Wouldn't it be great if living life gave you loads of energy and felt light and easy, as if you were being carried? If you felt that you were born to be happy, despite everything that crosses your path? I believe this is possible!
As I was growing up, my father was chronically ill and my mother had an extramarital relationship. My brother developed schizophrenia and eventually committed suicide. My partner developed an anxiety disorder. In addition, one remark, perhaps casually made, changed my life.
"You will never amount to much. You don't have the drive."
Sometimes you feel the impact immediately. Sometimes it takes years before you realise what the impact of such a remark has been on your life. How we respond to each other is partly determined by the role we are fulfilling at that very moment. From a young age we learn that each role has its 'expected' behaviour. Behaviour that is determined by expectations, standards, values and convictions which we impose on ourselves and on each other. Perhaps you recognise the expectation that you should pursue further education? You feel ashamed because of a mental illness? Or you recognise the conviction that you have to be strong, that all responsibility rests on your shoulders?
During a burnout I discovered that, despite choices I had seemingly consciously made, I was living to fulfil 'assumed' expectations held by myself and others. Slowly I developed my own road to a happy life.
I would like to show you that happiness doesn't depend on the world around you, on a life without pain, on success or great experiences. I also hope that this book will help you to breakdown the taboos surrounding mental illnesses and 'being different'.