Lockdown has been a mixed bag of emotions for most people I know. For me, it has brought on stints of anxiety, feelings of claustrophobia, and also an emotion I rarely have - anger.
Anger is an emotion I have learned to control over the years, but I want to be open and honest here, as I always am with the blog, and I would be lying if I didn't say that anger has risen its ugly head during COVID and Melbourne's lockdown periods.
Not only was I angry for personal reasons, but I was also taking on the anger of others.
I am lucky to work with my gorgeous daughter, Emma who told me about "The Resilience Project" by Hugh van Cuylenburg, as this program had helped my son Luke get through a lot of issues this year and he told Emma about it. At first, I thought oh no, not another self-help book, which I have read many throughout the years of studying to become a therapist, but instinct took over and something told me to listen to my children.
Not only did I listen to them, but I listened to the book to and from work each day, and I have been so blown away that I am almost becoming boring talking about it.
The book is more than a self-help book; it is three easy steps to find happiness through real-life stories, and that is what I loved, so much that I found myself driving slower as I didn't want to stop listening. What I also found is that I have been calmer and happier since listening to the book.
Since the program began, they have reached over 1,000 schools, over 500 workplaces, 1,000,000 Australians, sporting clubs, including AFL teams, Australian Cricket, Netball and Soccer teams and NRL clubs.
Their mission is simple: To teach positive mental health strategies to help people become happier.
And why?
Because in Australia -
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1 in 4 adolescents have a mental illness
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1 in 7 primary schools kids have a mental illness
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1 in 5 adults will experience mental ill-health throughout the year
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65% of adolescents do not seek help for mental illness
With the schools they visit, they have found the project:
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Improved confidence and self-esteem, especially in relation to their peer relationships
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Improved wellbeing and ability to express emotions
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Improved knowledge and communication of emotions
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Improved relationships both at school and at home
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More supportive classroom environments
And there is homework! As you know, I am always stating the more you work on yourself, the more you can give to others, so the homework is to fill in a gratitude diary, stating three things you are grateful for each day. There is more to it, like the importance of exercise, etc. but I don't want to give too much away.
All I am saying is please, everyone, do yourself a favour. Read or listen to the book and spend a small amount of time each day filling in the diary.
I saw the changes in my children. So much with my son that he wants to gift the book to our family and friends for Christmas!
Find out more about The Resilience Project Here.
