INSIGHT
words to my emotions and trying to make sense of them in a way others could understand, I started to shed light on the darkness and make tangible something that lurked in the shadows. And people welcomed the opportunity to support me. They were more than happy to do whatever I needed. Their listening helped to lighten my load and relieve some of my burden. Other people can also bring new perspective to your situation, helping to see the forest when all you can see are the trees. While they may not exactly understand what you are going through, they can help remind you of your blessings and alert you to possibilities and actions you simply cannot see or imagine when you are consumed by your circumstances. I feel that generally we are hesitant to share with others how we are feeling, if it is anything less than stellar. And I can see now how this refusal to engage in honest dialogue unwittingly helps to promote stigma around mental health issues. We are the main character in our life story
When things started to overwhelm me and I entered what I call “survival mode,” the first casualties were the things that I do for me. Daily practices like meditation, going to the gym, and eating nourishing food (or any food at all) were pushed off until the next day, and then eventually did not happen at all. Through this journey I have come to realize that I simply do not feel the same obligation to myself as I do to others – and I am pretty sure I am not alone in this. We are the star of our lives and we need to treat ourselves as such. I would do anything for my son, and it is not okay that I do not treat myself the same way. We need to prioritize ourselves – not just when it is convenient, and not just so we can be there for other people – but simply because we are worthy, too. Have faith
I do not know why this season of life has come upon me, or when I will fully finish travelling through it – all of which is very frustrating for my A-type personality! It has taken a great deal of faith and surrender for me to get to the place where I can believe that things will eventually change. I do not know how or when, and I am learning to be okay with that as well. I have faith that regardless of how uncomfortable this is, I will get through it, and I will be all the stronger when I emerge on the other side. As I so appropriately heard recently, “You don’t have to change everything for everything to change.” Each day I am taking just one step forward, trying to reclaim those thoughts, intentions, and habits that will serve me better. Each little action I take starts to shift my trajectory and builds my faith that one day soon I will emerge from this season and I will be all the better for having travelled through it. Michelle Despault is Director of Communications at the OECTA Provincial Office.
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