What’s your take on mental health? Is it something you relate to, shy away from, think doesn’t affect you? When I sat down to consider what to write for this week’s blog post I realised it happens to fall on World Mental Health Day.

And if I’m honest, now as I’m typing this today is feeling like the kinda day I really need some extra support and love.

Don’t worry, I’m okay. I’m just aware of my mental state. I’ve been emotional. Easily triggered. A few cloudy burdens are circling.

We all have them – days we feel less okay. Days we feel like we could do with a big fat hug from the universe. It’s what we do with them that makes all the difference.

I’ve been softer, slower and more gentle with myself today. And I’ve stretched myself to reach out. To be more vulnerable. To ask for support, even if there’s the chance it might not come through.

I know on days like this I actually need the release. In my case, that’s often in the form of tears. ? But it really can vary. The point is that I find a way to release.

I could put today down to the moon. It’s a new moon, and apparently Librans (me) are really feeling it this time in terms of navigating highs and lows and challenges.

The astrologists (at least those in my social media feed) are saying it’s an opportunity to authentically own my power and also to know that it’s an opportunity to embrace our shadow.

But I could also just acknowledge the emotions that are coming up for me. And know that it’s okay. We all have them.

I have a treasure trove these days that I can reach into for days like this. Because I’ve gotten to know myself and the kinda stretches versus soothing that I need better.

Like, I know I have a tendency to ‘get on with it’ and not tell anyone what’s going on. That just ends in tears anyhow because the emotions erupt over something unrelated.

So, now I know it’s a must for me to say something. I don’t have to make a big deal about it, I just have to take one small step towards reaching out for support. And I also know how intrinsically linked my emotional and physiological states are (hint: yours are too). Which means moving my body becomes vital.

I was reading excerpts from Awaken The Giant Within this morning and Tony Robbins shares a process to essentially strengthen your mental health.

I’m immediately adding the questions to my trove. ? When we find ourselves stuck in emotional patterns such as frustration, hurt, anger, fear, or confusion, these ‘redirect your focus toward a better emotional state’:

What’s great about this?

What’s not perfect yet?

What do I need to do right now to make this better?

Tony’s words echo in my mind too: “The same pattern of thinking that has gotten us to where we are will not get us to where we want to go”.

My trove helps me to shift my emotional state and to pick a new pattern of thinking.

If you’re finding yourself particularly ‘stuck’ or constantly looping into that emotional state you don’t want to be in, give this a go right now, even if you’re not still in that loop.

Ask yourself these questions about that particularly situation and sense what happens next.

For me, they softened the feeling, they brought some lightness, and certainly relief. I felt like I had more leverage to move forward and see things in a new light. I had shifted my pattern of thinking.