‘Be patient & tough, someday the pain will be useful to you’ ~ Ovid
It never ceases to amaze me that Ovid was a Roman poet, writing 2 centuries ago and yet this quote remains as pertinent today as it was then.
Some wisdom doesn’t change through the ages and this piece of advice feels particularly relevant in the circumstances we find ourselves in now.
Be patient and tough whilst going through trying times and some day what we are experiencing in the now will become the learning of the past and the growth of the future.
The reason I picked this image of a swan to go alongside the quote is because swans are masters of the serene. They look so peaceful, calm and unruffled as they glide across the water and yet beneath the surface their feet are paddling like mad to help them create the beautiful, seamless glide that we see above the water.
Not that I’m suggesting that you bottle up frustrations and hurts and don’t find a way to release them. It’s well acknowledged nowadays that can be incredibly damaging to our mental health. However, to be able to give the image of calmness in some situations helps us in positions of leadership and in life when we are trying to support our family and friends.
What support mechanisms do you have to help you to maintain your sense of wellbeing and care for your mental health when times are tough?
Do you have favourite activities that you’ve been able to keep up in some way that help you deal with stress and frustration?
Do you have someone to talk to who will listen without judging or telling you what you should do when you are feeling unsettled and just looking for someone to help you gain a new perspective but decide for yourself what’s next?
If you’d like to talk to a chaplain about any of this you are very welcome to call or text me directly on my mobile: 07526 378529. Alternatively you can email info@mite.org.uk and request a call back.
For more information on supporting wellbeing, we have a range of resources on our web-site including some that are more specific to the Covid-19 outbreak and some that help in dealing with stress in general: https://mite.org.uk/quietspace and you can find other resources on Mental Health Matters and in this TED talk How to be kinder to yourself amongst many other online offerings that will come up in any Google search.
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Facebook: @mitechaplaincy Twitter: @mitesthwarr
