Month: May 2022

“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” Margaret Mead.

We are living in very challenging times at present given the conflict in Ukraine, rising prices and the impact of the Covid Pandemic that has affected the world over the last couple of years. All of the things I’ve mentioned have the ability to have a negative impact on people’s mental health.

It was therefore very relevant that this week is Mental Health Awareness Week hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. The foundation’s aim is to drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives, with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.

Mental health problems can affect anyone, at any time and the foundation believe that mental health is everyone’s business. So, for one week each May, they campaign around a specific theme for Mental Health Awareness Week. Since their first campaign in 2001, they’ve raised awareness of topics like body image, stress and relationships.  The campaign reaches millions of people every year.  This year’s theme is loneliness.

Loneliness affects many of us at one time or another. Loneliness can be both the driver for and a product of poor mental health. Our connection to other people and our community is fundamental to protecting our mental health and we need to find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness. We can all play a part in this.

Our society is changing fast. The pandemic has given rise to a sense of loneliness and isolation undermining confidence in daily routines. In recent times, many of us have had far less access to loved ones. Technology is enabling healthcare professionals to see more patients without the need to travel, but on the flip side of the coin, convenience and cost efficiencies are driving more and more activities online.

Our workplaces are also changing. With many adapting to home and hybrid working, we need to embrace this change while building and maintaining meaningful connections with our colleagues.

The Mental Health Foundation are raising the impact of loneliness on our mental wellbeing and the practical steps we can take to address it. Reducing loneliness is a major step towards a mentally healthy society. Long-term loneliness is closely linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.

Mark Rowland Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation said:

“We hope this year’s theme of loneliness will strike a chord with many of us who felt lonely and struggled throughout the Covid pandemic.

Millions of us experience loneliness from time to time. We know that some people are at higher risk of experiencing loneliness and the evidence shows the longer we feel lonely, the more we are at risk of mental health problems.

Loneliness deserves more attention and we’re calling on everyone who has struggled as a result of being lonely to share their experiences. We must work together – as individuals, as a society and through government policy – to reduce loneliness and prevent mental health problems by investing in welcoming, social spaces and new community initiatives.”

Some of the ways people can participate in Mental Health Awareness Week:

• During Mental Health Awareness Week use the hashtag #IveBeenThere to share experiences of loneliness to support others and give the campaign momentum.
• Sign up to walk, run or job as part of the 80 Miles in May challenge and share your photos using #80MilesinMay and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.

For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week visit mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw or join the conversation on social media using #IveBeenThere and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.

This week, why not take a few moments to reflect on the subject of loneliness. Consider how you may participate in the Mental Health Foundation campaign.

Think about whether you are feeling lonely right now and if so, contemplate what help and support would help you to start to address how you are feeling. Who can you reach out to that can assist you?

Whilst you may not be feeling lonely yourself consider what practical support you can provide to loved ones or friends who may be feeling that way. Remember even a small kind gesture may make a huge difference in someone’s life!

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk

 “Thinking will not overcome fear but action will.” W.Clement Stone.

We have lived in very challenging circumstances over the past 2 years given the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic that has affected the world. Here in the UK, over the past few months we have seen steps towards getting things back to normal with an easing of restrictions.

When Covid hit, the UK Government did a good job of warning people about the dangers of the virus and stressing the importance of social distancing, hygiene measures and of people staying at home. I have seen examples of people feeling anxious about the relaxation of measures and having fear about leaving their homes, having greater human interaction, returning to workplaces and public places.

Observing how people react differently to the changes got me thinking about the effect that outside events and fear can have on our life experiences and results if we let them! Fear can stop us being the best that we can be. Fear can stop us achieving our goals and fulfilling our potential.

We’re are all born with unlimited potential but on occasions we simply get in our own way and make life more complicated than it really needs to be. There’s a great quotation by Confucius, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated!” Sometimes the biggest limitations we have in life are the ones that we impose on ourselves and have in our own minds.

Fear is one of our biggest limitations (or interferences as I like to call them). Many people refer to fear as “False Expectations Appearing Real!” Much of what we worry about and are frightened by never actually happens. However, this doesn’t stop us worrying!

There are many fears that stop people fulfilling their potential and goals. These include a fear of change and the unknown which keeps us some stuck in our comfort zone. Also, a fear of rejection stops us asking for what we want and a fear of criticism prevents us attempting a new approach to a task. A fear of success for some individuals means they self-sabotage their results so that they continue to mesh with the crowd.

The effect of fear on results and people’s lives forms part of the coaching discussions that I have with a fair proportion of clients at some stage. It can be when I’m working with a leader of a blue-chip company, a sales director, someone new to management, an individual looking to start their own business or change jobs or a mum returning to work.

When people are going through or contemplating some form of change in their life, it can cause fears to crop up. Often people don’t realise the impact that fear is having on them and how it’s holding them back until they start talking about their goals or challenges. It’s normally an unconscious behaviour.

It appears that we’re all afraid of something whether it’s spiders, flying, speaking in public or walking into a roomful of strangers. The philosopher Bertrand Russell said “Fear is the main source of superstition and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”

Fear is a very small word but can have a massive impact on someone’s life and performance. It can be a powerful and paralysing force. 

I was once told we’re born with just two fears – the fear of noise and falling down.  Every other fear we have is a learned behaviour.  The good news about interferences including fear is that as they are a learned behaviour and therefore, we can unlearn them!  It requires us to form some new habits and behaviours. Changing our daily habits and rituals is the starting point that allows us to get out of our own way.

Challenges and obstacles do present us with an opportunity to learn and grow. We discover new depths as we search for solutions to overcome them. We may find that we are more creative than we realised when we devise solutions that are new and innovative. This can help develop our self-confidence and self-worth. Self-belief can increase when we face and overcome obstacles. Faith in our ability when confronted with challenging situations is a great habit to develop.

Adopting a positive mindset to obstacles is another great quality to hone. As is, believing that obstacles are an opportunity to gain new knowledge and experience. Overcoming interferences provides a sense of accomplishment and is a useful future reference point when faced with similar challenges.

If there is a fear you would like to overcome, getting some external help or friend’s support is a good way to start the ball rolling. It provides an accountability mechanism and is a source of encouragement and external input that we all need sometimes.

This week, why not take a few moments out to reflect and think about the role that fear plays in your life. Is there a fear that is holding you back and preventing you from being the best you can be? If so, what small steps will you commit to in order to conquer the grip that this fear has on you?

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk