A Message About Mental Health & Positivism
Today is the Bell declared “Let’s Talk” Day (about Mental Health).
In keeping with that, Christine wrote this particularly moving piece on the issue. I thought it was really worth sharing.
Everybody out there has mental health issues at some place or other in their lives or in their closest circles.
Before I was diagnosed with and treated for Tic Syndrome, I was convinced I had anger issues and sought out psychological help. It was the beginning of a 2 year journey that led me to my diagnosis and the means to control it.
Not everybody is that lucky. And not everybody who doesn’t feel positive all the time is not suffering from a mental illness.
Christine’s Message
"I have been thinking about this for a while, and I suppose BELL’s LET’S TALK DAY is as good a day as any to post this. There are a lot of posts about being positive and commands to THINK POSITIVE.
Of course, this is good advice and striving to be positive is a good thing. Some of us, however, just feel even more pressure when we see this friendly piece of advice.
While it may be in your nature to be positive or easy for you to even “force yourself” to be positive, it’s not quite as easy for all of us.
Personally, I feel forcing myself to “be positive” is false. If I am not genuinely feeling positive, I would rather not pretend or otherwise force it.
Certainly there are tricks to make yourself feel better, smile; dance; sing…eat cake! But if these tricks still don’t put you in a positive mood, there is nothing wrong with just being whatever you are at that moment.
Just please realize that whether it’s a mental health issue, a personality trait, or some other momentary hardship at that point in time, not everyone can feel positive on demand and not everyone feels the need to falsely switch their mood just because it bothers someone else.
Everyone would like to be happy and positive as much as they can, but it is more difficult for some than others. Sometimes you just need to let someone be cranky or sad or angry – and listen.
That usually does more good than to continually insist that they be positive. Thanks for listening.”
There is a lot of ‘let’s be positive’ chatter going on all the time on beBee and other social media sites. But Christine’s words have a real ring of truth to them.
Fighting your own true feelings for the sake of being 'positive' is actually something that can create mental health problems in some people.
It’s always best to be yourself and get the most out of living. But it’s also smart to understand that sometimes life will get to you and feeling positive is the last thing on your mind.
Reality is what it is. And I believe, like Christine does, that it’s the whole range of moods and emotions that we feel that make us who were are.
If you mess with that too much, you’re just asking for trouble.
Bell Canada's "Let's Talk" is a powerful initiative that really shines a light on a lot of mental health issues. http://letstalk.bell.ca/en/
Please share this post across your network. You never know who will get something positive out of it. Thanks, Jim
"""
Articles from Jim Murray
View blog(This is from my Couch Potato Chronicles column Circa 2000 AD.) · We’re having the worst snow storm ...
This is the second column in our recently reformed collaboration. · PHIL: · Okay, Jim, so the other ...
This is the third in a series on writing, which is something I have been doing professionally for mo ...
Related professionals
You may be interested in these jobs
-
Coordonnateur(rice)s construction
Found in: Talent CA C2 - 3 days ago
Rio Tinto Sept-Iles, CanadaCoordonnateur(rice)s construction – Chemin de fer · La région de Sept-Îles est reconnue pour ses magnifiques plages et de ses kilomètres de sentiers et ce, été comme hiver · IOC, c'est une communauté, une famille et une possibilité d'évoluer professionnellement, pour plus d'info ...
-
Cleaner Intern
Found in: beBee S2 CA - 2 weeks ago
Parrish & Heimbecker Acton, Canada TEMPORARYCleaner Intern · Parrish and Heimbecker · Join our team that shares your Passion & Heart for Canadian agriculture Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited (P&H) has an opportunity for a motivated, forward-thinking, and dedicated individual as a Cleaner Intern for our Milling division based ...
-
Community Manager
Found in: Talent CA C2 - 6 days ago
Baycrest Toronto, Canada Full time/RegularResponsibilities include but are not limited to:Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Community Management: · Act as the Community Champion, representing the community online or at events and advocating its benefits. · Actively monitor and engage with community memb ...
Comments
🐝 Fatima G. Williams
7 years ago #11
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #10
Donald 🐝 Grandy PN
7 years ago #9
Debesh Choudhury
7 years ago #8
Lisa Gallagher
7 years ago #7
Jim Murray
7 years ago #6
Thanks Claire \ud83d\udc1d Cardwell...I'll let her know.
Jim Murray
7 years ago #5
Thanks Donna. It was really Christine who inspired this post. But it touches everyone, sooner or later. My daughter is in the throes of bipolar disorder and it's so sad to see her when she is down, because she is such a spark plug. Remove
Jim Murray
7 years ago #4
Thanks Donna. It was really Christine who inspired this post. But it touched everyone, my daughter is in the throess of bi-polar disorder and it's so sad to see here when she is down, because she is such a spark plug.
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #3
#2 — Jim and Claire, a person who does not recognize danger can never be brave, for bravery resides in seeing danger for what it is and overcoming the fear it engenders. So too, a Pollyanna who does not recognize the dark aspects of life can never be a genuine optimist, for optimism resides is seeing the problems in life and ultimately moving forward in spite of them and in spite of doubts that one harbors. (Or for you Canucks, harbours.) Cheers!
Jim Murray
7 years ago #2
I'm always cheerful, Phil Friedman. I just hide it extremely well. Thanks for sharing. Christine is a sweetie.
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #1