Summer Time and the living is easy -unless diagnosed?!
Not too sure about that, huh? Easy living sometimes involves work and/or accepting a difficult diagnosis such as: Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Schizophrenia and/or Substance Abuse.
Sometimes easy living is learning to work at what is good for ourselves and others.
I read a wise, old saying that said:
“Whenever You Can, Do Good Things For People Who Need Help.”
Don’t we all need help? Especially, those of us who are recovering from addiction or mental health concerns?
All of us are in pain in one form or another. I’ve found that when I can help someone, who may be in greater need than myself, I feel so much better.
When I focus on someone’s situation or trial, somehow my concerns melt in the background…at least, temporarily.
Younger ones and older ones in our communities are in need. Perhaps, we know of a neighbor or family friend that could use some help. Each of us has a gift to give and share with this world to help make not only summer better, but life a little easier for someone.
What are our plans for the Summer?
- Can we volunteer at our local library?
- Can we read to a young, struggling reader?
- Can we volunteer at a local pet shelter?
- Can we donate food or make food for an elderly neighbor?
- Can we provide transportation to an appointment or to the park?
- Can we run errands for someone?
Follow the Golden Rule – Compassion
If we make others happy, it will make us HAPPY! Determine what good we can do. Following the Golden Rule: should be something we all want to live by when it comes to compassion for others. Yet, how can me make it work for our mental health or substance abuse recovery and bring joy to our heart?
- Determine What Good We Can Accomplish
- Create a Compassion Plan.
- Follow Through Whenever We Can.
Here is something you can add to your wellness tool box, I like to call it the Compassion Plan. Follow through whenever you can. Be sure to reflect on the positive results of your endeavors to help anyone in need.
(copy, paste and print) – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Compassion Plan Project: ______________________________________________
What did you learn from your helping/volunteering experience?
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Did you make any new friends?
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Who did you encourage by being kind?
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How were you personally encouraged to continue down your own road of recovery
and wellness?
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FREE Work Sheet Download PDF Compassion Plan Project – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Whenever I’ve been able to help others, whether a family member, neighbor, community member or stranger, I’ve positively grown by the process of giving…not taking, but giving of myself and my time…{not only money, yes that helps enormously and is needed a lot of times by non-profits – still, I really get a deep feeling of joy when I can help someone in person or do some hands on volunteer work.}
Compassion in action means: Every helping hand, large and small, makes a positive difference!
Remember, not only will we help someone enjoy their Summer, most likely, we will have a good time in the process.
Have a Balanced and Happy Summer!
Peer Ambassador Chato Stewart