Standfast (n) a firm, fixed, settled position

 

In continuing with the theme of the month, I wanted to write an encouraging post.  Whether or not you have a formal mental health diagnosis and whether or not you may or may not be aware of anyone with a mental health diagnosis, we can all confirm that we have faced trials and tribulations in our lives.

 

We have all had to overcome at least one adversity in our lives.  If you are reading this and saying “Nope.  Not I” then I would encourage you to keep living.  Adversity is inevitable.  Knowing this to be true, we can prepare ourselves mentally, spiritually and physically to learn healthy coping skills to use in times of adversity.  Coping skills can make or break your response to adversity.

 

There are good coping skills and there are not so good coping skills.  It should be your practice to develop these healthy coping skills (reading, writing, listening to music, crafting, gardening, exercising, singing, meditating, praying, etc.) when there is no adversity in your life.  It’s imperative to practice these skills often.  Why? I’m glad you asked.  The more you practice these healthy skills, the more likely you are to use them when adversity comes.  We tend to revert to what we know or have practiced in times of chaos and crisis.

 

Now that you have done the work to master your healthy coping skill, guess what, adversity is more than likely going to come and test the usage of those skills you’ve developed.  At this very moment, you have a choice to make.  You can either retreat and practice an unhealthy skill or you can standfast and be confident in yourself and your ability to overcome the adversity with the healthy skills you have practiced.

 

There is no need to fear.  Standfast.

 

There is no need to retreat.  Standfast.

 

There is no need to doubt.  Standfast.

 

Standfast and focus on all of the things you know to be wise, true and noble.  Standfast in the belief that you are able to overcome any obstacle, because you’ve done it before as evidenced by your ability to read this post.

 

If you need help learning or practicing healthy coping skills, find a counselor.

 

Whatever you do, remember to standfast.

 

Sincerely,

 

Sonya