The Men, Hardship and Triumph podcast series is a series of interviews with men as a resource for other men navigating the minefields of modern life. The men interviewed in this series talked about the difficulties of their lives, how they got through them and looking back, what strategies they used to survive the hard times.
In this summary episode I’ll be discussing the recurrent themes that were mentioned by a few of the guys in the series. The way I look at it, if different people come to the same conclusion about a strategy that they found helpful to navigate this tough world, surely this tool would be useful for another person, right?
Today, I am shooting the breeze with Robert Merrett, an Adelaide based Counsellor, Mental Health Coach and author of two books. Rob has also managed many programs such as Alcohol and Other Drugs, low-intensity CBT and an Aboriginal Post-Released programs. He is currently the Service Delivery Manager for a not for profit organisation called Skylight Mental Health. I have known Rob for quite a few years and have always found him to be a very thougthful and wise man. I brought him in to hear his wise councel on the strategies that the gentlemen mentioned.
The points we discussed:
1. To surround yourself with good people
2. To always create an appreciation of what you have
3. To learn to accept help/reach out when you need it
4. To push through the difficult periods because there is usually hope/opportunities/purpose at the end of it
5. To hit crisis or rock bottom can make you stronger
6. To only worry about what you can control
7. To not have regrets, instead, use the past to learn from
8. To generate acceptance from within, to worry less about what others think and to not compare self to others
9. To have a good therapist to work through your difficulties
10. To extricate yourself from unhealthy environments
11. To look for resources mental health problems. There are plenty of resources out there!
12. To never be complacent, it's good to have some fear
13. To be honest with yourself
14. To accumulate a life toolbox
15. To be adaptable to changes/uncertainties of life
16. To focus on the positives and not use hard times as an excuse
17. To do what is right regardless of how hard it is (maintain a sense of honour/integrity)
18. To persevere and be consistent in your approach to life
19. To capitalise on opportunities that come because they are rare
Rob also mentioned his own toolbox which contains some of the points above;
1. Appreciate beauty
2. Be on purpose
3. Resist enculturation
4. Welcome the unknown
5. Be highly enthusiastic
6. Have inner directedness
7. Be detached from outcome
8. Be independent of the good opinion of others
9. Have no need to exert control over others
The books mentioned in the discussion:
1. Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
2. Tao Te Ching / Dàodé Jīng by Laozi
3. Elements in Being by Robert Merrett
To listen to this episode, go to https://www.clementdjaja.com/podcast/episode/d45d9ed4/men-hardship-and-triumph-summary-episode-with-robert-merrett
This brings me to the end of the Men, Hardship and Triumph series. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did creating it.
Feedback/comments: clementcounselling@gmail.com
Website: clementdjaja.com
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