Man about Blog
When Gordy asked me to do the Blog, I did not hesitate because as most of you know he is a likable auld spud and a hard man to say no to. That said, a few hours after saying yes I was having second thoughts. Did I want to be a wellbeing blogger? I don’t really bother much with Social Media these days, preferring to keep a lower profile. Plus, the internet is coming down with wellbeing coaches and mind-set mentors and to be quite honest I have developed an aversion with that whole movement as it’s all become a bit cliché. Like, does the world really need another wellbeing blogger, preaching from a high horse? I doubt it.
On the other hand, I like to write and I am a firm believer in the idea that if you have a platform to speak, no matter how big or small, you should use it to spread a positive message. Therefore, I asked myself a couple of questions. Could I do it in an honest and authentic way?, and could I use 12 years of experience working in Mental Health to offer up a few bits of insight here and there?. I decided I could.
Truth be told, I am not that comfortable in the spotlight. My gut instinct often tells me to avoid unnecessary attention and I have passed up many great opportunities as a result. I am learning to consciously challenge this behaviour, come out of my comfort zone, and say yes even when I am not 100% sure about something. I want to do this, but also, I have to. Why? because I deliver Personal Development training in work and also it’s the type of advice I would give my children. Practise what you preach.
Maybe there is another lesson in here somewhere about being aware of your negative behaviours and taking accountability for challenging them. Development often starts well self-awareness. Here is a wee exercise that I sometimes do with our learners. Write down three things that benefit your wellbeing and three that have a negative impact. You might end up with something like this:
- Walking my dog 1. Binge drinking
- Spending time with my nieces and nephews 2. Overuse of Social Media
- Practising mindfulness 3. Taking things personally
Gravitate towards the positive. Challenge the negative. Simple but effective.
While we are on the subject of personal development, I attended a ‘Mind-set Seminar’ in Belfast a few years ago. Big crowds, good buzz. The keynote speaker was from California. He walked on stage, stared at the audience, and after a long pause he said, “I have a superpower. I can turn opportunity into success, failure into motivation, and dreams into reality”. He scanned the entire room again and then said, “WHAT’S YOUR SUPERPOWER”? There was dead silence for about 30 seconds and then some fella at the back of the room said, “I can turn alcohol into regret”.
