Do more than survive – thrive

The Road To Mental Wellness > Inspiration >  Do more than survive – thrive

 Do more than survive – thrive: The hard truth here is that a passion won’t find you; you need to find it.

Follow us

A renewal – what would that look like for you? If lately you’ve been cloaked by a mist so steady that you’ve. lost your way, where do you turn? What do you do when your life comes to a standstill?

These are great questions, ones that require action-oriented answers. Yet, your brain is fooled into thinking that standing still is the best option. “If you move when you can’t see, you might get hurt.” Despite what your brain is telling you, in this case, taking its neurochemical advice is very unwise. Take when depression speaks, as an example.

While it may seem counterintuitive to disobey such thoughts, moving in one direction or another – preferably not backwards – has a higher rate of success. Yes, this is true, even when you feel lost. And let’s face it, we all hit a moment in our lives where we are completely lost. The question to get over it is “What do I have to do to get through it?

Again, where do you turn? Well, let’s consider this:

Any security expert worth his or her salt will tell you that one of the worst things you can do in a situation where someone has the potential to cause you harm, is stand in their path. Even worse is to hide and thereby limiting your means of egress.

Your best bet to get out of just such a scenario? To run like hell. What’s more, you should try in run in a zigzag pattern. As it turns out, even seasoned attackers find it hard to take out a moving target.

I know you’re thinking “All great to know Jonathan, but what does this have to do with my mental health journey? Well, maybe not a lot.

I will say this however – if you are your own worst enemy and you are just standing there, how can you successfully escape your own funk? My point here is that moving forward gives you a better chance at success. Essentially, standing there ruminating is, in a sense, beating yourself up.

If you are struggling, please go here for help: Talk Suicide Canada

Now, can you see? See that doing nothing can injury your mental-health recovery? In fact, Ruminating or otherwise feeling stuck can lead one down the path to ending their life.

Finally, remaining idle can be the worst thing for you. Therefore, try something new – anything. The hard truth here is that a passion won’t find you; you need to find it. So, be your own advocate and find something that drives, or in other words saves, you. Do more than survive – thrive.

Remember, you’re amazing, you’re a survivor, and you can do this! So, please, just keep moving forward.

Follow us

Author Jonathan Arenburg on the cover of his book, The Road To Mental Wellness

When I went off work because of PTSD, I was left in limbo while I waited to see if I would be awarded Workers Compensation. It was long and painful, hanging in the darkness of my home.

So, I began to try and figure out this PTSD thing; how did I get here? I was a firefighter, so I knew that much but my battled with anxiety and depression was a life-long battle.

I began to write out my story, mostly to help quell the angst of being lonely and in mental illness purgatory. It helped – immensely. I survived the dark because of it.

Now, it’s here – written for therapeutic intervention and published in hopes that it can do the same for you or someone you know…..

 Do more than survive – thrive – copyright 2022

Jonathan Arenburg

Jonathan Reginald-Nixon Arenburg (Born January 14, 1976) is a Canadian mental health blogger, speaker, and published author. Retired from the fire service and long-term care fields, he has written and self-published an autobiographical account of his life-long battle with anxiety, depression and more recently, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Titled, The Road To Mental Wellness, he wrote it for what he calls “therapeutic release.” He published it in hopes it would help others going through similar mental health conditions. The sales of The Road To Mental Wellness have been steady selling over 300 copies since its release on October 10, 2021(World Mental Health Day). Arenburg has also been involved in a collaborative publication Called Lemonade Stand Volume III, a book featuring 20 authors who bravely tell their stories of PTSD. All authors where from the military and or emergency services. Published by Joshua Rivedal and Kathleen Myers for the i’Mpossible project, a mental health advocacy organization. Jonathan has also appeared on several mental health podcasts including The Depression Files, A New Dawn, and The Above Ground Podcast Arenburg has also consulted with the Government of Nova Scotia and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, the Honorable Brian Comer and Candidates for the New Democratic Party of Canada, on improving the mental health care system in Canada. Additionally, Jonathan was recognized in The Nova Scotia Legislature by the Honorable, Chris Palmer, Kings-North MLA, for his Book, The Road To Mental Wellness, his fight to make the mental health care system better. In addition, Chis acknowledged the support he gives to others.

Please leave a comment and tell us what you liked about what you read.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.