In this episode, we explore how a small change of just two words can save a life… One of the themes that’s been highlighted by the current pandemic is that mental-health can no longer be ignored. The usual life-events - marriage, children, leaving home, unexpected illness or injury, strife at home or at work, finding a job, losing a job, all those kinds of things - well, they’re all challenging enough in their own ways. All of those challenges impact on mental-health - which in turn can have huge knock-on effects on physical-health, emotional-health, social-health and more.
An extremely important post, for a large (and growing) number of people who as a result of this pandemic are suffering in many ways. Small points of light can be the catalyst for a change of heart, and emergence from the darkness.
Many thanks, Robert. When I first wrote this, I was afraid that 'Like this' would worry a lot of people - that some might even think it was dangerous. I'm glad to see instead that, so far, everyone _does_ seem to regard it as useful, as creating space for new hope where hope had seemingly been lost. If a small change like this can help in that way, then this whole 'Small Changes' project may well become as helpful as I hoped it would be. Thanks again!
Two years ago I lost both of my parents to cancer within a 6 month period, whilst looking down the barrel of retirement and the concerns around finances etc.. I was fixated on the prognosis of my parents and experienced large bouts of depression, in a discussion with my GP he turned the situation on its head and told me to enjoy each day whilst i still had them. His words "wake up they are still here" changed my entire outlook, and from that day I enjoy my family with all the retirement issues which we face.
Yes - another really great example of a small change (in essence a refocus) that can really help in that type of context. (And yes, I've been there too, as you know - not that specific issue, but being similarly at risk of 'spiralling down into the dark'. I invented that reframe of 'Like this' to help me at that point - but yes, there are plenty of other useful reframes like that one you describe.)
An extremely important post, for a large (and growing) number of people who as a result of this pandemic are suffering in many ways. Small points of light can be the catalyst for a change of heart, and emergence from the darkness.
Many thanks, Robert. When I first wrote this, I was afraid that 'Like this' would worry a lot of people - that some might even think it was dangerous. I'm glad to see instead that, so far, everyone _does_ seem to regard it as useful, as creating space for new hope where hope had seemingly been lost. If a small change like this can help in that way, then this whole 'Small Changes' project may well become as helpful as I hoped it would be. Thanks again!
Two years ago I lost both of my parents to cancer within a 6 month period, whilst looking down the barrel of retirement and the concerns around finances etc.. I was fixated on the prognosis of my parents and experienced large bouts of depression, in a discussion with my GP he turned the situation on its head and told me to enjoy each day whilst i still had them. His words "wake up they are still here" changed my entire outlook, and from that day I enjoy my family with all the retirement issues which we face.
Yes - another really great example of a small change (in essence a refocus) that can really help in that type of context. (And yes, I've been there too, as you know - not that specific issue, but being similarly at risk of 'spiralling down into the dark'. I invented that reframe of 'Like this' to help me at that point - but yes, there are plenty of other useful reframes like that one you describe.)