ABC of Mental Health

Hello! Welcome to another edition of the ABC of Mental Health, your partner in the journey to better mental health — one newsletter at a time. This week’s theme is new beginnings. We bring it to your inbox this Thursday to make your Thursday a little therapeutic!  

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Three TherapyShorts by TST

A new beginning doesn’t equal reinvention: Embarking on a new beginning doesn't necessitate a complete reinvention of oneself; it's more about a nuanced evolution. Imagine a painter adding fresh strokes to a canvas rather than discarding the entire masterpiece. Similarly, in our personal journeys, small adjustments can bring about significant transformations. The idea is not to erase the past but to build upon it, acknowledging that growth often lies in the subtleties of our experiences.

Reflect and Redirect: Take a moment to reflect on your current mental and physical health landscape. Identify aspects that might be causing stress or unease. Once identified, gently redirect your focus towards activities or habits that bring comfort and joy. It could be as straightforward as spending a few moments in nature, relaxing your shoulders and jaw, journaling your thoughts, or engaging in a calming full-body stretch.

Learning as an adventure: Many of us don’t have a great relationship with starting new tasks because of self-limiting beliefs that we have or comments/sarcasm we have received over the years from various people when we haven’t been able to execute our plans to perfection. If you wish to change this relationship with learning, commit to a weekly/monthly learning adventure that introduces new ideas or skills at a manageable pace. Choose a topic you've always been curious about, such as a language, a hobby, or a skill and allocate a small amount of time each week for exploration and learning via different mediums (research, videos, hands-on experience).

Two Quotes on Hope and Courage

Richelle E. Goodrich is an American author who inspires us to be mindful of our choices and look forward to the future with hope and optimism: 

“The direction you choose to face determines whether you’re standing at the end or the beginning of a road.”

Joseph Campbell, a renowned Literature Professor, encourages us to be brave, take risks, and be willing to let go of our old ways of being to evolve anew. 

“We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.” 

One Relevant recommendation

The Intern (Movie, 2015)

"The Intern" is a heartwarming tale where Robert De Niro plays an elderly intern at a tech startup led by Anne Hathaway. The film beautifully encapsulates the theme of new beginnings as De Niro's character, Ben Whittaker, redefines retirement by embracing challenges, forming unexpected connections, and imparting a wealth of experience. Hathaway's character, Jules Ostin, learns valuable lessons about leadership and work-life balance. The movie weaves humor and sincerity to portray how age is no barrier to embarking on new journeys. It's a delightful narrative that celebrates growth, friendship, and the limitless potential of starting afresh at any stage in life.

Love and light,

The Social Therapist

PS: A little sarcasm, anyone?