Repeat after me… I am enough… and so are you

Mental health awareness week always brings a little pang in my stomach. It’s an inner conflict of “awesome let’s smash the stigma on the M word” and “here we go again with the song and dance about our painful inner brain workings for all of one week, try living in my head 365. You probably wouldn’t want to hang out for long” Or so I thought.

This year I am grateful for the reminder. Truly grateful.

Over the last year, everyone has been mentally tested and challenged. We have all dipped and dived and it’s been an awakening that we ALL have mental health. A sliding scale of emotions, feelings, neuro wiring, chemical makeups and just really shitty circumstances. Everyone will now have an appreciation of how our minds can be fragile and on the flip side oh so strong.

Like many, I can struggle with seeing my worth and believing I am enough. The irony is it’s taken the breakdown of a treasured relationship, some time in solitude and a move to live in the countryside for me to realise I am in fact enough and do you know what? I always have been.

The move to Snowdonia has been a sensory and social switch for me. The contrast is as stark as my bipolar manifestations. And boy has nature been the tonic, the helper, the encourager, the motivator and the friend. In its expansiveness it has allowed me to think abundantly and not be scared, its stillness has allowed me to slow down and understand my needs and its wonder has given me the confidence to back myself when others couldn’t.

I am

E

N

O

U

G

H

and you know what? So are YOU!

E — Everything — everything you need is within you, you might not yet have access to it all, but I promise that it’s all there. Think of a time when you were faced with adversity or a challenge and you thought to yourself “how am I ever going to get through this?” and look you are here! You are on the other side as within you, you had it all. Everything we want is on the other side of our fears.

N — Nurture — nurture those needs within you. It’s our responsibility to make this an inside job. It’s nice to have validation from others but being the inner cheerleader over the critic is what will sustain us. Notice when the negative thoughts flow and ask yourself “what do I need at this moment?” perhaps it’s food, water, rest, a chat with a friend. Check out the very helpful RAIN method by Tara Brach.

O — Original — you are original, one of a kind. There is no one on the earth like you with your gifts and zones of genius. The world is richer for your presence, trust me. Why not message a handful of your friends, family, or peers and ask them what three words they would use to describe you. You will be pleasantly surprised how you are seen and appreciated by others

U — Understand — it is rarely about you when it comes to the judgments and reactions from others. It’s usually about them. If we get angry with someone we are usually angry at ourselves. Next time you feel got at by someone, ask yourself “What is the factual evidence for this? Is there stuff going on in their lives that means they might be fractious? How might I show compassion to myself and them?”

G — Gratitude — gratitude is a powerful gateway for self-compassion and love. What has your body or mind allowed you to do today? Remember when you wanted all that you have now. Take a second to write those big and small things down. It might just be one small thing and that is enough. You are enough. Join the Sanctus community to help journal your thoughts and feelings.

H- Help — help is always at hand if we need it. We just have the courage to reach out.

While paddling on the river Conwy or walking up Snowdon I’ve realised a lot of my unwanted behaviours, moods, thought processes and anger were manifesting as I was living in the fear and shame of my past. Nature has gifted me an awareness of this and restored my freedom to choose what I want rather than what my past imposes on me.

Being in nature has given me freedom in more ways than one and shown me than I am in fact more than enough. And so are you too.

I would love to hear what you would add perhaps to make us “I AM” enough acrostic. What could I, A and M stand for?

I love my I am enough jumper from Supernal — you can nab yours here and use EBS15 for a discount

#ConnectWithNature