We finally had some lovely sunshine here in the UK this week, just in time to be able to meet friends and loved ones again in an outdoor space. I spent time with my twin sister, and this is the blossom tree in the front of her garden!
We also both had our first vaccination jabs, and I take my hat off to all the people involved. Everyone was so friendly from the people directing us as we arrived to those taking our details and the nurses giving us the jab, it all went smoothly and quickly and I feel very grateful.
The results are in … wellbeing resides inside
Thanks so much to those of you who replied to my last nudge and straw poll on wellbeing. It was so interesting to read your responses.
In short, most people felt that their wellbeing resides inside them.
As one person said: “Has to be inside otherwise it’s too unstable.”
For me, that seems to be at the very core of what makes the difference for people’s mental health. Because if it seems like wellbeing depends on something external having to look a certain way, or a feeling of needing to control our circumstances or other people before we can feel okay, then inevitably that’s likely to give rise to feelings of insecurity, especially during changing times.
Trusting in our wellbeing
So if our wellbeing resides inside us, why can it feel harder to access in challenging times? I think the answer lies in the understandable human trait of looking outside ourselves in an effort to give ourselves certainty when life starts to feel uncomfortable. But what if that’s just a case of looking in the wrong direction? And instead of looking to external circumstances, or others, to give us our sense of wellbeing, we rather look inside ourselves and trust that it resides within.
There’s evidence all around us right now of people’s inner wellbeing and resilience at play, regardless of all that’s going on. And that’s why I spend my time these days nudging people towards their inner wellbeing, which I’ve come to see is innate and naturally in us all. It gives us a solid foundation to stand on…a ‘mental immunity’ if you like…and when we live more from that place, can make for a much less stressful experience of life.
Easier to access in nature
Spending time out in nature was also mentioned a lot in people’s responses to me for where they felt their wellbeing more. This makes perfect sense to me as so often that’s when we have less on our minds, and for me, it’s experiencing that spaciousness outside that opens up greater access to that quieter space of wellbeing and peace of mind inside.
That feels like a hopeful message on which to end, and to wish you a very happy Easter and relaxing break.
All the very best for now
Tamsin
PS I’m currently planning some one to one and group options to help people live more from their wellbeing, which I’ll be sharing soon. If you’re interested to know more now, then just drop me an email and I’ll let you have more details.