I write a daily email helping Learning & Development professionals ditch meaningless work and earn more money
Where's your head at? (Part 2)
I’ve met with three mental health care professionals in my life.
I was younger when I met the first and second, and facing difficulties with various forms of OCD, an issue which plagued me for most of my adult life (but which also improved after years of mindfulness practise).
But last year was different.
I had recently emigrated to a new continent, welcomed my second daughter into the world, and started a new business.
On the surface, things were pretty darn good.
But there was something missing…
Whilst I was feeling ok, I wondered whether “ok” was enough?
I had a nagging feeling I could be happier.
During the same period of time, I was chatting to a friend who made a comment that resonated… she explained how she viewed talking to a therapist as being similar to visiting the gym i.e., not something you do when you feel bad, but something you do to prevent feeling bad.
This shifted the paradigm.
Previously, I had thought you’d only see someone as a last resort.
But it made sense… so what if I’m not at my wit’s end?
If it's helpful, surely it's worth it.
Prevention is better than cure, right?
I had recently heard about a book on meditation called “10% Happier”, and whilst I never read it, the name struck a chord.
What if seeing a therapist could make me 10% happier?
Would that be worth pursuing?
The answer was a resounding "yes".
And so, before I'd even started considering how I would find someone or pay for it, my mindset changed.
Instead of considering therapy as something to turn to in desperation, I reframed it as a way to optimise.
And this shift helped me relinquish any negative perception of mental healthcare I had previously been carrying around.
So, with this new mindset, I was ready to give it a shot.
But isn’t seeing a therapist expensive? And how would I find the right person without wasting a ton of cash in the process?
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s email…
Cheers,
- Ant
Ant Pugh
I write a daily email helping Learning & Development professionals ditch meaningless work and earn more money
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