Mental Health Awareness - putting one foot in front of the other

I’ve had a few different post ideas ruminating in my brain recently and because I couldn’t decide which subject to write about, I was in danger of simply doing nothing. 

So, I’ve had a little talk with myself and said things like:

• ‘Sometimes perfectionism is the enemy of progress’

• 'If you keep waiting to find the exact right thing to say, opportunities to connect with people may simply pass you by’

• ‘Stop being a plonker Rodney’ (my favourite)

• 'Get over yourself’

And…

‘Just put one foot in front of the other’

Or

As Jo Wylie, who is my current ‘couch to 5k guide’ said during this morning’s very slow jog,

‘Try to enjoy the run, even when you’re not’

I won’t go through the counter arguments that my brain also threw at me, but given I’m writing this, you know which part of my brain won the battle this time!

Its Mental Health Awareness Week and a super lovely voice actor friend of mine wrote a great post talking about how she looks after her own well-being. It reminded me that I went to a webinar last week from Spotlight introducing a new members’ assistance programme entitled ‘Wellbeing in the Arts’  https://www.spotlight.com/news-and-advice/spotlight/spotlight-new-provider-wellbeing-in-the-arts/

I went to the webinar because I’m interested in this stuff, always have been. And I meant to write a post about it at the time but got distracted.

The webinar touched on recognising that often an actor’s identity and sense of worth can feel intrinsically linked to whether they get that job they really wanted, or in feeling like everyone else around them is making more progress than they are. And let’s be honest you can add to that, the pressure that probably all freelancers in general are under with the constant juggling of multiple hats (being chief cook and bottle washer) as well as riding the wave of inconsistent income generation. 

I also read another post from a voice actor that I don’t know, talking incredibly openly about all of this stuff and it really resonated with me.  People have strong opinions about what is okay to share on a platform like LinkedIn, but for me, it helps when people pull back the curtain a little bit, because you get to see some of the hurdles as ‘outside yourself’ and in the general terrain rather than being things sent to challenge you alone.

And, no pity party needed, BUT the lady’s post resonated with me because I’m having one of my slumps. I recognise it, it’s happened many times before and I am sure it will continue to happen from time to time. However, over the years I’ve learned what helps me.  I focus on what I CAN do, I listen to how I’m feeling and seek out friends or solitude where needed, but most importantly for me, I remind myself that this will pass and ‘to keep putting one foot in front of the other.’ At some point (as the lovely Jo Wylie says on my Couch to 5k App), I will find myself being able to ‘enjoy the run even during the times when I’m not.’

Check-in with your buddies - just be there – these things can’t always be ‘fixed’ but walking side by side can sometimes help.

Photo of my very sweaty face alongside a video of some very lovely trees near me.