard many people say through the years, “I am mentally ill,” “I am bipolar,” and I am Schizophrenic.” These terms are used in a way that essentially labels you when you begin saying you “are” something you are led to believe that your only role in life is to be bipolar or to be schizophrenic. At this moment I encourage people to re-phrase this by saying, “I have a mental illness,” or “ I experience symptoms of bipolar disorder.” A major key ingredient in managing our mental health and journey through recovery is developing our sense of purpose, what motivates you to get up and keep pushing?
This October 10, World Mental Health Day 2021, take out a pencil and some paper, sit somewhere quiet and start writing down everything you enjoy. Next, write down where you see yourself in 5 years. What do you want to accomplish and what do you want for yourself. Earlier we discussed SMART goals, which are very important, but this is different. We need to take a quiet moment I write down our interests in hopes of striking some fire in our belly. After jotting down these items, ask yourself how you can incorporate them into your daily living. Through the years I have learned that people start to lose their joy, focus, motivation, and drive when they quit doing the things that make them happy. We get caught up in appointments, hustle and bustle, and trying to make others happy, and we forget to take care of our own needs.
Do you use a planner or a calendar? When writing down appointments I encourage you to also write down and schedule a fun day. This fun day can include a hobby, volunteer opportunity, or simply a day of rest. I find it extremely necessary to schedule this time for yourself otherwise it will never happen. Hobbies, volunteer opportunities, educational books, or social gatherings, are just a few ways that I believe people start to see their purpose again, they feel motivated to make changes and to use their talents. Do this today on October 10.
These special days will come with some stressors; social anxiety, communication concerns, depression, financial stress, etc. Most of us are not used to scheduling a day just for us, we may also not be feeling our best mentally, making it more difficult to follow through. I need you to repeat after me “I am worth it.” Tell yourself this every day, you must learn to believe that you are deserving of a day of pleasure, this way you will accept it and embrace this new joy you feel.
Negative thinking, self-doubt, and low self-esteem also accompany us as we attempt to add purpose to our life and motivate ourselves. My favorite concept to use is “Catch it, Check it, Change it.”
Negative thinking will set us back, damage any motivation we may have gained, and prevent us from continuing the process. By using “Catch it, check it, change it” we are grabbing those negative thoughts, gathering any evidence that may surround that thought, and then changing it into something positive. An example would be, “I can’t find my motivation because I don’t enjoy anything,” Where is the evidence that supports this? Most often we short ourselves, we are so used to being negative and putting others before ourselves that we truly do believe that we “Can’t” do something. By the way, “Can’t” is not allowed at my house, where there is a will there is a way and we keep trying even if the results are less desirable. Use these thought-changing techniques anytime you start to feel those thoughts creeping in. Every time you reframe your thoughts, you are adding another tool in the box. Also, when you start to change your negative thoughts and turn to more positive thinking, your motivation will increase and you will start to see the potential you have, that has been hidden away.
I think it’s important to point out, that many of us go through life upset about one opportunity that we believe passed us by, this sets us back. Maybe you feel your mental health holds you back from what you want to do most. I want you to remember, that we may not always get what we want, but most often we get what we need. There may be circumstances that have created a different path in life, don’t lose hope, don’t lose focus, and don’t lose your motivation. As we change and grow through life, our purpose will change, we need to be reliant and allow this change to happen, embracing our new purpose.
The Hammer- this is your driving force to find motivation and purpose. Don’t let moments pass you by, don”t lose sight of the things that bring you joy, don’t forget to take a day for “you,” and most importantly roll with the punches, when one door closes, another will open. What will you choose to do with the new door that opened??
Support Mental Health on October 10
On Sunday, October 10, support mental health by wearing green and reaching out to one person around you. Share with them your resources and let them know you are there for them, without judgment.
Follow me on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and LinkedIn and Subscribe to Healthieyoo.com!
Rebecca Schmitz
Related Posts
Meditative Mind – One Simple Exercise To Strengthen Your Mind
Theory Wellness – Mental Health Toolbox Part 4 -The Level
