In the busy and sometimes overwhelming lives we lead, the gift of self-awareness is the Golden Ticket.
This is not the type of golden ticket that will lead to a benevolent stranger giving you a chocolate factory (unfortunately!). But it is one that can definitely make a difference to your mental health and wellbeing. We are all on journeys to who knows where, and when life throws you emotions that overwhelm your thinking, it’s time to whip out your Golden Ticket and ask yourself: What are you feeling? What do you need to move forward? This is how we find the inner strength to make positive change.
Whether this self-awareness comes in the form of over-scheduling, work challenges or social situations, be mindful of how you feel. We’ve all heard of the concept of mindfulness which, in a nutshell, means stopping and taking notice of how you actually feel. Not judging yourself, and not trying to change that feeling. Being mindful of your emotions is important, but so is being mindful of your situation.
At the age of 44, I can personally vouch for the magnitude of making significant, and somewhat daunting, life decisions. Having recently taken a completely new direction in my career, I’ve also discovered the positivity that comes from using my Golden Ticket. It’s given me the tool to channel my focus on what I can change about situations that trigger inner stress. I am very aware that the positive thoughts, feelings and emotions I now feel are changing my outlook on all aspects of life. What this experience has taught me is don’t hesitate to make a change, if you can.
Any type of change in our lives is stressful. Even the positive changes, like moving house, getting married, or having a baby, impinge on our emotions in ways we never thought possible. Change, however, can be used as an agent for positivity. Using the 3 Step Rule: to feel the challenge, redirect the challenge and complete the challenge, can turn an overwhelming emotion into a positive one. It might sound overly simple, and trust me – the tears, over-thinking, and stress will still follow – but if you continue to sit with emotions that impact negatively on your mental health and wellbeing, then it’s definitely worth taking the chance to try something new.
Finally, share your thoughts, feelings, and emotions with loved ones. No one knows the stressful journey you are on until you ask for help, and if you don’t share the journey, it’ll be a long, lonely trip to find your Golden Ticket. So search for it, and don’t be afraid to use it. Life is too short to spend wondering, what if!