It can take just a moment
When the world is spinning as fast as it seems when the future looms full of uncertainty and doubt. With fears driving us apart rather than coming together, it can seem all too much to even make a dent. The thought of making an improvement can seem beyond us. We don't have enough power, influence, status, time or energy. There are too many problems and issues to fix.
What I've learnt is when this feeling hits, that I can make a difference. I can support the people around me and when we all do that, we can change the world. You can make a difference and it will only take a moment.
It made a difference to the person to who I brought coffee this morning. Trust me, I could see the smile and the joy through the mask. It reflected back to me and gave me a bounce in my day.
I saw it make a difference to someone who was thanked specifically for the work they had done and the impact it had made. Specific thanks are one of the most powerful boosts you can give. The energy in the room lifted and I know that energy rippled out.
It made a difference when someone sent me a message, checking in on how I was. That meant they cared, that meant I mattered.
Taking a moment to reach out, connect and chat is the theme for Mental Health Awareness week. Always a week I like to bring this to your attention. As always their website is a font of information and resources that are free to download, easy and fun to use. I am particularly looking forward to using this one.
The Mental Health Foundation, and their guide for the week sets the scene:
We all have mental health. It’s a taonga/treasure, something to look after so we can lead our best and most fulfilling lives.
The World Health Organisation defines wellbeing as ‘a state in which every individual realises their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community.’
One in five Kiwis experiences a mental illness each year and it’s important to remember that with the right tautoko/support many people can and do live well with mental illness. Wellbeing isn’t just for people who have not experienced mental illness – it’s for everyone.
This Mental Health Awareness Week we’re asking Kiwis across Aotearoa to take time to kōrero. We’ve chosen this theme because the little, everyday conversations we have are surprisingly important – and they make a big difference to our mental health – so we want you to take notice of the kōrero that makes you feel good and do it more often. Over time, these small chats create meaningful connections, help us understand each other better and ensure we have people we can count on when times are tough.
In past years I've shared the 5 ways of well-being tool from the Mental Health Foundation. Describing how I and my team challenged ourselves to track what we did for our own well-being during the week. This year I'm upping the game and asking you all to join in. #IamNoJedi
I'll post each day on my Facebook and Instagram feeds using the daily prompts and calls for action from the Mental Health Foundation. Follow along and join in with the ideas, sharing your thoughts and connections. Let's use this week to connect.
