There are some things we want to remember…incidents that changed our life in a positive way…individuals who have had a profound effect on the person we are today.
At the same time there are some things we prefer not to recall…setbacks and sadness; pain and suffering.
The inescapable truth is that we are the product of all that has preceded us…the good, the bad and the downright unpleasant. It’s not possible to have a present without acknowledging the past. What we experienced and who we were have a profound impact on what we will experience and who we are.
There’s much consolation to be drawn from the fact that the mistakes of the past do not have to be repeated. But we are left with a choice…stop and stagnate or learn and grow.
It takes strength and courage to step out, step away and reinvent. And what works for one person will not necessarily work for another.
There is no quick fix. Valuable and lasting change takes time. Growth is a slow process.
The most important step and often the most difficult is the first one taken. Deciding to do something is one thing…actually doing it is another thing entirely.
The truth is that no-one can walk that path we are on but ourselves. We have ultimate control.
Mental wellbeing is not all about extremes…it’s about balance. It’s about accepting the challenge, the responsibility and the consequences of the things we say and do. To a greater or lesser degree it’s about choice.
We can be either our own worst enemy or our own best friend.
Gary Bentley Counselling 