Dr. Who?!

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     What do you value? What is important to you? These questions are examples of questions that we should be asking ourselves while we are on the path of life, for professional and personal purposes. But there also arrives a time in our life where the professional and personal can no longer be separate, in other words we want to assimilate our entire being in what we do, or the purpose that we have sought out for our life. Now this type of thinking or questioning about our life goals does not arrive in an instant, in other words it takes trials, errors, and life experience to figure out who we truly are, and what our lives purpose is. 

     This type of thinking, questioning, and purpose finding can also be considered a luxury, everyone has a different circumstance, and situational factors, that also are points where individuals make decisions. We can also think about this sort of questioning and reasoning, about what one chooses to do. For example: there is much stigma surrounding mental health, more so than I could have ever imagined. Sometimes even from educated individuals from other fields, but to me this is sheer ignorance, ignorance at it's best. If a person has decided to pursue the field of mental health, or learn more about this science, this does not mean that one is "crazy", or "mental". 

     Maybe the person might have experienced mental health, injury, or illness, but this should not be another chance to label. Experiences are actually viewed as beneficial, as they contribute to learning, development, and growth. A lived experience builds the humans capacity for sympathy, empathy, and communities of service. But who are communities of service? 

Yes we do have the traditional view of the psychiatrist / psychologist in the mental health wards assisting those labelled as "crazies", but they are not. The value of loving, caring, professionals, within this sector of healthcare is absolutely of value and cannot be underestimated. Just as a person who needs heart surgery, or is recovering from a stroke, mental / brain care practitioners are vital for care. As I have said earlier, the brain is an organ, just as the heart. In fact you are breathing right now, because of your brain. 

     Psychologists / mental health practitioners are not just working in hospitals, the career, self-employment paths are open. Examples include: Education, Educational Psychology, Teaching, Education Leadership, community organizations, life coaches working with vulnerable populations, assisting with learning disabilities, and also caring for those with Autism. 

     I find it a bit of a shame that I felt the need to justify the value of the field of psychology at present day, writing in defence of ones interests, simply reveals the much more work that needs to be done to eliminate stigmas. Also a reminder that not everyone is going to be happy with your life choices / decisions, pleasing everyone is the first step to failure. Keep focused, and be selective in who you choose to listen to. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on August 14th, 2018.
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