Tag: Inspiration

People Who INSPIRE Me

Make your life a masterpiece; imagine no limitations on what you can be, have or do.

Brian Tracy

In times such as this, whereby life is moving at a snail’s place and has seemingly ground to a halt, who could blame us for feeling fatigued and sapped of motivation to do practically anything. If this sounds like you, maybe what you require is a source of inspiration to ‘pick you up’ and enable you to battle through this testing time. Today I’m going to provide a short list of people who have really inspired me at one point or another, hopefully of which could be some benefit to you too.

  1. Jay Shetty

Born and raised in London, Shetty is a former monk turned award-winning storyteller, motivational speaker, YouTuber and Podcaster with a clear goal of using his voice, content and experiences to share his wisdom and provide people with the tools to transform their life in a way they never thought possible. Responsible for the highest viewed Facebook video in 2018, the Brit has also made guest appearances on the ‘Ellen Show’ and ‘The Today Show’, written his own book called ‘Think Like a Monk’ and amassed over 4 billion views on social media! With a whole range of content on topics such as mental health, purpose, relationships and self-worth, Shetty is sure to deliver something for everybody. But don’t just take my word for it!

https://jayshetty.me/

2. Ben Stokes

Following a final disastrous final over in the World T20 final defeat vs West Indies in 2016, not to mention a very public charge of affray roughly 18 months later (in which he was found not guilty), you’d be forgiven for thinking that this was the end of a young cricketer’s very bright future. That the mental torture of on-field failure and off-field misdemeanors would be too difficult to come back from. While for many this would be undoubtedly true, the summer of 2019 only a matter of years later proved to be the pinnacle of Stokes’ burgeoning career. In a tournament where England clinched the 50 over Cricket World Cup for the first time in an astonishing, nail-biting final against New Zealand at Lord’s, the Durham man showed nerves of steel scoring 84 not out and taking England to victory from the jaws of defeat. Add to this an incredible earlier part of the World Cup where he scored 4 crucial fifties and took an incredible catch against South Africa, it is clear to see that without the impact of Stokes England may not have clinched the title. In the ensuing Ashes series that followed, one of Sport’s most fiercest rivalries, his incredible innings of 135 not out at Leeds almost single-handedly snatched victory from Australian hands in the most unlikely of circumstances. Though the 5 match series end in a 2-2 draw, the sporting world was once again reminded just how extraordinary and ice cool under pressure a sportsman Stokes is. Rewarded for his performances, his year was completed with the 2019 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award and showed just how much his public image had improved since his previous mistakes. In my eyes, Stokes is testament to the theory that whatever happens, you can come back stronger if you are determined and work hard.

3. Frank Bruno

Though the lesser admired and recognised British heavyweight of his era due to the achievements of his once rival Lennox Lewis, the 58 year-old Londoner reached his own pinnacle by defeating American Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium in September 1995 to clinch the WBC World Heavyweight title. Despite 3 previous failed attempts at winning a coveted world heavyweight championship, his tireless determination and drive to achieve his lifelong dream meant he would claim a brilliant victory at the fourth time of asking and retire as one of Britain’s most loved boxers. Following a later diagnosis of Bipolar disorder and extensive negative comments made by those in the press, Bruno has become an incredible spokesman for the mental health community through sharing his experiences and encouraging others to speak out and not feel ashamed. A truly inspiring man who has overcome much adversity! Check out his foundation via the link below:

https://www.thefrankbrunofoundation.co.uk/

If anybody reading this has their own suggestions of who they found inspiring, feel free to let me know in the comments below. I’d love to find other people with brilliant stories!

P.S. I hope everybody is coping well during lockdown, stay safe!

Thanks for reading,

Adam

Adam Howard1 Comment

Why I’ve Applied For Campaign Bootcamp

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

In a world of rising chaos, extreme divisions and persistent change, one could definitely argue that the need for people standing up for what they believe in, working together and striving for positive change is more vital than ever before. Whether it be the topic of mental health as I’ve avidly campaigned around the last few years, or any other issue across society (e.g. hate crime, climate change, abortion), it’s vital that we as human beings are able to express opinions that represent our values and speak up for those most vulnerable without the innate fear of ridicule, hatred or embarrassment. While to some a particular opinion may be less heard of or perhaps considered irrelevant, what we should remember is that each person’s life experiences are unique to them. Just because you or anybody close to you hasn’t been affected by such an issue, that doesn’t mean that somebody else shouldn’t stand tall and fight to eradicate potential injustices. Yes mistakes are part and parcel of everyday life and everybody makes them, however if they are made, it’s great that people can come together and try their very best to move the world forward and make it a better place. A world where people are not disadvantaged for their race, colour, sexuality, gender, faith or mental/physical ill health. A big ask, but a man can dream right?

When I recently discovered that a thing called ‘Campaign Bootcamp’ existed during a training session with Time to Change, there was no question that I would do everything I could to get involved. From taking the time to browse through their website, it was intriguing to find out that they hold a week-long residential in London approximately 2-3 times per year- the next one being May 2020.

Bringing together 35 campaigners of various ages, sectors and backgrounds, taught by fantastic facilitators and expert trainers from a variety of campaign fields,often with their personal experiences of the bootcamp, the clear aims of the week are to improve confidence and team work in delivering a chosen campaign message, better understand strategies/methods which will make a piece of campaign work more effective, learn how to engage with people through a number of mediums such as social media and events, in addition to equipping us with the necessary skills to put a range of ideas into practice. Simply due to my own passion for mental health campaigning and trying to create and sustain a positive impact, I know firsthand just how difficult it can be to put certain thoughts/ideas into action, therefore I’m hungry to increase my skill set and become a far better campaigner. Not only that but I would have the chance to meet so many other like-minded people too! It’s not too often opportunities like this turn up, so why on earth would I turn down the chance to apply?

If you like me are a passionate campaigner, with a hunger to make a difference, and are based in the UK, I urge you to head straight over to the links attached below. Initially I was worried about the possible expenses should I attend, however information around scholarships and whether you could be eligible for one can also be found on the website. Rest assured that the Campaign Bootcamp places huge emphasis on providing equal opportunities!

https://campaignbootcamp.org/bootcamps/bootcamp-18/ https://campaignbootcamp.org/bootcamps/bootcamp-19/

For all those people out there who dedicate so much of their time to campaigning, I want to say a massive thank you. Without you I myself wouldn’t have discovered the enjoyment, power and impact of campaigning, and most importantly, you are playing a significant part in making our world a better, safer and more accepting environment. That should never be underestimated!

P.S. The deadline for applications is 9am on Tuesday 10th March 2020.

Best of luck if you end up applying- my fingers are crossed!

Thanks for reading,

Adam

Adam HowardLeave a comment

Self-Love: Why Is it So Important?

Loving yourself isn’t vanity. It is sanity.

Katrina Mayer

If you had to name ten things that you love, at the drop of a hat right now, how many of you could truthfully say that ‘yourself’ or anything related to that would be on the list? If I’m being brutally honest it wouldn’t be on mine, nor do I suspect it would be on the majority of your lists either. While we are taught from an early age how to love, respect and be kind to the people around us, my burning question is why is the relationship we have with ourselves not held in the same high regard? In today’s post, I’m going to share why I’m attempting to embrace the act of self-love more and the reasons why it’s so crucial.

In a modern world where our quest for likes, follows, attention, being endeared and this whole concept of instant success and gratification sits very much at the forefront of our brains, often without realising,is it any wonder that our focus has shifted from loving ourselves to feeling like we need acceptance off others to create a life where we feel happy about who we are? While I undoubtedly agree that the people with interact with and friendships we nurture play a key role in make our lives more fulfilled and enjoyable, it seems as though our increasing infatuation with other people has become rather ‘artificial’ and dangerous. Dangerous in the fact that for so many of us, our happiness is almost solely based on the opinion of others. Whether they like or dislike us. What they are thinking. And even people we sometimes don’t even know or care about. Particularly in the realm of social media, the opinions or expression of others is often disingenuous anyway!

What I have recognised, particularly from my own experiences, is no matter how many likes, comments, compliments or whatever you receive, it will not take away your problems. In that very moment you may get an endorphin release, feeling of satisfaction or sense of self-importance, but what I have found is that soon disappears. A fix comparable to a drug/gambling addiction.

Everybody in life is searching for a sense of purpose, importance and appreciation in one way or another, however it’s vital that we are not overwhelmed by it. For more times that I can remember, I’ve sat on my phone waiting for a text or been clinging onto the hope of somebody acting a certain way, yet all that has done is create a litany of confusion, frustration and self-doubt. All that time spent looking for approval, annoyingly, could have been put to better use being productive or doing something to improve my own life. Sadly, this is also the case for so many other people out there!

Here are just a few examples of activities I now do in order to better myself:

  1. Working-out at the gym: Helps build confidence, releases stress
  2. Reading books: Allows learning of new techniques, provides inspiration
  3. Journalling: Can put thoughts on paper and rationalise them more
  4. Meditation: Brings a sense of calm, encourages present thinking
  5. Motivational Podcasts: Gives hope, can repeat positive affirmations

Although I appreciate adopting an attitude of ‘self-love’ is far from easy, especially as I have a long road ahead myself, I truly believe that accepting who we are as people can only benefit us as we navigate through life. If you think of all the instances you felt disappointed, angry, frustrated, helpless etc. at yourself, somebody else or even a situation, wouldn’t it be great to be in a positions where silly things we previously viewed as significant pale into insignificance? Whereby if something has gone wrong, we accept that not everything can go to plan but we are strong enough to deal with the consequences. Where we say ‘I can do this’ and ‘everything will be okay’, not ‘what’s the point?’ and ‘I’m not strong enough’.

After all, if we as people embrace who we are and what we stand for, wouldn’t we be better equipped to cope should something go wrong? Particularly in our desire to please other people, the big problem is that we have no control over how they act. It’s fantastic to have people around who care and love us, however it’s also important that we do not become reliant on others to make us happy and feel secure. By starting to feel happy and content within yourself, it’ll be a massive boost to the various other aspects of your life too. Whether it be your job, finances or interpersonal relationships, happiness breeds success.

Take it from me- if you are stuck in a place of worthlessness and feeling of no return- you are so much less likely to get what you want. While making positive changes is far from ‘plain sailing’ and ‘down days’ are perfectly natural, my advice to anybody reading would be to prioritise your own mental health. By no means should you neglect the people closest to you, however you should undoubtedly consider your own needs more. Doing that doesn’t make you selfish- it makes you human. Let’s stop making people feeling guilty for it! Being kind to ourselves is vital.

Repeat after me: I am the most important person, I accept who I am, I am worthy of love.

What I continue to say is it’ll be worth all the hard work in the end!

Thanks for reading,

Adam

Adam Howard4 Comments

Gifts We Should ALL Consider This Christmas

Nobody could argue that the festive season is undoubtedly one of the most pressured, stressful and ‘talked about’ times of the year, therefore I thought it’d be very apt to share some of my very own Christmas present ideas. And with a mental health spin that is!

If you happen to be somebody reading this who’s hugely organised and has all their gifts bought and wrapped already (well done you), this post may be of slightly less use. However if like most of us you leave your shopping to the last minute, creating plenty of unnecessary stress and/or meltdowns, the ideas I propose below could definitely be valuable. Not to blow my own trumpet or anything…….

1. Behind The Mask By Tyson Fury

After claiming three World Heavyweight titles defeating long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’ embarked on a period of alcoholism, weight gain and drug addiction which almost tragically culminated in his suicide. Now in his bestselling autobiography, Fury tells all on how battled his mental and physical demons to return to boxing from the brink, his upbringing in the traveller community, who the ‘real’ Tyson Fury is and much much more. An incredible story that is sure to inspire anybody who reads it!

*Available at most major retailers*

2. Pretty Much Anything From Lush

While over 12 months ago I’d never really heard of ‘Lush’, let alone not stepped into one of their stores, it was my friend Alice who started my metaphorical ‘love affair’ with the shop and everything that comes with it. For those that don’t know, Lush is a UK founded brand providing high-end cosmetics and personal care products, all of which are vegetarian or vegan. And crucially animal cruelty-free. Whether you want cream, soaps, lotions, moisturisers or even a special occasion gift box, Lush is certain to have something for every taste. With aromas you won’t forget. And a sense of calm and relaxation you’ll struggle to get elsewhere. Take a look at their website below:

https://uk.lush.com/

3. An Adult Colouring Book

I know what you’re thinking- ‘colouring is just for kids’. Although it may be true that getting out a set of crayons and shading in patterns is more popular with the younger generation, the attraction towards adult colouring books is definitely on the rise. Particularly if you live a stressful life, with lots of responsibilities and little time to yourself, colouring can be a great way to relieve stress and introduce some peace and serenity into your life. What’s better is you can pick them up at a handy price too!

The Works, Waterstones and WHSmith would be great places to start…..

4. Motivational Quote Posters

If you like me you’re always on the lookout for bedroom/home improvements, or even some much-needed inspiration, this is the perfect gift for you or someone you love. Available in a range of sizes, colours, designs and styles, with sticky squares provided for easy display, posters are ideal for putting above the bed, on the back or inside of doors, walls and even the fridge. It’s amazing how just a few words can plant a seed in the mind and change our perspectives sometimes!

5. ‘A Year Of Mindfulness’ Jar

While the pressures and stresses of life mean finding time for ‘self-care’ and working on our mental wellbeing is probably more difficult than ever, this quirky gift provides a person with the challenge of 52 mindfulness tasks, one for each week of the year. Creating positive habits is a very important part of life, therefore the aim of these tasks is to practice the art of mindfulness regularly in order to reap the never-ending benefits. You may be surprised about how much it could help you in the long run! A great present for anybody right?

* Visit the Amazon website and search ‘A Year Of Mindfulness’ for more info*

6. A Weighted Blanket

As the weather reaches critical levels of cold, making leaving the house all the more difficult, the gift is perfect for providing levels of comfort, security, warmth and relaxation that are desperately needed at this time of year. After all who doesn’t love sitting at home with a blanket and a cup of coffee watching a terrible but entertaining film? Or is that just me?

https://www.mosaicweightedblankets.com/

Whatever you decide to buy, whoever you’re spending it with and wherever you are, I wish you a Merry Christmas. And a happy new year! (Try your best not to sing the last bit).

Thanks for reading,

Adam

Adam HowardLeave a comment

World Mental Health Day 2019 Reflection

It always seems impossible until it’s done.

Nelson Mandela

While another World Mental Health Day has now been and gone, not to mention the sheer passion, motivation and hard work that comes with it, part of me wishes that every day of the year was a marked mental health day. That the immense spotlight and focus placed on mental health on the 10th of October every year could be stretched to the other 364 days too. The progress we are making in shifting negative attitudes and encouraging conversations around the topic is undoubted, but I’d love more than anything for people to share the same sentiments on ‘non-special occasions’. Not just when the media latches onto the debate, or when celebrities litter their social media platform with positive quotes and messages. I for one cannot praise enough the introduction of days such as Time to Talk Day, WMHD, MHAW etc for highlighting key issues and the importance around mental health discussion, however, we should be aware that conversations should not be restricted to certain days. As cliche or obvious that sounds!

On World Mental Health day itself, I was fortunate enough to be involved with an event alongside some of my North-West Time to Change Campaign Group, as well as our co-ordinator Florence and another staff member called Simon. The event, entitled ‘The Virtual Library’, was staged at The Foundation Coffee House in the Northern Quarter of Manchester. Running from 11am-2.30pm, the purpose of setting up shop in this venue was to promote WMHD, the activities of Time to Change, share our very ‘human library’ featuring recordings of people sharing their mental health stories, not to mention encourage a number of great conversations around the topic of mental health. In preparation for the event, I was also tasked with the job of producing our event poster, as well as my own recordings for the virtual library mentioned above. Based on a variety of mental health topics, such as stigma and personal experiences, my recordings lasted between roughly 40 and 70 seconds. Should you want to listen, these are attached below:

Although the success of the actual event was not as great as I’d hoped nor anticipated, simply because many of the customers were busy doing work and did not possess the time to have in-depth conversations, the fact that a good group of us joined together in this venue for a few hours on the day meant our presence was not unworthy. As I say conversations were limited, however even if people walking in and out of the coffee house acknowledge our presence, noticed our reasons for being there, or collected some of the brilliant Time to Change resources available, I have faith that we will still have made a substantial impact. It’s easy to expect too much or want an event to run smoothly and perfectly, nevertheless, I’m determined to improve this and take each activity as it comes. Some things go good, others go bad. That’s just part and parcel of the world we live in; especially with sensitive issues such as mental health. A small difference is better than no difference. Bit by bit we are making progress- this is what we need to remember!

Finally, if you’re reading this and perhaps are slightly unsure about how to approach a conversation related to mental health, my advice would be to keep it simple. The majority of us are not trained professionals with the skills to medically support somebody with a mental health problem, however, what most of us do have is the ability to listen and be empathetic. Do not judge. Whether it’s a work colleague, friend, family member, neighbour or even a stranger, it’s important not to forget that everybody has their own struggles. No matter who they are or what their background is. You don’t have to be an expert to lend a helping hand!

P.S  If you’re any need of any useful further advice/help, check out my support page 🙂

#TimeToTalk #EndTheStigma #WMHD2019

Thanks for reading,

Adam

Adam Howard2 Comments

Getting My First Tattoo

My body is my journal, and my tattoos are my story.

Johnny Depp

Well, here we are. I’ve finally done it. The pain is over. I never previously envisaged a day where I’d have an actual tattoo on my body, but then again things change. Priorities shift. Life has a funny way of throwing things our way that alter perspective and outlook. And naturally the experiences we have directly correlate with the decisions we make.

While for a good few months I have considered (I stress considered) the idea of having a tattoo done, I don’t mind admitting that I’ve shied away from booking an appointment through fear of pain, embarrassment or humiliation. Plus with a tattoo being a VERY permanent procedure, I had to be sure of what I wanted. And as people who know me personally know, I’m chronically indecisive. Making choices, especially tough ones, is definitely not a strength of mine. Not by a long chalk. In order for me to bite the bullet and pluck up the courage to book an appointment and go ahead with it, I had to select a design that had genuine meaning. And something I wouldn’t regret down the line in a few years.

I do acknowledge that lasering or covering is an option should I make a mistake, however, I’d rather not go through such an arduous and costly process. Apparently, it’s even more painful than having a tattoo as well!

After much deliberation, in addition to my research viewing similar tattoos, I decided upon a semi-colon accompanied with the message ‘This too shall pass’. While the semi-colon was predominantly what I wanted, I also realised that a quote alongside it would give it more personal, motivational and inspirational meaning. And this is the one that stood out the most. Plenty of others were also good and appealed to me, nevertheless, this was my clear favourite.

Throughout the tough moments, the times I struggled to cope, and the times I thought I couldn’t continue, I’ve tried to grasp onto the fact that things will get better. That not every aspect of life is dark, gloomy and whole-heartedly negative. That there is a light end of the tunnel, however small, should I work hard enough to find it. Persistence and belief are absolutely vital. After all everything worth waiting for takes time and I’ve learned that sometimes you just have to ride the wave. As corny and cliche as that probably sounds!

Taking all that into consideration, ‘this too shall pass’ seemed like the perfect sentiment and message. No matter how low I’m feeling and how terrible I’m coping, it’s nice to know that I have a little reminder on my body that I’ll battle through and make a better life for myself. While big lavish gestures are great, more often than not it’s the small things you can hold onto most! In this case just four small words and a punctuation mark…..

Should anybody reading this be considering getting a similar tattoo, I’d definitely recommend it. Not only would you be creating your very own consistent motivational tool, but you’d also be shining a spotlight on the incredible semi-colon project, the huge amount of people around the globe suffering with mental health problems every day and raising awareness of suicide. The more of us that do this the better!

P.S Check out the brilliant semi-colon project via the link below:

Home

Thanks for reading,

Adam

Adam Howard1 Comment
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