Letters to my kids: A suicide survivor's lessons and advice for life

Episode 29 : Part 4 - Finding yourself, a tale not just for movies

08.23.2018 - By Letters to my kids: A 2-time suicide survivor and advocate for realistic optimism.Play

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Episode 29 : Part 4 - Finding yourself, a tale not just for movies

Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. CohenFrom the Free Music ArchiveReleased under a Creative Commons Attribution International License

https://allisonfallon.com/finding-yourself/https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Yourself

- Prepare to begin again with a clean slate. Develop your own moral conduct and practice sticking to it. Start by overcoming bad habits.

- Organize your world. You may find that having all your other affairs in order will help expedite the process to grabbing a firm hold on your identity.

"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self."- Aldous Huxley

- Conquering Your WorldImmerse yourself in solitude. Give yourself some time and space to get away from the expectations, the conversations, the noise, the media, and the pressure. Take some time each day to go for a long walk and think.

- Seek out a passion. When you believe in something or see beauty in something, you should do it no matter what anyone else thinks. 

"I know well what I am fleeing from but not what I am in search of."- Michel de Montaigne

- Find a mentor. Though ultimately soul-searching can only be done by you and it's only you that determines what you need, having a mentor will be an incredible resource when you hit those unavoidable bumps in the road. 

- Sort out your career path. If you're meandering all over the place looking for the right "fit", chances are that you're not happy inside. You could be using the job-changing as an excuse for not fully realizing your true potential. Spend some time free-associating. Think about what you like and don't like; think beyond those things to other ideas that simply pop into your mind while you're associating. Keep a record of these things. 

- Bear in mind, however, that work may not be where your "calling" is. If that's the case, you'll need to work out a work-life balance that lets you pursue your "true self" more outside of the workplace, even if this means more hours and less income. 

"The searching-out and thorough investigation of truth ought to be the primary study of man."- Cicero

- Changing Your PerspectiveLet go of the need to be loved by all. Accept that some people will think poorly of you no matter what you do. It's important to forget about what everyone else thinks because you cannot please everyone.

This thought is aptly summed up by Raymond Hull: "He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away."

More episodes from Letters to my kids: A suicide survivor's lessons and advice for life