Leverage happiness by taking unhappiness along with you
"Reflections on this World Mental Health Day"

Today is World Mental Health Day. Already pre-pandemic a huge amount of people has been living with mental difficulties. And definitely the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on people’s mental health. That is why this special day is unfortunately needed, even more than ever. Let’s make mental health a priority for all…

Like so many people, we also have had our fair share of ups and downs in our lives. And on those more difficult moments (or most often after those moments), you understand the importance of mental resilience and of togetherness with the people you want and need to have around you. Connection is the essence of our being and an essential part in a world that often focuses on individualism. Happy moments should be celebrated without the projection of other sorrows. Challenging times should evoke a sense of togetherness. It is easier to meet each other when all goes well and more difficult to also connect when it doesn’t go well at all. In other words, connection in joy AND in sorrow.

By doing small things, you can make a huge difference for others. My small contribution on this day is inspired by a presentation I attended a long time ago of Dirk De Wachter, the well-known psychiatrist of Belgium, about the art of being unhappy. If with this blog post I can have a small impact on the mindset of just 1 person, it was worth the effort…

There is an illusion that life should always be fun. If the world wouldn’t be difficult from time to time, the world wouldn’t be loving. People wouldn’t be able to show their love and empathy. Every now and then there are difficulties. But of course, you cannot pile those difficulties up until life becomes unmanageable.
(Small disclaimer: the following insights are mainly mindset tips to cope with the difficulties of life and they do not pretend at all to be tips for people who are currently going through a really dark period.)

• Nowadays, the view on humanity is about being independent, successful and strong. There appears to be no or little space for difficulties and concerns. However, our focus should be put on connection and mutual dependency, which currently sometimes is interpreted as a sign of weakness. Society expects that you are independent, but what is wrong with relying on each other? This is also one of the reasons why I always say that with personal branding you build a relationship with people who give you extra energy, who get you, who share your values and who are open to you, your story and your offering.
• Don’t be afraid to show your vulnerability, something I have been struggling a lot with myself. When talking about personal branding, I always invite people to share their story in the most authentic way possible and only share the stories they want to share. (People don’t need to know all your ins and outs.) I am convinced and still want to believe that people are not waiting anymore to hear yet another success story. Sharing the good, the bad and the ugly will raise much more empathy. Of course, I do realize very well that this isn’t easy, definitely not if you are going through a mentally hard period. But daring to speak about difficulties can work liberating and connects people. Again, easier said than done, I am the first one to admit that…
• Unfortunately, you can run but you can’t hide from your worries. It is important that you face your struggles and (big & small) concerns to avoid they will haunt you and hit you harder afterwards. Write this down somewhere or put it on your bathroom mirror so you will remember it: Happiness can be leveraged by taking unhappiness along in your story… Be proud of your personal story and how it formed you as a person.
• Indeed, difficulties are part of life. Share them with your loved ones, so you install a real connection with them. But it is not only about talking about your worries. Listening to others is crucial. Be silent, be connected and be open towards the other who deserves your full attention without any expectations. Just by listening to someone, you can make such a difference…
• As an extra sidetrack of this article: As a mom(preneur), I also want to create an open environment for my daughter. But you can only install openness for your children to talk about their concerns by modeling and showing your own vulnerability as a parent. Not easy because, definitely in the previous generations, parents are/were supposed to be the superheroes who always have their act together. But I believe we don’t just need to act as parents, but we need to strive for becoming emotionally mature parents.

Things happen in life. In a lot of cases, you can choose to walk on the dark side or on the bright side. But pay attention, your path meanders continuously. So you need to choose the right side over and over again. Don’t worry, I am still searching how I can put all of this into practice myself. But I invite you to let it all sink in and share these insights with your loved ones, so that together we can make the world a happier place, (little) concerns and difficulties included…

As always, I am here for you in case you want to share your vulnerability with me... Don't hesitate to send me a message at [email protected] 
#WorldMentalHealthDay