Watch your Language

Watch your language!   Mind your language!   How often have you heard that in your life?

For me, I mostly heard this when I said a cuss word at home or at school.   But how much of an impact does our language really have?   A lot!   A whole lot. 

Yesterday, I stumbled across this article about person first language for mental health disorders.  You can see the article by clicking here.

This article discusses the importance of person first language in terms of labeling ourselves with a mental illness.    I for one, have heard of person first language before.   In my day job, I am a peer support specialist.    I work for a community mental health center.   I work with people, who like me, have a mental illness.   These people, like me, are more than just a mental illness.   They are people first.    Members of a community.   Mothers, Fathers, Friends, Spouses, Siblings.   They are more than a label.  I know this person first language, and it was a part of my job training.   But how often do I catch myself, often when introducing myself at work as:  I am Bipolar?   Often.  

Saying that I am Bipolar began a long time ago for me.   Back when I was first diagnosed.  Bipolar really did define me then.   It does not define me now.   I see it as only a part of myself.   It is not the sum total of all of my parts.   So why do I still use the phrase:   I am Bipolar?     Habit.
But this is a habit that I need to break.    Especially in my job.    I want to model that Bipolar is not me.   It is just a label.   It is not my definition.  I am many things.   I am many wonderful things, and I also happen to have or live with Bipolar.    Bipolar is not my life.  It is a part of my life.  A small part.

So for all of you out there:   Watch your Language today.   Watch what you are saying about yourself.   About who you are.

And now for a message from our life coach cats:

 

You are an amazing being.   You are important to many people.

Why put a definition on yourself?

Use Person First Language with yourself.

You deserve it!

 

 

 

One Day at a time Mindfulness:

 

Today I had some frustrating events when I got home.  Things were not working like I wanted them to.   Usually, I get pretty grouchy when I am frustrated.   I sat down and breathed in and out up to the count of ten and then back down again before I dealt with my frustrations.   It helped me to feel calmer.

 

 

 

I also decided to eat dinner mindfully with my daughter.   I focused on the present moment using my five senses, and fully giving her all of my attention in that moment.   It was a nice dinner.   She is growing up before my eyes, and it gave me a chance to just enjoy that moment fully with her.   I also noticed that the food tasted marvelous, and that I ate less and felt satisfied earlier than normal.   All in all, it was one of my top meals of all time!