Thread by @NatsforDocs

THREAD:

Being an entrepreneur comes with a sense of freedom & none of the institutional limits on creativity. Yet unless I'm consulting within an organisation or connected to community, it can feel lonely & isolating. Online communities are great for support but it's not enough.

I've seen the negative effects of people investing all their time/energy in networking online & draining group dynamics. I realised that one of my values is to participate in collaborations that involve physical meet ups or at least in the potential of physical meetups. 2/

What can I say? I derive inspiration from in person experiences. So it's not surprising that I notice changes in my thinking patterns & emotional landscape when my interactions are more virtual than physical. It's de-motivating & raises mental health alarm bells 3/

Knowing there's a risk to my wellbeing, I finally decided to join a coworking community that seems to have everything I'm looking for. I'm one of the earliest members & the idea that we're encouraged to work with each other through their clever membership system is a relief. 4/

We're all encouraged to exploit our skills & one of the ways I support the co-working community is through holding meditation sessions to help increase self-awareness and shift thinking patterns to engage more satisfaction-promoting over stress-promoting beliefs. 5/

It helps reconnect people to what matters to them so they can make choices from their well of self-worth which feels energising. The ripple effect blows me away. Having opportunities to share our gifts to benefit others enriches all our lives. 6/

When we don't or can't express our creativity, skills or essence, it's as if we're cut off from our purpose. Looking at healthcare, it's not surprising why so many HCP suffer mentally, emotionally or existentially. 7/

The requirements for roles today often take them away from what they aspire to do & be. They're told they're not resilient, to suck it up or that 'we did it, so should you.' It's harmful. HARMFUL.

This post describes the risks & harms so beautifully:
ericlevi.com/2018/05/13/bro… . 8/

The essence of this talk is: when those who answered the call/yearning to help others are unable to fulfil their PURPOSE to contribute to positive change in the world, it leads to an existential crisis that gets us stuck in dark, hopeless & scary corners of the mind. 9/

I've experienced it as a scientist & every single step that preceded changes in professional & personal development & acts of courage to take leaps of faith into the unchartered territory of life or disrupt status quo. It's scary AF. 10/

Yet, we can persist in suffering-sustaining practices, professions, workplaces & expectations because the devil we know is less scary than the one we don't. Then I ask, can I get through life knowing that I didn't risk my comfortable discomfort to see what else is possible? 11/

The answer from within me is: No. It's more dangerous to remain who I'm not than taking risks to discover who I now am.

Pressing the eject button from my own situation is quite different than pressing eject from my life. Yet, I empathise with those who choose it. 12/

No one likes to talk about it, yet we must.

Entertaining ideas of ending our own lives puts us at risk of losing sight of potential opportunities to repurpose ourselves. The opportunities are numerous but we can't see them when we're only listening to the devil we know. 13/

The devil we know is an asshole.

He lures us to hang onto false security. He tells us that we're nothing unless we continue on the path we're on. He says we're doing nothing to solve the problems of the world so why bother. 14/

He only shows us suffering & pain so we can't see anything else. He tells us that we're useless & worthless and so many other lies that some believe. Cause he's an asshole.

Stop listening to him.

You matter. That's it. No qualifications or evidence required.

15/

Vulnerability is where we find our power.

Asking for help, guidance & direction through asking, talking, writing, praying, tweeting, demanding is how we unchain ourselves from that asshole so we can have the strength to climb out of the dark hole & see a new way.
16/

All of these methods help us connect with others, find our people, communities, opportunities, possibilities & get us back to feeling purposeful. They've been my lifesaver, course corrector & bouncers for that lying fucker who's always lurking in the background. 17/

Connection is medicine. Connection to my purpose, connection to my values & path, connection to my vision for humanity, connection to my power & desires, my family, friends, colleagues, clients, humanity, the cosmos & this beautiful Earth. 18/

Time to talk & take action.

What matters to you?
What do you do when you notice you're isolating?
Who mentors you through life's transitions?
What can you do to look out for each other?

#SuicidePrevention #Everyonematters #Youmatter #MH4Docs #crazysocks4docs

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