I See You Struggling Right Now

If you're struggling at the moment, I get that. I see you. It's been a challenging time in our world recently. And when I say, "recently," I mean the past 10 or so years in particular. So much has happened, so much has changed. We're trying to get through each day, and it's hard. The political climate is affecting all of us at many levels. I see clients who are dealing with family issues, conflict in their relationships, work stress, financial stress, and their own mental health, among many others. Stressors are piling up, and at times, it feels so overwhelming. The urge to avoid and shut down is real (I wrote about avoidance in another blog post).

The awareness of these issues has been painful. Years ago, we could more easily stay in a blissful state of ignorance or denial without being bombarded by a 24-hour news cycle and social media. Now, more than ever, information is at our fingertips, sometimes whether we ask for it or not.

Clients often ask me, "How do I find meaning in what feels like a meaningless life?" They wonder, what's the point of all of this? What are we doing here? It's not necessarily that they're feeling suicidal, but more of a passive thought about staying alive in what feels like a horrible time.

So what do we do with all of this angst? While it's difficult to see the bigger picture and feel optimistic sometimes, I'm proposing #MicroMeaningfulMoments. Small, daily moments that bring us joy, happiness, and/or feel meaningful. It could be time with your pet, a small accomplishment like growing a plant, or just noticing something your body did that you're grateful for. After all, joy is resistance, and meaning can be found, just where we least expect it. #MentalHealthMatters #GoWithHealing #Joy #TherapyThoughts #HintsfromHinkle