Every week if you’re a regular reader you’ll know I do Wellness Wednesday where I post something about wellness (obvs), but I thought it was about time I let someone else share their wisdom with you. After all, when it comes to wellness it’s different strokes for different folks and all that.
So with that in mind, I created the Wellness Tag. So once a month (maybe twice) depending on how much you all like it I will be asking another blogger 10 wellness questions in the hopes there will be some inspiration and tips in there that can help you.
So without further ado here is Ross from Isablog:
Ross started his blog as somewhere to post his story with postnatal depression. Something which I think is incredibly brave and not something I’d heard Dad’s speak of if I’m honest. I’m glad there are people like Ross raising awareness to help others.
The Wellness Tag:
Question 1) What does wellness mean to you?
To me, it’s a lot like self-care. It’s basically just things that we can, and should, do to help promote a better sense of being. It’s not just about getting better when we’re not doing well, it’s about maintaining and improving our current state.
Question 2) If someone was struggling with life what advice would you give to them?
Write out everything you do that you enjoy, then everything that you do that you know is negative. Now shift the balance. Do more of the things you like. And don’t even tempt yourself with the negative things. It’s hard work. And life can sometimes suck. But it’s down to us to get better. We have to be willing to put in the work, find what we want to live for and keep going.
Question 3? What’s something that always makes you feel better?
For me it’s yoga. I could be feeling terrible, exhausted, drained, you name it. But once I start the breathing exercises, the stretching and the hard work from the poses, I’m just filled with relaxation. If you’ve never tried it, or don’t think it’s for you. Just do it. There’s nothing wrong with trying something new. And if you suck, then that’s ok, we don’t have to be good at something the first time we do it.
Question 4? Who or what inspires you and why?
Joe Rogan. He’s an inspirational person in the sense that he’s in constant pursuit of the best possible version of himself. It’s an unattainable thing, but he keeps growing none the less. And it’s something that inspires me to keep doing the same. If you want to see what I mean, simply check his podcast out, there’s a chance you won’t regret it.
Question 5? What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
To name one thing is almost impossible. So I’ll just go with Headspace’s view that we are not our feelings. You are not the sadness you feel or the anger. It’s just an emotion. And underneath that emotion is the same person that’s always been there. You just have to learn to let them go and allow a sense of calm to re-enter your mind. Reframing our emotions in that way helps us detach ourselves from them, and in turn, release them far quicker from our mind.
Question 6? Any tips for a happy life?
Try to keep checking what you’re doing. Keep an eye on the things that are negative and reduce them. Find the things that you know work for you and do those more. And don’t be afraid to try something new. Remember, life begins at the edge of our comfort zone. So don’t be afraid to keep pushing it.
Question 7? How do you stop yourself from comparing yourself to others?
It’s incredibly hard not to, especially when you’re a blogger. There are always others doing what you’re doing, and it’s very easy to compare yourself and your figures to them. But it’s pointless. There will always be someone bigger and better than you. It’s all about just enjoying what you do, and letting everything else take care of itself. Let go of your ego and simply embrace and enjoy the things that you do.
Question 8? How do you keep your home happy?
Constant communication, dedicated time together and a limit on technology. It’s all about being present with each other and then talking about issues instead of letting them grow and be exacerbated. Your home is the most important place in your life, so it’s incredibly important to make it the best place to be.
Question 9? What’s helped you the most in life to be happy?
Shifting my perspective. For me it’s all about challenging the way I think about things, seeking other people’s views and trying to constantly grow as a person. By doing this, I’m frequently trying new things, checking myself to see what I’m doing wrong, and always trying to push forward. And the best part? There’s no end to it. We can always improve as a person, we can always find something new to do and there’s always something on the bucket list that needs to be ticked.
Question 10? If you could share one thing that’s made your life better what would it be?
My wife. Unless you mean to share in the sense that others can have what I have, in that sense then no, you can’t share my wife. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve discussed an open relationship, even if it was in a joking way, but we’re not into that. In all seriousness though, she’s saved my life. If it wasn’t for her then I might not be here writing this. It’s as simple as that. She’s my reason to live, my reason to be a better person, father and husband. And for a long period of my life, my only reason to live.
Thanks, Ross for taking part in the Wellness Tag. If you’d like to follow Ross’s journey then here are his social links for Isabog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
This post is part of my Wellness Wednesday weekly feature, for more Wellness Wednesday posts click here. Every Wednesday there is a new wellness post at 7 pm. Update: this feature no longer runs but there are still loads of blog posts here.
