Reading for a Positive Mindset
It was interesting recording a podcast this week with the Young Stroke Project. I was fascinated by Bill Gasiamis and his podcasting ability, the way he was able to just put his thoughts into spoken words and out they came! How many times did I have to refer to my written notes?? How many "um's" did I do?? You'd think as a teacher I'd have the whole talking thing down. Or maybe it was the emotional turmoil that Wednesday's work day had wrought. Maybe I was just nervous.
If we believe Howard Gardner, everyone's brain is different and has different preferred ways of thinking and working. Some people are good with people, some are good with numbers, some are good with written words. And the same goes for stroke and recovery. Some people find a way through by talking to others about it. Some people like to exercise their way there. Some like to read about it, some like to write. And still others find peace in nature.
I'm a words person mainly, I find reading and writing a helpful way to deal with events and emotions. So the rest of this blog is dedicated to some of the books that I have found helpful or ones that are on my shelf waiting to be helpful.
The first book is the oldest one I have about mindset and positivity. It's called How to be Positively Optimistic and had this friendly mouse (The Woohah! Mouse) as a visual reminder to be optimistic.
It's a short read and has some really great quotes, like "I've never seen a monument erected to a pessimist". I have pictures of the mouse around the place to remind me to bounce back and not get stuck in unhelpful thought loops.
The next book is The Essentialists Shine: 20 Secrets to a Happy Life. This one is about reconnecting with who you are at your core and what is important. Short and with lots of helpful lists and tips.
(Yep, I'm a tagger, I tag the bits I want to remember and come back to...)
The next one jumped into my hands in a shop in Berry, and it just spoke to me. I love the Chicken Soup series, short tales from people full of hope and ways to overcome adversity. While I haven't read all of this one, it's one to keep coming back to when I have a moment.
I love Meredith Gaston. The next two are hers, one is The Art of Gratitude and the other is Find Your Sparkle. I find her books excellent, not too much text, plenty of optimistic drawings and quotes. Find Your Sparkle is new, but both are books I dip in and out of when the mood takes me. I used to believe one should read a book from start to finish, but you really don't have to. It's okay to dip in and out, sometimes it's better to do that.
Finally, as a teacher librarian and a Mum, children's books have become a staple in my house. These next two especially. Dr Seuss "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" is a favourite because it talks about life in real terms. Sometimes you're on top, and sometimes you're not. That's life. And that's stroke recovery. Sometimes you go forward. Sometimes you're in the waiting place. Sometimes you go back.
My final book to share with you is one I picked up for my son, but fell in love with. It's called "I Need a Hug". It's about a hedgehog asking his friends for a cuddle, but all of them run screaming not wanting to cuddle a spiky creature. Until he meets a snake who's asking them for a kiss. The two of them find that they can cuddle and no one gets hurt.
That's how I feel sometimes. I just need a hug but there are times when I'm too "prickly" to get a hug. You just need to find the person who can give you the right amount of 'hug' without the prickles hurting them.
I find reading helps with my mindset, and writing helps get things out of me. I always find writing makes me feel better. Even if no one reads it. Even if I burn it.
You have to find what works for you, and there will be different things for different people. Some like running, some like walking. Some like reading with a cup of tea. Some like sharing a meal and good conversation. Some like talking. Find what you like and find what works for you.
(By the way, get on over to Bill's site, and listen to his podcasts, well worth listening to! https://recoveryafterstroke.com/ listening might just be your way forward!)