Health and Happiness

Every now and then the world is shaken by the death of a celebrity from suicide. The tragic suspected suicide of Robin Williams this week is just the latest. The loss of another unique, amazing man, way before his time.

I have experienced professionally and personally the devastating effects of mental illness, addictions, attempted suicide and suicide itself. Working in the ER as a physician I encountered the brutal reality that life is extremely fragile and that it can be ended in a moment. My decision to name myself a "Health and Happiness Coach" comes from the realization that physical and mental health are incredibly precious, without them it's very hard to thrive.

It's difficult to write about mental illness without sounding a little trite. Each of us experiences it in our own unique way and we can never fully understand another person's life. So I would like to share my personal perspective.

I have struggled with depression and anxiety most of my adult life. There have been dark times, when I contemplated self-harm, when the struggle to go on just seemed too great. I have been fortunate not to suffer from drug or alcohol addictions, which make mental health so much more difficult to sustain.

My personal journey to take control of the demons of my own mind, began after my sons were very sick as infants and nearly died. I felt that the Universe was against me and that life was too much of a great struggle. I remember feeling like I was at the bottom of a deep, dark, scary pit, at the top of the pit people were offering help but it was just too deep and dark for me to access their help.

A trip to a thrift store changed my life. Browsing through the dog-eared books, a title lept out at me: "The Art Of Happiness" by the Dalai Lama and Harold Cutter. There is a story in the book that changed my perspective instantly. It is the story of a mother whose only child dies, she visits Buddha and asks to have her child returned. Buddha tells her to gather seeds from three families that had never suffered loss. Of course her quest is unsuccessful. I learned that loss and misfortune are inevitable parts of life, but suffering is optional. I also learned that we hold the key to our own happiness, that happiness comes from within and not from extrinsic sources such as fame, wealth, belongings and accomplishment. This may seem obvious to you, but when trapped in the depths of depression, it was not to me. My personal journey continues, as my mind is influenced and shaped by the ever changing and unpredictable weather of life.

It is a harsh truth that your thoughts are your reality, at least in the moment. Many people live every day with negative, crooked thoughts flooding their mind. Every life is precious and each of us deserves to flourish. We owe it to ourselves, our families, our society to continually strive to become mindful of our thoughts and to seek ways to increase our mental well-being and that of those around us, to learn the Art of Happiness

If you would like to hear more and wish to get advice please visit my website here: http://www.drleonaurarhodes.com/

Leo.