How has Calm Circles helped me in my mental health journey?
My encounter with Calm Circles was somewhere at the beginning of 2022. I first came to know about Calm Collective through a LinkedIn post, and when I found out this platform is about mental health and wellness, it intrigued me in particular. And so, I signed up for the upcoming Calm Circles.
The session started off by asking us to pick a couple of words to express some of the emotions that you are going through currently or your mood for the past few days. And as I started to think about those words, I realised that I have not been paying attention to my emotions lately. It felt like the longest time since I last did a self-reflection. So as those words appeared, I had a sudden surge for self-discovery. During the session, I felt so much better after talking about the stress and anxiety I was going through, and how dealing with uncertainties has taken a toll on my mental well-being. I cannot explain how comforting it was, but I am glad that I made the move to participate in that very first session because even if I could be drowning deep inside, on the surface, I looked absolutely fine. The biggest takeaway from that session was that it made me feel that I am not alone, I am not the only person who may encounter a similar predicament, and I am especially happy to meet many like-minded individuals.
Here are some other lessons I’ve learned through Calm Circles:
Self-awareness - I have learned to check in with myself more regularly, and be more mindful of my emotions. Ultimately, it has helped me to walk away from unnecessary, contentious issues.
Self-care - I learned to set healthy boundaries between family, work and friends. This really prevents me from unnecessary burnout, and helps me better focus on my priorities in life.
Coping with change - Change is an integral part of our life journey, and with the right mindset, I learned to embrace changes more comfortably, helping me to strive to become the best version of myself.
Calm Circles has helped me a lot in my mental health journey, and I am leading a happier and healthier relationship with myself. That is why when I saw the opportunity to become a volunteer facilitator, I signed up without any hesitation, and I hope you can join me someday.
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Join us for a safe, non-judgmental space for open conversations where you can connect with the Calm Collective Community. Sign up for our next Calm Circles at calmcircles.co
Thank you Benny for sharing your experience!