Why is it so hard to take our own medicine? I get the opportunity to support individuals who are also within the mental health field as well as those who are not. And time after time, those who work in this field struggle with seeking help. Sometimes it’s because they don’t want to take resources from someone else, sometimes it’s not trusting others to understand them, or fear of being perceived as not a good professional.
Today, I found myself telling a peer that I was struggling. And that I had been leaning into the struggle rather than doing ALL the things I tell people to do literally all day! And I found myself asking why….. If I know that these skills and activities and mental challenges have resulted in healing and expansion for my clients…..why don’t I routinely engage in them?
The answer…. I’m not really sure of the full answer. However, today the piece that sticks out is that it is easier, safer and more consistently rewarding to focus on others than myself. It’s been engrained in me since childhood. Personally, I’m challenging that this weekend. I’m going to pick just a few things to focus on to build up my own mental resilience. What’s something you’ve put off that you are willing to do to invest in yourself?