Are you unhappy with how things are going in your life?

Perhaps you’re running on empty and not sure how or where to refuel.

Or, maybe you’re pretty pleased with the way things are but you’re just looking for fresh ways to optimize your life.

I think I might have something for you.

My name is Ann Stoneson and I am a psychotherapist in private practice in Austin, Texas.  Since 2005, I have worked in the mental health field helping people lead happier, fuller lives.  Over time, I have made a study of the skills and habits that promote gladness and wellbeing.  This blog, Mending Journeys, is designed to be a curious and playful long-standing public service announcement about mental health, therapy, wellness, and the practice of self-care.

Here, we will talk about ways you can unclench, open yourself up to goodness, and keep the gas tank full.  And, we will talk too about what you might try when things break down.

Is this blog for me?

If you often find yourself opting to tackle that next heap of work or a second load of laundry before eating breakfast, even though your tummy is rumbling, then this blog is for you.

If you are trying to treat yourself well through all the usual methods but still struggling to absorb and retain feelings of peace and wellbeing throughout the week, then this blog is for you.

If you grew up in a family where you learned to take care of others’ needs before your own and you need some pointers on how to turn that loving care inwards, then this blog is for you.

This blog is designed to keep you honest about how and when you’re taking care of yourself (or not taking care of yourself, as the case may be).  My goal is to inspire you get curious about the old way of doing things and maybe tinker a bit with some new ways of doing things.

Why wellness?

I learned about the profound value of cultivating wellness through self-care after spending a few uncomfortable years running on empty.  In spite of my best efforts, I’ve had times in my life when I neglected self-care and thought I was cheating the system and instead found that the cost was exacted later in the quality of my work, my relationships, and my life.

I suspect I am not the only person who has fallen into this trap of periodic self-neglect.  And, after having seen the benefits of planfully incorporating self-care and wellness practices in my own life, I would like to share some of what I’ve learned with you.

Each week, I’m presented with compelling evidence in my own life and the lives of the people I treat about the importance of prioritizing wellness, self-care, and mental health.  I want people to know that wellness and self-care are topics for each and every day!  They are always on the radar, shaped by the choices we make in our common, everyday moments, and they deserve consistent attention—not just when things get really, really bad or when it’s your birthday, but consistently, persistently, because it adds up!!  It adds up to a life well-lived.  And I want that for us both.

I am learning all the time about the art of self-care, therapy, and mental health, and I am happy to share what I know.  I imagine you have expertise in this area, too—how to do it well, or perhaps how not to do things.  Wherever you are in the process, we are learning together, and I see us as fellow travelers on this journey.

How could this help me?

Wellness requires a constant statement and restatement of commitment to prioritize oneself amidst a full and busy life.  I believe the practice of reading this blog regularly will help you keep a little headspace for this key enterprise, this ongoing mission of providing good self-care.  By bookmarking this space in your brain, I think you will be primed to discover rich opportunities and invitations to wellness every week.

I’ll be including tips for any do-it-yourself folks who want ideas on how to improve their lives right as they read.  And if you’re on a fact-finding mission, I think you’ll find that there is something for you here, too.  I intend for this blog to be a blend of reflections, educational pieces, and tips and how-to’s to help you rediscover a balanced life.

A little bit of housekeeping

Blogging is new to me, so I’ll be experimenting and editing as we go along.  I invite you to contact me directly with feedback, impressions, and questions about what I’ve written here.  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Occasionally, I might write a post that is less instructional or newsy and more ruminative or experimental in tone, and I hope you’ll be patient with me as I do this.  This blog is for both of us, and I’ll be writing at a number of different “pitches” at first while I try to rediscover my writing voice.

From time to time, I may offer some general suggestions or ideas of things you might want to try in order to improve your quality of life.  It is entirely up to you if and how you choose to incorporate these suggestions.  I am not using this blog to provide therapy or counseling services of any kind, and I cannot take credit or responsibility for the outcomes that may emerge as a result of reading and acting on what I’ve written about here.

Where do we go from here?

In this world of multitasking, efficiency, and production, a quiet moment can be hard to find.  I hope you’ll choose to spend one or two of those quiet moments with me, here, as we learn together about fresh and creative ways to take good care of ourselves.

If you choose to take me up on the offer to make yourself more of a priority in your own life, I think you will discover a lot of gratitude in yourself and the people around you about this choice.  Changes like these have a delightful spill-over effect—a life well-lived truly is a gift to the whole world!

So, let’s give this a try.  This is my first time writing a blog, so I’m excited and a little bit nervous about what might be around the next bend.  I hope you will be curious and patient with this project as I work on finding my own path inward.

I’m looking forward to having you with me on the journey.