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Safe Work Month in Australia is over for another year, along with World Mental Health Day – on October 10. That doesn’t mean we forget about emotional health or mental health. Especially since the theme for World Mental Health Day 2022 was “Make mental health for all a global priority”.
Will that theme stay front of mind over the next 12 months? I hope so.
Small Actions – Ongoing Impact
Many people attended events and information sessions during Safe Work Month. Ready to embrace the opportunity to implement a new action or decision to improve or support emotional and mental health. Often small things to quietly and consistently burble along, leading to change over the next 12 months.
Consistency is part of effecting change. So is caring, kindness and mutual respect – starting with ourselves.
What happened?
In the early 2000’s I remember reading predictions that depression and other emotional and mental health conditions would increase over the next 20 years and found it hard to fathom. Yet here we are.
The statistics are concerning, and the reality is frightening. Yet there seems to be a disconnect between what some people say and the impact they think it may have. Reacting on Social Media, complaint lines and reviews are easily accessible vehicles to fan the fire. Often anonymously.
2 1/2 years ago, ‘kindness’, ‘caring’ and ‘we’re all in this together’ were the focus.
Since then, we’ve moved through many challenges that would have taken a toll anyway. That includes the impact of lockdowns, differing views, weather events and cost of living. The impact is felt in different ways – and expressed through our emotions.
Yet, emotions aren’t the challenge. It’s how and where we express them that’s the challenge. Especially when it means someone else is being judged, harassed, shamed or attacked for their story, being different or thinking differently.
So, it’s no wonder well-being and emotional and mental health are affected. Now more than ever.
One News Cycle
Is that partly because we live in this fast-paced world where we quickly forget what we’ve said – and assume the target of our comments will too? Where we think our ‘venting’ will go unnoticed or be the only ‘vent’? Where ‘it’s just one news cycle’ seems to be a common turn-of-phrase?
Or could it be that this unrelated story, situation or person is in front of us at the wrong time? Triggering the release of pent-up emotions, even rage, the most stellar keyboard warriors would struggle to keep up with.
It’s Out There
Being ourselves, and having our views, is a part of who we are. So, what happens when sharing those views and opinions turns into “No, I’m right – and you’re wrong”? Something to be defended at all cost, forgetting others are entitled to their view?
It could mean pushing ‘send’ or ending a call is quickly followed by some form of “Oh no”. Knowing it’s too late to wonder if it was the right thing to write or say because it’s out there anyway.
Or it could mean those times when the emotion is so strong that the ‘gripped’ backward and forward dialogue continues relentlessly. Regardless of impact or consequences, it only ends when someone disengages. However, the emotional toll of these exchanges can be catastrophic and long-lasting for all involved.
It’s easy to be dismissive when you’re not the one impacted by a story in the public domain. It may not even matter if the story is true or what you’re saying is correct.
The challenge is, and always will be, that people are a part of every story with the ‘one news cycle’ life. That’s people like you and me, our loved ones and colleagues – all a mix of a story, emotions and much more.
Kindness and Mutual Respect
Emotional health and fitness sit at the core of wellness and well-being. That means we all have the same potential to express ourselves in a way that feels good – and shows mutual respect and kindness. Yet, it’s easy to forget that when we’re swept up in the moment and feel the urge to comment.
When that happens to me, I aim to remember these things to stay on track:
- Social media and our online world are here to stay. It’s for me to manage them – instead of the other way around.
- There are times to be right and times to be kind. Being right isn’t all it’s cracked up to be – being kind gets better results.
- Emotions are a part of us. Understand and engage with them to express them in healthy ways.
- Strong emotions and feelings affect us the most. Directing anger, jealousy, or resentment at others is no good for our health.
- Forgiveness is important. We all get things wrong. Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting. It means moving past things.
- Practice gratitude. It has many benefits for emotional health, happiness, and building relationships – at work and in life.
- Take a breath and pause before engaging publicly. Vent privately if that helps. Who hasn’t talked to a phone/social platform, TV or radio from home, work or car to let off steam?
Even with these reminders, it’s easy to get it wrong. To me, that’s a prompt to regroup, make amends where possible, and do things differently in the future.
Conscious Commenting
We have no influence over how someone responds or reacts to what we say or do, especially when we don’t know them. And that’s the point. Because words have power, and what we write or say matters.
So, is this about consciously commenting? Commenting in a way we’re mindful of the impact on the other person? And ourselves?
The optimist in me says yes. That this is one way to keep ’emotional and mental health for all’ a priority. Every day.
As I finish writing, it seems like another version of a similar message – treat others how we wish to be treated. And I guess it is. Adapted to today.
Please be sure to leave feedback, comments and queries below.
Or, if you’d like to contact me directly you can reach me at connect@livepresent.com.au or by calling +61 1300 318 692.
Until next time…
Anne