No, it's not Netflix, chocolate, wine or Joe Wicks…(although a little of those have all helped!)
What I can honestly say has been the ONE key thing that has kept me balanced and grounded, at this time, is the fact that what I do for a living is completely aligned with my Purpose; it is true to who I am, helps others, and creates meaning and fulfilment from inside.
When fulfilment comes from the inside, rather than being dependant on something outside/external, it means it is something that cannot be taken away from us. We get a sense of security and stability… even when the world outside is the opposite.
What I have experienced, and seen in others, is that when we are living life true to ourselves - living to our values, true needs and with purpose - we lose the feelings of insecurity which can be experienced when our fulfilment and happiness is dependant on something external, that is often not in our control.
We all have a ‘purpose’ that we can connect to right now. We have skills, ideas, an inner gift, which when we share, it makes things just that little bit better for someone else.
This doesn’t need to be our day job; doing things where and when we can, whether this is for our friends, colleagues or local community, taking action activates a sense of meaning and purpose inside us.
Acting purposefully, and doing something for others, is a powerful solution for our wellbeing and mental health at this time; it helps us to overcome our own anxiety and personal worry, because it moves our focus and attention away from ourselves.
One of the key things that causes any low wellbeing state is when we are too focused on ourselves: What about ‘me’? What’s going to happen to ‘me’?
Naturally, at these times, these thoughts will come up. It is important to consider what is in our power to support ourselves, however, constantly worrying and thinking about ourselves is one of the worst things we can do in keeping stuck in a low place. Going over and over our perceived problems is just going to make them feel bigger than they really are.
When we focus on others, the focus moves away from ourselves; away from fear, and towards love and connection.
One of my clients runs an award winning charity, Nanny Biscuit, that has helped thousands of people throughout the pandemic. Engaging with purpose during this time has brought huge benefits to his volunteer team. One of the volunteers, who previously struggled with addiction, has moved massively forward at this time, due to being part of a team focusing on helping others, and feeling purposeful in life.
The benefits of helping others are endless. Studies indicate that the very act of helping others boosts your happiness, health, and sense of well-being. UCL shares 10 benefits of helping those in need, through their recent research.
Let’s make February a better month for our friends, family and our communities by connecting with what we can do to help those around us, and, that in itself, will make February a better month for us all.
Love & Gratitude,
Lindsay x
