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Life often throws unexpected curveballs our way. Mental health problems can be like these curveballs, making personal growth tough. But, by learning to bounce back, discovering more about ourselves, and staying determined, we can overcome these challenges and become stronger. Join me to find out how you can unlock your inner strength and thrive, even in difficult times.

The Challenge of Mental Health in a Pandemic World

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a big test of our strength. Many of us had to work from home, dealing with loneliness and uncertainty. Some lost their jobs and had to take lower-paying ones, while others are still trying to find a good job even years later. Life might seem normal again, but there are still people facing Mental Health Challenges. So, how can we help ourselves in such situations?

Understanding Mental Health Challenges

Before I get into solutions, let's quickly talk about common mental health issues many people face. Things like anxiety, depression, and stress can mess with our emotions and slow down our personal growth. They make it hard to be happy and satisfied with life.

What is Personal Growth and Resilience?

• Personal Growth: This is about trying to be better in different parts of life. When it comes to mental health, it means knowing our feelings, understanding ourselves, and choosing to live a better life.
• Resilience: Resilience is our ability to bounce back after tough times. It's not about avoiding problems but learning from them and getting stronger. Resilient people can handle mental health issues better.

Ways to Grow Personally.

During tough times, like a pandemic, here's how you can grow:

• Therapy: Talking to a professional can really help. They provide a safe space to understand your feelings and learn how to cope.
• Thinking About Yourself: Sometimes, just thinking about your thoughts and feelings can help you understand them better. Writing in a journal can be really useful.
• Setting Small Goals: Having small, achievable goals gives your life purpose, even on bad days.
• Taking Care of Yourself: Things like regular exercise, meditation, and healthy food can help your body and mind stay strong.
• Getting Support: Don't be afraid to talk to friends or family about your struggles. They can help a lot.
• Doing Things You Love: Hobbies and interests can make you happy and distract you from mental health issues.

Building Resilience

Becoming resilient can be really helpful in dealing with mental health problems:

• Taking Care of Yourself: Eating well, sleeping enough, and exercising are the basics of resilience, especially when things are tough.
• Dealing with Stress in a Healthy Way: Instead of unhealthy ways like smoking or drinking, try things like meditation or taking deep breaths.
• Getting Support: Don't be afraid to lean on friends or support groups. They can give you hope during tough times.
• Being Positive: Try to think positively about yourself and your situation. This can make a big difference.

Dealing with Challenges and Setbacks

Life isn't always smooth, but here's how to deal with problems:

• Accepting Setbacks: It's normal to have bad days. Accept them as part of your journey.
• Learning and Adapting: See what you can learn from tough times. Use these lessons to change your approach.
• Seeking Support: Talk to friends or family when things get hard. They can be a great help.

Celebrating Progress and Looking Back

Don't forget to celebrate even the smallest successes. Keep an eye on your journey with regular self-reflection. Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint. In conclusion, even in challenging times like a pandemic, you can grow personally and become more resilient. By understanding mental health issues, knowing what personal growth and resilience mean, trying out different strategies, hearing inspiring stories, and learning how to deal with problems, you can move forward with strength and grace.

I'm eager to read about your personal experiences and thoughts in the comments section. Together, we can create a supportive community where we learn and grow from each other. Check out more resources on our blog or other websites to keep exploring personal growth and resilience, especially when life is full of uncertainties.

Remember, your journey is unique, but you're not alone in trying to grow and become resilient. Embrace the challenge and let your inner strength shine, even during difficult times.

As the saying goes, it may not be appropriate for everyone.

I'm sure you're all aware that the pandemic has made it challenging for most of us to find employment. A few months ago, I was fortunate to receive a free career coach provided by the regional and provincial governments, and I have continued working with her.

Recently, I connected with someone on LinkedIn who offered their career coaching service. However, they charged $200 for each session. After giving it some thought, I questioned why the service charges for those without work are so high.

There are coaches available for various aspects of life and careers, but unfortunately, some of them are solely motivated by money and lack genuine interest in helping individuals. While I believe that most coaches are good, there are certainly some who are not suitable for this profession.

It raises the question of why these coaches approach individuals if they don't consider the possibility that their services may not be affordable. If you've been searching for employment without success, you might wonder if there are other ways to expedite your return to work.

Who would benefit the most from having a career coach?

Upon investigation, career counselors can significantly aid individuals who are employed and considering a change in professions. Regrettably, those receiving social payments, unemployment compensation, or who have lost jobs because of the pandemic are not included. It is an unfortunate situation.

There are many excellent job search coaches available with years of experience, valuable information, and abundant resources. Which one would you prefer, even if the inferior option only required certification exams and offered minimal training?

How should one go about choosing a career coach?

Many career coaches now offer their services online, which is a fantastic option for those without access to local coaches or for those who want to save time and money. When hiring an online career counselor, consider the following factors:

• Search for testimonials from former customers and request recommendations from individuals you know.

• Consider the costs, as prices can range from $50 to $150 per hour, with some popular ones charging between $250 and $500. Be cautious of excessive fees, as they may suggest a focus on profit rather than quality coaching.

• Determine the frequency of meetings and their availability. Inquire about their preferred mode of communication with clients.

• Pick a career counselor who is knowledgeable about job searching and has a good understanding of you as an individual.

• Select a business that offers free consultations, allowing you to assess whether they are a good fit for you.

• If you cannot afford an online career counselor, explore job search options provided by your local government, as they are often free and can be beneficial for individuals facing financial difficulties.

If someone is starting a coaching business and wants you to be their first customer, ask them the aforementioned questions.

Career coaches come in various forms and price ranges. Not everyone can afford a single fixed cost for their services. In today's workforce, there are individuals who are employed but actively seeking better opportunities, and many others are still struggling because of unemployment. For the unemployed, it's difficult to pay $200 per session to a coach while managing other expenses during the job search.

It is important for each individual to assess whether they truly need a professional coach based on their current circumstances. Consider your financial situation and whether the need for a coach is essential. If the answer is “no,” it is advisable to seek help from government-supported career organizations that provide help without charging fees.

You know, even bullies can teach us a thing or two–sometimes it just takes a while to realize it.

Image done in Canva.

One morning many years ago, as I hopped off the bus and strolled to my job, guess what? I bumped into someone I hadn't seen since high school! We crossed paths right on Stephen Avenue while I was heading to my job as a customer service representative for this bus company in our area.

If you're from Calgary, you'd be familiar with Stephen Avenue Mall, right? It's that street where folks go shopping, and sometimes they even have fairs there.

On my way to work, I encountered a guy who once bullied me back in the day. We had a brief conversation, and afterward, I proceeded to my job. I will use the name Mike instead of using his real name.

Do you believe I made a mistake by doing this? But hold up! That minor mishap really taught me something valuable.

Allow me to guide you on a journey through the past, back to the days of middle school. Indeed, the harassment began in sixth grade. But here's where Mike and I first crossed paths–right there in middle school.

I developed physically faster than the others, so most of my bullying was sexual. My voice was high-pitched, and irritating, and the bullies would frequently made fun of it. Regrettably, the speech therapists I consulted back then didn't guide me in altering my voice. When I turned 25, I enrolled in a voice class for drama at university and gained the capacity to do it alone.

I endured many bullies at that time, and most of them were guys. One of them was this boy named Mike.

It's funny, the ones that always mock my voice never truly affected me as much as the sexual harassment. They constantly grabbed me inappropriately, and when I asked them to stop, they would only laugh and made fun of my voice.

In those days, I didn't even realize I had ADHD. I was always daydreaming in class! One time, Mike caught me daydreaming and thought I was winking at him. He made such a big deal about it in front of his friends and teased me. It was so embarrassing! To be honest, I didn't even know I winked while daydreaming. But these days, I don't really flirt with anyone anymore.

Back then, bullies would bother me in different ways, even making inappropriate advances. I don't want to get into details, but luckily, it never led to anything as serious as rape. However, it felt like it could have.

When I was in ninth grade, there were these two guys who kept bothering me during gym class while we were doing basketball drills. I got really fed up with them touching me, so I told the teacher. I think she had already seen what was going on and talked to the boys about it. And that was pretty much how it ended.

You know, I never really got picked on back in high school. But I do remember running into Mike in the hallway between classes. We'd always greet each other before heading off to our separate classes.

Back to Meeting Him as an Adult.

So, this particular morning, I walked up to his table where he was selling figurines as a grown-up and said hi. He just laughed, not at me though, more like in surprise. We ended up chatting for a bit, and during our talk, I noticed something about him I hadn't seen since middle school – he had this nervous lisp.

After we finished chatting, I headed off to work, and that's when it all hit me. Back in middle school, Mike was totally more of a follower than a leader. He had a tough time with his self-confidence, especially when he talked. Joining the popular crowd was his way of dealing with it. To be honest with you, I had no clue who the main bully was. Just goes to show that I wasn't the only one battling low self-esteem.

So, now I came to terms with it and forgave Mike. But I still can't let the other bullies off the hook. I mean, I went through sexual assault for three years, and those scars haven't healed. And till today, I haven't even had a chat with those other guys.

Image by Donate PayPal Me from Pixabay.

One of my Mastodon connections just sent me a message today. I'm used to using dating websites, so that's not a problem at all. This guy advises me to network with some local small businesses because I'm looking for work. They also advised me to send physical letters along with links to my resume as not everyone has access to printers due to the high cost of ink. If I need something printed, which is rare, I go to Staples. And this person ended the toot by saying that they had done the same and it had worked for them, and they were confident I would experience the same success.

The issue of giving others advice

What works for you won't work for everyone. Everyone is unique. Hence, the counsel you offer won't necessarily produce the same outcomes. It holds true for all blogs and articles that discuss how to carry out tasks, generate income online, and other topics. Whatever advice you provide won't apply to everyone.

There are Introverts Out There

Networking is not for everyone. Otherwise, not everyone has an outgoing personality. There are locations where introverts can seek assistance, but it won't really change anything. They cannot simply go on from it. A personality attribute is shyness.

Men Please Don’t Give Unsolicited Advice To Women

Please, and I don't want to be sexist, refrain from offering women unsolicited advice.

That your wife or girlfriend might not always want you to come over and take care of their troubles is the advice I'm referring to in this sentence. Here, I'm referring to communication. Let's say a woman complains about her experiences when she gets home from work. Don't discuss how to improve her working position. You weren't present when she was. They only want you to listen to them and give them comfort. Because if you truly want to solve their issues, you can find yourself gaslighting them by asking, “Why didn't you do that?”

Men aren't the only ones who believe they can resolve another person's problem, either. That's how some women think as well. That is how my mother is. The same is true for those who want to be heard over having their concerns solved.

Those Who Are Receiving the Advice

Keep your expectations in check. Individuals that offer you advise presume that you will experience the same thing they did, not taking individual differences into account. They probably do this to enhance their appearance, despite the fact that they are simply people like the rest of us. Even when offering uninvited advice, they occasionally make mistakes.

So, I'll just tell you to follow your own route. Even if someone forces you to, you don't have to heed their advice. You can listen to it all you want.

Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/users/absolutvision-6158753/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2979107

Do all people comprehend the Law of Attraction? This is the origin of the concept of “like versus like”. One lesson of the Law of Attraction is that if you think positively or are grateful for everything, you can have anything you want. And if you continue to behave in that manner, everything will go according to plan.

But that's not how life functions. How do you remain positive when circumstances are not in your favor? You might disagree with your spouse, get into a vehicle accident, get rear-ended in traffic, or lose your job, for instance. The state of reality as it is.

Emotions

Toxic Positivity has the downside of limiting our ability to communicate our emotions to only those that are positive. As a result, you suppress your own bad emotions. Even if you are successful, it won't last very long.

The Value of Positive and Negative Emotions is equal.

In a sense, your emotions act as a thermometer. Even when you're not feeling well, it's crucial to check in with yourself. Stop considering unpleasant parts of life, such as anger, despair, etc., as negative feelings.

Accepting negative feelings is good for your mental health, according to a study. In a 2018 study, it discovered that people who suppress or avoid feeling bad about themselves experience worse symptoms. There were 1,300 participants in the study.

The same study discovered that those with better mental health don't criticize their emotions. These are the same folks that disregard or place emotional distance between themselves.

The Balancing Act

The concept of life depends on concepts such as work-life balance and related ones. None of our unfavorable emotions should be disregarded. If we do, chaos will inevitably break out.

Because what they say is incorrect, disregard any experts who advise you to simply pay attention to your good emotions. Instead, learn to endure your negative feelings and find constructive ways to express them, such as through writing, exercise, or talking to a friend.

And it's even more important to take a step back and stop overthinking your feelings. You could improve your mental health by doing so.

References

Cherry, K. (2022, September 28). What Is Toxic Positivity? – Happiness. Verywell Mind. Retrieved December 11, 2022, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-toxic-positivity-5093958

Resnick, A. (2022, November 1). It's Time to Ditch Toxic Positivity in Favor of Emotional Validation. Verywell Mind. Retrieved December 11, 2022, from https://www.verywellmind.com/it-s-time-to-ditch-toxic-positivity-in-favor-of-emotional-validation-6502330

Time to Ditch 'Toxic Positivity,' Experts Say: 'It's Okay Not To be Okay'. (2020, September 8). Association for Psychological Science. Retrieved December 11, 2022, from https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/time-to-ditch-toxic-positivity-experts-say-its-okay-not-to-be-okay.html