Calm & Clear is packed full of insightful articles and expert advice on how to take a step back, recognise how you’re feeling, understand what’s making you feel that way, and learn how to focus on your own needs to improve your mental wellbeing.
Life is full of ups and downs, highs and lows, celebrations and struggles. It’s impossible to feel positive all of the time – even the most upbeat, ‘zen’ people have down days, or moments when they feel overwhelmed, anxious or stressed. The key to a calmer, clearer mindset is how we manage our thoughts and emotions. Calm & Clear is packed full of insightful articles and expert advice on how to take a step back, recognise how you’re feeling, understand what’s making you feel that way, and learn how to focus on your own needs to improve your mental wellbeing. We all have different mindsets, and our emotional baggage comes in various shapes and sizes, so what works for someone else might not work for you. Turn the page to…
If you’ve ever asked the huge question of “Who am I?”, you’ll know it’s not a simple thing to sum up. Our sense of self is a melting pot of qualities, values and personality traits that defines how we see, and feel, about ourselves. But why is this so important, and what happens when our inner state gets shaken? Why identity matters Psychologist and psychoanalyst Erik Erikson coined the term “identity crisis” in the late 1960s. He believed identity issues to be a developmentally important conflict faced by humans as they progress through life’s stages, from childhood to old age. Our sense of self is vital for emotional regulation and development, and it enables us to navigate effectively in the world, explains psychotherapist Noel McDermott (noelmcdermott.net). ‘We can think of…
1 Have a routine in place – this not only helps to manage expectations, but also provides structure to our lives. 2 Challenge any anxious thoughts – being able to confront negative thoughts that wander in our minds, and change our negative responses, provides us with an opportunity to develop a proactive approach to overcoming challenges. 3 Take a step back – when challenges occur and you’re unsure what to do, take a step back and reassess the situation. By doing so, we can identify alternative solutions and increase our emotional awareness. 4 Practice emotional and physical wellbeing – eat well, sleep well, exercise and strengthen your self-compassion. This can be vital in helping us feel more in control of the physical and psychological aspects of our lives.…
✣ This Girl Is On Fire, by Andrea McLean (£12.99, Hay House). Want to reshape your destiny? Let Andrea’s story of self-discovery inspire you. ✣ Authentic: How To Be Yourself And Why It Matters, by Professor Stephen Joseph (£14.99, Piatkus). Lessons to help you open the door to a more meaningful life. ✣ Own Life: How To Show Up With Confidence And Take Control Of The Future, by Todd Eden (£10.36, Amazon). Take control of your future with this practical guide. ✣ Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living, by Glennon Doyle (£14.99, Vermillion). A memoir to help you overcome conformity and live your best life.…
With the world evolving as quickly as it is today, it’s become more feasible to make a life change – big or small – without upsetting the status quo. Where once you were destined to stay in the same job, the same town, with the same partner and the same friends, doing the same pastimes, it’s now easier – and more acceptable – to design your life as you want. A life redesign can be as subtle or dramatic as you choose. Decisions like retraining for a new career or moving abroad are obviously major moves, but even a small shift can bring a much-needed breath of fresh air if something just doesn’t feel right anymore. These steps will help you to identify and activate your own life redesign. 1…
We all have our ups and downs, and most of us have been guilty of smiling on through and pretending all is fine from time to time when we’re actually not. But is it better to be honest and open about how we’re feeling? Or, are there benefits in projecting positivity even if we feel anything but? Feeling blue vs feeling depressed We’ve probably all had a few days of feeling below par. But it’s important to recognise if your low mood is more than just a passing dose of the blues. Even if you’ve felt down in the past and managed to overcome it without support, it’s important to recognise the times when you need help. So how to differentiate between a normal “low” and clinical depression? According to…
