As World Mental Health day October 10th approaches, I explain why it’s time we all ditched self help and instead #DoNothing…
In an age where our society is deeply suffering with uncertainty; with the social illumination of issues like #metoo, increasing suicide rates and mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety and depression at an all-time high – not to mention the prevalence of huge political and environmental unrest, we are constantly living in our heads. And yet the £13billion self-help industry is thriving – our appetite for self-help books has never been higher. This is the reason why this World Mental Health Day, on October 10th 2019, I urge us to stop looking for external plasters and embrace self inquiry through simply doing nothing.
The self-help industry was born in the 1960’s and is responsible for birthing a society that wants to ‘know, plan and fix.’ However, the incessant intellectual processing of new tools to action and things to do, is counteractive to our desire for calm and a sense of peace, and it is only in pausing from doing that we can attain this.
We have been conditioned to look outside of ourselves for answers for many years; to fix and change the external – our homes, our jobs, our relationships, our thoughts - in our effort to be happier and more joyful, instead of looking at the simplicity of the fact that we have all the wisdom – all the answers we seek - already within us. This is something which is embodied from birth but somehow we forget as we get lost in ideas that we need fixing, instead of self-rediscovery.
“When we observe the habits of our ancestors, from Eastern cultures to indigenous tribal communities - and even to nature - we can begin to see that they don’t turn to fixing themselves with tools and techniques to survive, but instead, they simply live, holding themselves in quiet space, and trusting the innate intelligence behind life. This is where freedom from all our angst truly lies.” ~ Nicole Barton
This World Mental Health Day I am encouraging the world to embark on my #DoNothing Challenge, carving out five minutes every day for the next seven days to sit or lie down without distraction, and notice the thoughts and feelings that arise from this state of presence. Technology, music and even books are disallowed from the challenge and simply observing the thoughts and feelings that the experience of presence creates for you, is all that is required.
“We live in a world where we like answers and strategies. Formulas and promised outcomes, but the truth, though our logical minds often want to resist it, is that the medicine for much of our angst, lies within us.” ~ Nicole Barton
How to Get Involved:
Follow me on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter for daily prompts for reflection and self-rediscovery.
2. Carve out 5 minutes of your busy lives each day, from 10th October for seven days, to DO NOTHING but sit or lie down and notice your thoughts and feelings. No books, TV or music allowed!
3. Share your experience using the hashtag #DoNothing – how does it feel to do nothing? What do you notice when you get quiet?
What will you notice in the quiet space as you #DoNothing? Get involved by following me on social media @wellbeingwriter and joining the Challenge on October 10th by sharing your experiences with me using #DoNothing.
Let’s see our true #WorldMentalHealth!
