Reflecting on My Year With HealthyPlace

As my time writing for HealthyPlace ends, it presents the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months and prepare for what lies ahead. Before I leave, I would like to share what I have learned about myself while writing this blog and how it has reinforced my motivation to keep moving forward.

Spending a Year with HealthyPlace

Last year, when I approached HealthyPlace about a blogging position, all I knew was that I wanted to strengthen my writing skills while contributing something beneficial to others. Having dealt with and recovered from several mental health issues myself, I was delighted to accept a position authoring for the Living a Blissful Life blog. It provided an ideal place to begin — a space to put my experiences into words and encourage others in similar situations.

Reflecting on My Doubts and Fears

Sometimes, I found I could think of blog topics quite easily. Other times, my mind would be blank until the last minute. Self-doubt and the fear of not meeting expectations were always lurking in the back of my mind. But no matter how much I worried about having nothing to write, inspiration always came from somewhere. As a result, I became more confident with each passing month. Reflecting on my growth during this period, I can see what I have achieved and know I can do it again, dispelling self-doubt and keeping me motivated to continue moving forward.

Reflecting on My Mental Health

Putting my thoughts down in writing has also helped me understand more about my beliefs and how I caused myself needless suffering in the past. This clarification is sure to benefit my mental health in the future. At present, my mental health is excellent, and I see no reason why that should change.

Reflecting on how much my mental state has improved brings to mind a piece of advice my therapist gave me many years ago. When you catch a cold, sometimes, you get a sore throat. Sometimes, you get a runny nose. Sometimes, you get a bad cough. My mental health issues were much the same. Sometimes, I got depressed. Other times, I suffered from anxiety, panic attacks, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These were just symptoms of stressful situations in my life, and I could get well again. And that's where I am today — not just feeling well, but better than ever.

Laying a Solid Foundation for the Future

Considering my achievements of 2023, I have learned to glean insights from my experiences, find inspiration in the most unlikely places, and consistently put these things into writing where they may benefit others. Looking back further and considering how far I have come since I struggled with mental health issues, I feel like an entirely new person.

Reflecting on the past in this way fills me with motivation to keep moving forward and a sense that my past accomplishments have laid a solid foundation for what lies ahead. Thank you for joining me on this journey. I wish you all the best for the future and in your endeavors to achieve exceptional health and wellness.